Common Sense

Thomas Paine's incendiary 1776 pamphlet arguing for American independence from Britain. Written in plain, forceful prose accessible to common readers, Paine challenged the legitimacy of monarchy and… Read more

Thomas Paine's incendiary 1776 pamphlet arguing for American independence from Britain. Written in plain, forceful prose accessible to common readers, Paine challenged the legitimacy of monarchy and hereditary rule, making the case that self-governance was not only desirable but inevitable. The most widely read pamphlet of the American Revolution, it helped galvanize public opinion for independence. Show less