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Thomas Paine

Definition

Thomas Paine was an influential political activist and writer during the Revolutionary period in America. He is best known for his pamphlet "Common Sense," which argued for American independence from Britain.

Analogy

Think of Thomas Paine as a persuasive public speaker who rallies a crowd to support a particular cause. Just like how he used his words to convince people of the necessity of American independence, imagine a charismatic speaker using their convincing arguments to rally a group of friends to go on an exciting road trip.

Related terms

American Revolution: The war fought by the American colonies against Great Britain for their independence.

"Common Sense": A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that argued for American independence and influenced many colonists.

Enlightenment: An intellectual movement in Europe that emphasized reason, science, and individual rights, which greatly influenced thinkers like Thomas Paine during the Revolutionary period.