Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, and John Adams are given credit for writing the Declaration of Independence, but we often forget that Thomas Paine told them how to do it. Mr. Paine took the work of 17th century philosopher John Locke who observed that people were free by nature and that government should exist to promote the public good, and protect life, liberty, and property. Mr. Locke’s 1689 Second Treatise on Government formed the basis of our government today.
Thomas Paine brought these ideas to the masses with his pamphlet Common Sense in January 1776. By today’s standards, this 30-page booklet went viral with over 500,000 copies sold and widespread public readings. Common Sense laid out the arguments for continuing the revolution and it inspired colonial Americans by presenting the dangers of monarchy and the importance of religious freedom, as well as how to set up the House of Representatives and Senate to form a new nation. Common Sense ended with a call to prepare a Declaration of Independence to let the world know that America has broken free from Great Britain rule.
The Declaration of Independence is only a few pages long. It is basically a list of bad things the King of Great Britain was doing and the declaration that America is no longer tied to Great Britain. It is educational to read the Declaration of Independence and realize that we still struggle with some of the same problems today. It is important to learn from our past, understand our history, and continue to move forward in securing social, political, and economic freedom for all Americans.
Jeff Bensch 