Filed with 60.23 History · Related: 60.13 Wars · 60.14 Colonialism
There is no direct record of Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine engaging in a formal argument over whether to export revolution, but their writings and actions reveal differing perspectives on this issue.
Thomas Jefferson’s Position on Exporting Revolution
Jefferson, as the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and a key figure in the American Revolution, generally supported the spread of republican ideals but was cautious about direct U.S. involvement in foreign revolutions. He believed in the universal applicability of the principles of liberty and self-government, as reflected in his “Empire of Liberty” concept, which envisioned the United States as a model for global republicanism without necessarily advocating for active intervention in other nations’ affairs. Jefferson was concerned about the risks of entangling alliances and foreign conflicts, as seen in his advice to avoid “entangling alliances” in his first inaugural address (1801) and his support for the Neutrality Proclamation during the French Revolutionary Wars.
However, Jefferson did support sympathetic, indirect measures to aid republican causes abroad, such as his enthusiasm for the French Revolution in its early stages and his backing of the “Citizen Genêt” affair, where the French diplomat Edmond-Charles Genêt sought American support for France’s revolutionary wars against Britain and other monarchies.
Thomas Paine’s Position on Exporting Revolution
In contrast, Thomas Paine was more radical and openly supportive of exporting revolutionary ideals. His pamphlets, including “Common Sense” (1776) and “Rights of Man” (1791-1792), explicitly called for the global spread of republican government and the overthrow of monarchical and tyrannical systems. Paine’s experience in both the American and French revolutions reinforced his belief that the principles of liberty and popular sovereignty should not be confined to any single nation.
Paine’s “Rights of Man” was a direct response to Edmund Burke’s “Reflections on the Revolution in France,” defending the French Revolution as a legitimate and necessary uprising against tyranny. He argued that the struggle for liberty was a universal one and that governments deriving power from hereditary privilege and oppression should be overthrown wherever they existed.
Areas of Tension and Overlap
While there is no record of a direct debate between them, the philosophical divide was significant:
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Paine’s Radical Universalism: Paine believed that the American Revolution should inspire similar uprisings globally, with a more aggressive stance toward dismantling monarchies and supporting republican movements.
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Jefferson’s Cautious Republicanism: Jefferson preferred the U.S. to serve as a beacon of republican virtue, influencing others by example rather than direct intervention, though he occasionally supported revolutionary causes like the French Revolution when aligned with U.S. interests.
This difference in perspective became particularly clear during the French Revolution, where Paine became deeply involved, even serving in the French National Convention, while Jefferson, as President, sought to maintain American neutrality.
Would you like a deeper dive into the specific letters and writings that reflect these differing approaches?