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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many people witnessed and documented the Resurrection?

2. How well were Paine's views on religion known when Age of Reason was written?

3. Why didn't Paine reply to any of the responses to the Rights of Man?

4. How many rebuttals did Burke make to Paine's Rights of Man?

5. What ancient philosopher does Paine mention in Age of Reason?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Paine's theory on how people who have been cheated of their land inheritance should be compensated?

2. What is impressive about the way George Washington became the first president of the United States of America and the way he was compensated?

3. What issue does Paine address concerning the Old and New Testaments?

4. What are Paine's religious views when writing Age of Reason?

5. What is the historical significance of the life of Jesus?

6. What are the two reasons why Paine waited before writing and releasing the Rights of Man, Part II?

7. What example of an uncivilized society does Paine use in Agrarian Justice?

8. What is Paine's theories on churches and which one does he ascribe to?

9. What opinion does Paine have of people who believe and follow Christianity?

10. How does Paine handle the responses to the Rights of Man by Burke and others?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Age of Reason features Paine's views of religion as he questions certain aspects of the different churches and practices.

1) Describe Paine's personal opinions about religion, churches, and which one he ascribes to.

2) Analyze Paine's description of revelation and the way it is referred to by different religions.

3) Explain some of the different examples of how Paine questions some of the tales in Christianity, and his general views on how Christians live their lives.

4) Describe why Paine has doubts about the authenticity of the Old and New Testaments, what he believes is the most important proof of God's existence, and what guide people should refer to when seeking God's advice or wishes.

Essay Topic 2

Describe Thomas Paine's life and background, including where he is originally from and what his reputation was before, during, and after writing Common Sense. Also, discuss Paine's motives in writing his pamphlets and the reasons that he chose to remain anonymous at the time. Finally, use the information in Paine's work to explain why he believed strongly in the American Revolution and how his experiences qualified him to chronicle the events as America declared Independence.

Essay Topic 3

Describe Paine's reasons for delaying the release of the Rights of Man, Part II. Include an analysis of Burke's responses to the first part of the Rights of Man and how Paine replies to him and others who attempt to challenge his views.

(see the answer keys)

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