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Thomas Paine · 1780

An 1780 pamphlet by Thomas Paine arguing that western lands belonged to the whole American nation, not Virginia alone.

Paine wrote this pamphlet, showing his early push for a strong national government over state and private land claims.

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About this source

What it is

A political pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1780. In it, Paine argued that lands west of the thirteen colonies, once part of the British Empire, belonged to the American national government rather than to any single state or to private land speculators.

Why it matters

The pamphlet challenged the claims of wealthy Virginia families, including the Washingtons, Lees and Randolphs, who had used an old royal charter to claim huge western territories. Paine's argument reflected his belief in a strong, unified American government rather than a loose collection of competing states.

Look closer

  • Why might Paine have wanted western land to belong to the whole nation rather than individual states?
  • How might Virginia land speculators have reacted to this pamphlet?
  • What does this show about disagreements among the Founders over how America should be governed?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Thomas Paine on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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