“Common Sense” by Thomas Paine

The idea of breaking away from Britain was a hard idea for some people to overcome. Even after several battles between the American colonists and the British army many  were reluctant to sever ties with their Mother Country because they saw themselves as loyal subjects. However they no longer wanted to endure the tyrannical laws and unfair taxation that they were being subjected to.

In January 1776, Thomas Paine published a 47-page pamphlet that swayed the American view towards independence. The pamphlet sold an estimated 500,000 copies to a population of roughly 2 million colonists. Paine’s words ignited the desire that was needed in the American people to fight for their freedom.

In Common Sense Paine argued that Americans were in a unique position in the which they could change history. He listed many of the injustices that they had suffered under King George III and inspired the people to create a new type of government where they could be free from tyranny and rule themselves.

“We have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest purest constitution on the face of the earth. We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”

The ideas in Paine’s pamphlet not only inspired the people to desire a new nation but by attracting public support for the revolution it put pressure on the leaders of the rebellion to declare independence. Even after the Revolutionary War was won the influence of Common Sense continued, with several ideas making their way into the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.

“Common Sense” printable versions (pdf):
Text Only • Journal Style • Cornell Notes

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