Western civilization history and major developments

Rights of Man

Thomas Paine wrote his book "Rights of Man" between 1791 and 1792, as a response to a French book written by Edmund Burke's called "Reflections on the Revolution in France." Paine is one of the most well-known writers of revolutionary times in the United States. Amazingly enough, Paine was a native Englishman, but when he came to America he became a true American, and for the rest of his life he wrote about freedom, liberty, and the "Rights of Man," as they related to both the English and Americans.

The "Rights of Man" is a lucid and compelling book, written when the American Revolution was still fresh in history. From the beginning, Paine maintains he is not on any side, but simple stating his strong beliefs and convictions. "I am not contending for nor against any form of government, nor for nor against any party here or elsewhere. That which a whole nation chooses to do, it has a right to do" (Paine 92). Paine's rhetoric is all for democracy and freedom, and condemns any form of repression or government control. He chooses words carefully for the most impact and meaning, and he uses his sharp wit to poke fun at his opponents and those he does not agree with, as he does when he sarcastically criticizes some of Burke's thoughts in "Reflections," here. "That men should take up arms, and spend their lives and fortunes, not to maintain their rights, but to maintain they have not rights, is an entirely new species of discovery, and suited to the paradoxical genius of Mr. Burke" (Paine 90).

For much of the first section of the book, Paine answers and refutes statements of Burke's in "Reflections." He then goes on to assess what England needs to do to ensure her own everlasting democracy and freedom, and he has many suggestions, from reforming the English government to creating their own version of a Constitution. He especially dislikes the monarchy, and it is easy to see why he was nearly arrested in England in 1792 for his outspoken thoughts. He escaped to France, and never returned to his homeland. In the second section of the book, he bluntly notes, "The sun needs no inscription to distinguish him from darkness; and no sooner did the American governments display themselves to the world, than despotism felt a shock, and man began to contemplate redress" (Paine 210). Here he refers to the monarchy (despotism), and how monarchies around the world must be reeling to see the American "experiment" in democracy, which allows no despotism through family handing down leadership from one to another.

Paine also recommend the English overhaul their way of taxing their people, which of course was a serious reason for contention among the Americans that led to the revolution in the first place. English taxes and tariffs were high, and the Americans were expected to pay, even though they had no representation in the English Parliament to contend our share of the tax burden. He devotes many pages to direct cost savings for the government if they reduce personal taxes, and implement other forms of revenue. Paine even includes charts and diagrams of how his tax plans would work, and how much money it would filter back into the English economy. It is clear Paine did not simply dash off his retorts to Burke in the throws of passion, he clearly and logically went through his replies one by one, and makes logical conclusions for each of his suggestions.

The author also makes it clear what he thinks about war in his book. He does not approve, and as is his style, he says so quite forcefully. "Formerly, when divisions arose, respecting governments, recourse was had to the sword, and a civil war ensued. That savage custom is exploded by the new system, and reference is had to national conventions (Paine 325).