Common Sense was the 1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine that urged the American colonies to seek independence.
Paine published Common Sense anonymously in Philadelphia on January 10, 1776. Written in direct, accessible language, it attacked hereditary monarchy and argued that the colonies should establish an independent republic rather than remain part of the British Empire.
The pamphlet became one of the most influential works of the American revolutionary era. It circulated widely in printed editions and helped move public discussion from resistance to British policies toward complete independence. Paine later donated much of the income from the work to the revolutionary cause.
Common Sense appeared several months before the Declaration of Independence. It did not itself declare independence or create a government; instead, it made a forceful political case for separation. Paine's later Crisis papers supported American morale during the war, but they were a separate series of writings.