This day in history - January 10

[seamusTX]

1776 - Thomas Paine published "Common Sense." The previous year had been one of great turmoil, and the British colonies of North America were near the moment of decision on whether they would fully rebel against the home country. "Common Sense" more than any other publication of the time was an inspiration and a roadmap to independence.

Paine's name is famous, but the man is not well known. He was born in England and was mediocre as a student and in various jobs. However, he attained some note as a pamphleteer -- the 18th-century equivalent of a blogger.

In 1774 he met Benjamin Franklin in England and emigrated to Philadelphia. He quickly became a promoter of American independence and performed a number of non-combat military and diplomatic services during the war.

He did not find a home in the country that he helped to establish. He returned to Great Britain, where he was eventually banned for anti-monarchy writings.

He then joined the French Revolution and came close to being executed in the chaos that followed.

He returned to the U.S. near the end of his life and died in New York in 1809

http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyameric ... mmonsense/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyameric ... /text.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.ushistory.org/PAINE/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Paine" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1920 - The Treaty of Versailles came into effect, ultimately leading to WW II. One of the key terms of the treaty was the establishment of the League of Nations, which first met 6 days later.

1946 - The United Nations General Assembly convened for the first time, in London.

1967 - Edward Brooke III of Massachusetts took his Senate seat, the first elected black Senator since the passage of the 17th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

- Jim

[Liberty]

1967 - Edward Brooke III of Massachusetts took his Senate seat, the first elected black Senator since the passage of the 17th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

- Jim

I met Sen. Brooke a few times. A nice guy. Massachusetts hasn't had a decent Senator since.