Rights of Man

      BY

      THOMAS PAINE

      Paine wrote Rights of Man to defend the French Revolution against Edmund Burke's criticism in Reflections on the Revolution in France.

      Part One appeared in early 1791 and Part Two in early 1792.

      The text here is that of The Writings of Thomas Paine, Collected and Edited by Moncure Daniel Conway (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1894), minus Conway's notes.

      CONTENTS

      PAGE

      Part One

      1.1 Preface to the English edition 1

      1.2 Preface to the French edition 4

      1.3 Rights of Man 7

      1.4 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizens, by the 85

      National Assembly of France

      1.5 Observations on the Declaration of Rights 88

      1.6 Miscellaneous Chapter 91

      1.7 Conclusion 116

      Part Two

      2.1 Preface 126

      2.2 Introduction 133

      2.3 Chapter I. Of society and civilization 137

      2.4 Chapter II. Of the origin of the present old 143

       governments

      2.5 Chapter III. Of the old and new systems of 146

       government

      2.6 Chapter IV. Of constitutions 162

      2.7 Chapter V. Ways and means of improving the condition of 188

       Europe, interspersed with miscellaneous observations

      2.8 Appendix 254

      Notes 259

      RIGHTS OF MAN

      BEING AN ANSWER TO MR. BURKE'S ATTACK ON THE FRENCH

      REVOLUTION

      BY

      THOMAS PAINE

      SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO CONGRESS IN THE

      AMERICAN WAR, AND

      AUTHOR OF THE WORKS ENTITLED "COMMON SENSE" AND "A LETTER TO THE ABBÉ RAYNAL"

      GEORGE WASHINGTON,

      PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

      SIR,—

      I present you a small treatise in defence of those principles of freedom which your exemplary virtue hath so eminently contributed to establish. That the Rights of Man may become as universal as your benevolence can wish, and that you may enjoy the happiness of seeing the New World regenerate the Old, is the prayer of

      SIR,

      Your much obliged, and

       Obedient humble Servant,

      THOMAS PAINE.