On December 19, 1776, as the War for Independence stood on the brink of collapse, Thomas Paine published The American Crisis. Beginning with the immortal line of “THESE are the times that try men’s souls,” it was no mere essay – it was a rallying cry that turned despair into victory.
The Crisis was written to inspire a weary army to push on, despite the almost impossible odds they faced. Paine continued, “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
The Black Times of ’76
At the time of its publication, the Patriot cause was in dire straits. George Washington’s Continental Army had suffered devastating defeats, morale was at an all-time low, and enlistments were rapidly dwindling.
Paine himself later referred to this as “the black times of Seventy-six.” Gen. Washington echoed this sentiment when he wrote to his cousin Lund Washington, “I think the game is pretty near up,” expressing his fear that the revolutionary cause would collapse without significant reinforcements.
In his correspondence with Abbé Raynal, Paine vividly described those days as “a period of distresses. A crisis rather of danger than of hope. There is no description can do it justice; and even the actors in it, looking back upon the scene, are surprised how they got through.”
These reflections capture the sheer desperation of the moment, as well as the remarkable resilience that ultimately carried the revolutionaries through.
The Vile Claim of Unlimited Power
Yet Paine refused to bow to despair. Instead, he used The Crisis to reiterate the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that no deal could be made with the British as long as they claimed power over the colonies “in all cases whatsoever,” a reference to the Declaratory Act of 1766.
This act, which followed the repeal of the Stamp Act, declared Parliament’s right to legislate for the colonies in all matters, for all time – a claim to power that Paine saw as the height of despotism.
He condemned it in the strongest terms, writing, “If being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.”
To Paine, the Declaratory Act was not just unjust – it was an affront to both divine and natural law, encapsulating the very essence of tyranny.
Confronting Tyranny and Apathy
Paine’s essay confronted both external tyranny and internal apathy. He scorned those who wavered in their support for liberty, famously denouncing the “summer soldier and sunshine patriot” who would shrink from the service of their country in its hour of need.
But his aim was not merely to shame; it was to inspire. Paine reminded his readers of the enduring value of their struggle, writing, “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value.”
Paine also appealed to a personal responsibility to future generations, writing that the attitude of a good parent would be “If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.” This profound reflection, Paine argued, should “awaken every man to duty” in support of the enduring cause of liberty.
By emphasizing the moral and spiritual worth of perseverance, Paine sought to steel the hearts of his fellow revolutionaries.
Rejecting Tyranny in All Forms
One of the most powerful themes of The American Crisis was Paine’s rejection of tyranny in all its forms. He made clear that oppression was evil, no matter who wielded it.
“What signifies it to me whether he who does it is a king or a common man,” Paine wrote, “whether it be done by an individual villain or an army of them?”
To Paine, the crimes of government were often more insidious than those of individuals because they came cloaked in legitimacy.
“If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case, and pardon in the other.”
This timeless principle resonates even today, reminding us that the moral character of an action does not change simply because it is carried out by those in power.
Defiant in the Face of Criticism
Paine anticipated criticism for his unflinching stance against the British crown, and he welcomed it. Defiantly, he wrote, “Let them call me Rebel and welcome. I feel no concern from it.”
For Paine, the true rebellion lay in swearing allegiance to a king he deemed “a stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man.”
His refusal to compromise his principles – even at great personal risk – served as a rallying cry for patriots who faced accusations of treason for their resistance.
A Call for Unity
Beyond rejecting tyranny, Paine called for unity among the colonies. Borrowing from a sentiment popularized by John Dickinson’s Liberty Song, he advanced a “United we stand, divided we fall” message.
He urged Americans to look past their regional differences and work together for the cause. “I turn with the warm ardor of a friend,” Paine wrote, “to those who have nobly stood and are yet determined to stand the matter out: I call not upon a few, but upon all; not on this state or that state, but on every state.”
His appeal underscored the necessity of popular action in the face of overwhelming odds.
“Up and help us; lay your shoulders to the wheel. Better have too much force than too little, when so great an object is at stake.”
The Folly of Trusting Oppressors
Paine again reminded his readers of the gravity of their situation. He warned against placing false hopes in the mercy of their oppressors, stating, “It is the madness of folly to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice.”
Warning that the “cunning of the fox” is as “murderous as the violence of the wolf,” Paine urged Americans reject all offers of peace from the British as deceit, as long as they continued to claim unlimited power over the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.”
A Stark Choice for the Future
Paine’s essay culminated in a powerful call to action. He acknowledged the hardships of the war but painted a stark contrast between the potential outcomes.
“By perseverance and fortitude,” he wrote, “we have the prospect of a glorious issue; by cowardice and submission, the sad choice of a variety of evils.”
He envisioned a future of “ravaged country, depopulated cities, habitations without safety, and slavery without hope” if Americans failed to stand firm. This dire picture was meant to jolt his readers into recognizing the cost of inaction.
But rather than give up, Paine inspired the Revolutionaries to push on.
“Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it.”
This powerful reflection captures the unity and resilience his words inspired in such a desperate time.
The Immediate Impact of Paine’s Words
Legend has it that George Washington ordered the essay to be read aloud to his troops as they prepared to cross the Delaware River on Christmas night, 1776.
While historical evidence for this specific event is inconclusive, there is no doubt that Paine’s words reached a wide audience and inspired many.
The Continental Army’s stunning victories at Trenton and Princeton in the weeks following the essay’s publication marked a turning point in the revolution.
As historian Travis Shaw aptly put it, “The military victories at Trenton and Princeton changed the course of the war in a strategic sense, but The American Crisis No. 1 provided the ideological motivation that made them possible.”
As enlistments surged and morale rebounded, it became clear that Paine’s words had rekindled the revolutionary spirit.
A Timeless Rallying Cry for Liberty
Thomas Paine’s work was more than a rallying cry for his time; it was a timeless reminder of the enduring struggle for liberty.
His rejection of tyranny, emphasis on unity, and call for perseverance resonate as strongly today as they did in 1776.
In commemorating the publication of The American Crisis, we honor not only Paine’s courage and eloquence, but also the principles that fueled the American Revolution.
As Paine himself signed off, not with his name but with the phrase “Common Sense,” his words continue to challenge us to stand firm in the face of what is, once again, the largest government in history.
Thomas Paine reminds us that while freedom, once lost, is difficult to reclaim, it is never beyond reach when built upon a foundation of courage, resilience, and an unwavering love of liberty.
“Though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire.”
