Jack Kelly Lecture - "Tom Paine’s War: The Words That Rallied a Nation and the Founder for Our Time" скачать в хорошем качестве

Jack Kelly Lecture - "Tom Paine’s War: The Words That Rallied a Nation and the Founder for Our Time"

Award-winning author and historian Jack Kelly on his new book, “Tom Paine’s War: The Words That Rallied a Nation and the Founder for Our Time“. The event delves into the life and impact of Thomas Paine during the Revolutionary War. Jack Kelly gave a talk based on his book – an “exploration of our nation’s birth… a story of the power of words, and the power of belief, and how both speak as well to America’s current crisis.” Learn about this influential figure’s writings and how they helped shape the course of history. In the book, Kelly examines the power of words—and the power of belief—and how both speak to America’s current crisis. Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Declaration of Independence marked the birth of the United States. But two essays of that era appealed even more directly to Americans’ feelings. In January 1776, Thomas Paine––a recent immigrant to America––published Common Sense. His straightforward argument upended the fraud of monarchy and dismantled the idea of aristocratic privilege that had dominated the world for centuries. His words convinced Americans that the king had no divine right to rule them––they could rule themselves. He turned a rebellion over taxes and representation into a true revolution. Having inspired patriots to declare their independence, Paine volunteered as a militia private. He saw George Washington’s army suffer grievous defeats, and he slogged through the mud with retreating troops to Pennsylvania. There, he wrote The American Crisis, the most stirring rallying cry in our history. It began: “These are the times that try men’s souls”. With Paine’s words ringing in their ears, Washington and his men crossed the Delaware River and defeated the enemy at Trenton. The battle reversed the fortunes of the campaign and of the revolution itself. Thomas Paine Historical Association President Gary Berton participates in the lengthly Q&A at the end of the lecture. Berton called the book “compelling, informative and superbly written… a celebration of our roots, especially when they are threatened today… Paine is the Founder that held democracy up for all to see”.