About Thomas Paine and Common Sense
Common Sense, a pamphlet (published January 10, 1776) by Thomas Paine, which, in the first year of the American Revolutionary War, had great influence in turning American public opinion toward the idea of complete independence from Great Britain. Common Sense was an important factor in bringing about the issuance of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress in July, 1776. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense pointed out that the colonies received no advantage from their connection with the mother country, which was intent on exploiting them; and that every consideration of common sense called for the colonies to become independent of Great Britain and to establish a government of their own, not monarchical but republican. The pamphlet, published anonymously in Philadelphia, sold over 100,000 copies in about 10 weeks. |
