ABSTRACT
Thomas Paine wrote Rights of Man as the Western world was experiencing deep social and political transformations. The concepts Paine develops in Rights of Man proved central to political debate when he wrote it. He was concerned at what a further revolt might bring, arguing that it was both illogical and irreligious, given that the monarchy had been put in place by God. He argued for an end to slavery, for human freedom and natural rights, and for a legitimate government that supported the poor and underprivileged. He exposes the contradictions of rule by monarchy and highlights the abuses that had come about because of it. Though Paine believed republicanism was the best form of government, he cannot be seen as a traditional republican. For Paine, a republic should still look to encourage the individuality of its citizens— even though those citizens should work together for the common good.
