Alexander B. Johnson
AP U.S. History
Derek Strahn
23 September, 2008
A Revolutionary Man
In the time of Revolution and the separation between England and the United States both Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine developed strong opinions concerning the revolution and conveyed these ideals to the American people in order to bring about overall support for the revolution. It an aspect, it was because of these men that revolution occurred as it did in the United States. Although Benjamin Franklin had a huge influence on the development of Revolutionary thoughts and feelings, it was Thomas Paine and his “Common Sense” article that ultimately moved and inspired the people of America towards a revolution.
Benjamin Franklin was a very politically involved man in America during the times of revolution. There was not a single important meeting or breakthrough event in America in which he was not present. These meetings include the meeting to form the Declaration of Independence, the meeting for the formation of the Treaty of Paris, and also the meeting to form the United States Constitution. Of course, Benjamin Franklin was a symbol of revolution and a symbol or mascot for the formation of an America. Previous to the formation of the constitution Benjamin Franklin proposed his famous Albany Plan. The ideas and concepts in this plan were later integrated into the constitution, perhaps the most prominent of the concepts was the concept of taxation. Benjamin Franklin’s ideas were largely integrated into the Constitution and his ideals and concepts were nothing less than influential on the new nation. As we continually see Franklin in almost every prominent and influential event in the Revolutionary Stage of America it becomes clear that Franklin was nothing less than influential, however, it is clear that Franklin was not as involved with the people of America as Thomas Paine was which was a main reason that Paine made such an influence on forming America.
As we look at Thomas Paine, a political and social activist of his time we see nothing less than a largely influential man. As the author of “Common Sense” Paine conveyed the concept of Revolution that ultimately influenced the desire to develop a new nation. Paine often reminded the American people that England used the American people for their crops and for their various other political needs such as assistance in the French Indian War. Also, Paine used very vivid examples in his speeches to the American people; he described England as a “monster who devours her own young”. As Paine demonstrated these concepts in “Common Sense” his ideas and concepts were widely accepted by the American people because they promoted a feeling and desire for separation. The primary result of this was the American people’s large drive for separation from England and the formation of a new American nation. Without inspiring the people for thoughts of revolution the American Revolution would not have been successful as the people of America drove the revolution. The people formed the new nation, and this is the main reason Paine was so impactful on the formation of America, he appealed to the people to make change. Without the people, the revolution in question would not have been so successful.
As we look closely at both Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine we see that the two men were widely influential on the formation of the new American nation. When we compare the two we see that the two men appealed to different audiences, Paine was influencing the people and Franklin conversing mainly with the influential men of America to drive change. Given both of these men drove huge change in America it becomes clear that Paine had more direct influence on the development of the new nation as he appealed directly to the people, the main force behind the successfulness of the Revolution. Without the common peoples consent the incentive to separate from England would not have been so high.