The Writings of Thomas Paine, Volume I

A prominent figure in the American Revolution, Thomas Paine was a political activist and philosopher whose writings, including Common Sense and The American Crisis, significantly influenced the push for independence from Great Britain. His work embodied Enlightenment ideals, advocating for transnational human rights. Described as a corsetmaker turned journalist and propagandist, Paine emigrated from England to the colonies in 1774, aided by Benjamin Franklin, and became a key voice for the revolutionary cause.