Thomas Paine wrote The American Crisis during the Revolutionary War.
Paine began publishing The American Crisis in December 1776, when American forces faced severe military pressure. Its opening sentence, “These are the times that try men's souls,” became one of the best-known lines associated with the Revolution. George Washington reportedly had the first essay read aloud to his troops before the Battle of Trenton.
The series encouraged soldiers and civilians to continue supporting the revolutionary cause. Unlike Common Sense, which made a broad case for independence earlier in 1776, The American Crisis responded directly to the war’s changing circumstances and urged perseverance.
Paine served the patriot cause as a writer rather than as a senior battlefield commander. He later took part in political upheavals in Europe and wrote additional works, including Rights of Man. The two Paine titles are often blended together, but Common Sense argued for independence while The American Crisis sought to sustain resistance after fighting had begun.