Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense helped popularize American independence in 1776.
Published anonymously in Philadelphia on January 10, 1776, Common Sense argued that the colonies should break completely from Great Britain. Paine wrote in direct, accessible language rather than relying on the formal political style common in the period, allowing the pamphlet to reach a broad audience.
The work attacked hereditary monarchy and argued that a distant island should not rule a continent. It also addressed practical questions about defense, trade, and the ability of the colonies to govern themselves. Its publication helped move public discussion from demands for reform toward support for independence.
Common Sense did not itself declare independence, and it was not an official act of Congress. Its significance came from its influence on public opinion during the months before the Declaration of Independence. Paine later wrote The American Crisis, another influential series of Revolutionary-era pamphlets.