# Thomas Paine publishes Rights of Man (1791)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1791-thomas-paine-publishes-rights-of-man
Categories: main-event

Paine defended the French Revolution and argued for representative government and social reform. Within the broader Georgian Britain period, parliamentary government, industrialization, imperial expansion, war with France and political reform turned Britain into a global commercial and military power. This event is placed at 1791 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The work became hugely influential among British radicals and alarming to the government.

## Why it matters
The work became hugely influential among British radicals and alarming to the government.

Ruler at the time: [George III](https://english-history.com/rulers/george-iii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Thomas Paine publishes Rights of Man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Thomas+Paine+publishes+Rights+of+Man&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Thomas Paine publishes Rights of Man](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Thomas+Paine+publishes+Rights+of+Man)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%281700%E2%80%931799%29)
- [The National Archives — empire and industry resources](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/)