Thomas Paine and the Promise of America

About this book

Americas unfinished revolution The revolutionary spirit that runs through American history and whose founding father and greatest advocate was Thomas Paine is fiercely traced in Thomas Paine and the Promise of America. Showing how Paine turned Americans into radicalsand how we have remained radicals at heart ever sinceHarvey J. Kaye presents the nations democratic story with wit subtlety and above all passion. Paine was one of the most remarkable political writers of the modern world and the greatest radical of a radical age. Through writings like Common Senseand words such as The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth We have it in our power to begin the world over again and These are the times that try mens soulshe not only turned Americas colonial rebellion into a revolutionary war but as Kaye demonstrates articulated an American identity charged with exceptional purpose and promise. Beginning with Paines life and ideas and following their vigorous influence through to our own day Thomas Paine and the Promise of America reveals how while the powers that be repeatedly sought to suppress defame and most recently co-opt Paines memory generations of radical and liberal Americans turned to Paine for inspiration as they endeavored to expand American freedom equality and democracy.