Harvey J. Kaye on Thomas Paine [54min]

Harvey J. Kaye discusses his latest book, Thomas Paine and the Promise of America. Paine's reputation as a true American revolutionary has lasted through history. His pamphlet Common Sense is frequently credited as the inspiration for the American Revolution. It was a call to action, urging common people in America to resist Britain, not reconcile with them, establish a constitution, and support the Continental Army. It helped unite the colonists under a common cause: Liberty. Though Paine left for Europe in 1787 after independence had been won, does his radical legacy live on? Are there remnants of the radical age that still exist in our country? Could a writer today excite such action? Kaye is the Ben and Joyce Rosenberg Professor of Social Change and Development at the University of Wisconsin, Greenbay. He is an award-winning author and editor of numerous publications including Are We Good Citizens? and The American Radical.