How Did Thomas Paine Change In American Society

When Thomas Paine wrote the Rights of Man in 1791 America was just beginning as a country. Around the world people viewed the United States as an inspiration. They had successfully overthrown a corrupt and controlling government and was thriving politically and economically. Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man expresses his great admiration of American politics and the social sphere. However, in the last 200 years America’s policies have changed tremendously. Thomas Paine praised the American society saying that it is made up “of people from different nations… speaking different languages.” He praises the government for allowing all of these people to live together and in harmony, enjoying equal rights. Minus the ideas of slavery, which still existed in society, all people were treated equally. It was even written in the Constitution. Unfortunately, this idea does not hold true for the current American society. Discrimination, racism, and sexism still exist and are a large part of many people’s everyday lives. Organizations like the KKK still have 6,000 members and are growing. Additionally, police
Not just those who could pay for it. In addition, Thomas Paine writes “their taxes are few.” Compared to the English government at the time, America did have fewer taxes. However, in present-day America, most taxpayers would tell you differently. Taxes are very high and are placed on everything from a bar of soap to your education. In America presently, the poor are taxed much more than the rich, in comparison to what they earn. Many poor people are taxed so much that they can’t seem to make it out of poverty. In some states the top 2% have tax breaks that allow them to pay even less than they should. If alive today, Paine would see a high taxed country that gives economic advantage to the rich and