Common Sense is a groundbreaking pamphlet authored by Thomas Paine between 1775 and 1776 that galvanized the people of the Thirteen Colonies to seek independence from Great Britain during the summer of 1776. Written in clear, accessible language, it laid out the compelling reasons for immediate independence and quickly became a sensation upon its anonymous publication on January 10, 1776, right at the dawn of the American Revolution. It was widely sold, distributed, and even read aloud in taverns and public gatherings. George Washington had it read to his troops, who were besieging the British army in Boston at the time. With a circulation unmatched in American history relative to the colonial population of 2.5 million, Common Sense presented a persuasive case for freedom from British dominance when the nation was at a crossroads. Paine’s writing style resonated with everyday people, deliberately avoiding the complex philosophical jargon of Enlightenment thinkers. Instead, he structured his arguments like a sermon, incorporating Biblical references to connect independence with prevalent Protestant beliefs, thus forging a distinctly American political identity. Historian Gordon S. Wood has aptly described Common Sense as the most incendiary and popular pamphlet of the entire revolutionary era.

This show includes AI-generated content.