Thomas Jefferson Vs. Thomas Paine

Introduction

In US history, certain personalities have contributed a lot to the progress and development of the American people. Among those, Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine are the two key figures. Both have differences and similarities in their background, ideology and achievements. The two were the primary advocates of independence from Europe and for the protection of human rights. They are influenced by the philosophy of enlightenment. Similarly, they have certain differences in their political approach. However, both of them profoundly affect the minds of Americans through their valuable contributions. Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, while Paine wrote a number of articles to enhance the courage of people during the War of Independence.

Discussion

The educational and family background of Thomas Paine reveals that he belongs to a low-income family in Britain. By profession, his father was a tailor. The education of the famous personality lasted only until the age of thirteen, and he could not proceed with further training. He helps his father in the profession of tailoring. He then got a job as a tax collector and continued his education in his free time. His first suffering gives him a real lesson in life. His understanding of the fundamental human rights led him to resist the colonial rule of England.

To uphold independence, Thomas Paine called for arms that could defend America. He wrote an adequate response to the attack on the French Revolution by the writer Edmund Burke. The construction of common sense in the views of Paine is the subject of the relationship between Great Britain and its colonies. Through his writings and papers, he hoped for the education of fellow Americans (Brennan, 2017). In the introduction parts of the parts, he tries to convince his followers that the habit of not thinking about the wrong thing eventually makes the superficial appearance of things as being the right. The choices of writing provide an in-depth comparison with the thoughts of Jefferson, which reveals that the king has established his rule over the states as an absolute tyranny. There are certain differences in the writings of the two principal leaders of America, but both have influenced the readers by applying some techniques to sell and make their feelings known to the people. There is an understanding of the leaders of the rule of Britain and the brutality implied over the states.

Thomas Paine supported the idea of the victory of American troops and the victory they gained. He also suggested through his work to the people that they must not believe in the religion blindly. People should question certain aspects of the faith. The publication of many articles by Thomas Paine played an essential role in the Declaration of Independence. Common sense has inspired and improved the consciousness of the people to fight for the freedom of their state. The revolutionary movement was also influenced and backed by the writings of Thomas Paine (Clark, 2018). The writings of the Paine also inform the readers about the plight of the nation. In the same way, Jefferson promoted the importance of time by implying that the time had come to take a stand for the state. Paine draws a line between the differences between civil society and the state.

According to Thomas, the Paine government is only a small aspect of civilization. The idea of the autonomous functions of the society influences the political philosophy of the United States. There seems to be little difference in Paine’s writings as Thomas Jefferson holds certain parallel thoughts about nature, philosophy, and the independence of the American States. Born into a wealthy family and qualified for an excellent education, Jefferson was one of the pioneers in designing the Declaration of American Independence from the colonial rule of Great Britain (Conroy 2015). He was the third president of the US. The writings and the thoughts of Jefferson revolve around three concepts: freedom of religion, the press, and the freedom of the people to express themselves. He made a number of contributions, like purchasing Louisiana, which doubled the space of America.

Jefferson’s philosophy provides the basic principles regarding the development of democratic values in the USA. He also defends civil rights and the freedom of his state. His political ideology is an essential and precious legacy in the political culture of the USA. The Declaration of Independence, in which Jefferson was a vital person, provided a smooth and regular system for the newborn nation. He was the staunch protector of human rights and promoted the freedom of the people in their different aspects of life. Like Paine, he was one of the resistors of the tyrannical rule of the king who was residing in England.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the remarks about the two great personalities of American history show similar intentions in their documents. The two propounded that the state would be better off without ties to Great Britain. The overall work style and tone reveal that there are certain differences in their writings. Thomas Paine tried to sell his thoughts to the reader about independence and show himself as a salesman, While Thomas Jefferson held an up-front approach and convinced the readers through an active voice. However, the documents of both writers were compelling and contributed to supporting the nation for their independence.

References

Brennan, T. (2017). Thomas Jefferson and the Living Constitution. The Journal of Politics, 79(3), 936-948.

Clark, J. C. D. (2018). Thomas Paine: Britain, America, and France in the Age of Enlightenment and Revolution. Oxford University Press.

Conroy-Krutz, E. (2015). Paine and Jefferson in the Age of Revolutions. The Journal of Southern History, 81(4), 952.