Thomas Paine authored the 1776 pamphlet Common Sense, which urged the American colonies to seek independence.
Common Sense was published anonymously in Philadelphia on January 10, 1776. Paine used direct, accessible prose to argue that hereditary monarchy was unjust and that the American colonies should establish a republic separate from Great Britain.
The pamphlet quickly became one of the most influential pieces of revolutionary writing. It was read aloud in homes, taverns, and meeting places, helping make independence a widely discussed public issue before the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
A common mix-up is confusing Common Sense with The American Crisis, another revolutionary pamphlet series by Paine. Common Sense made the case for independence, while The American Crisis encouraged resistance during the war.