Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense, a 1776 pamphlet that argued for American independence from Britain. It was published anonymously in Philadelphia on January 10, 1776, but Paine’s authorship soon became known.
Written in direct, accessible prose, the pamphlet challenged monarchy and hereditary rule while presenting independence as practical and morally justified. Paine addressed ordinary readers rather than limiting his argument to political elites, helping make the case for a complete break with Britain widely discussed.
Common Sense became one of the most influential publications of the American revolutionary era. It sold and circulated in unusually large numbers for its time, though exact sales estimates vary. Paine donated much of his writing income to the revolutionary cause. His later pamphlets, including The American Crisis, also sought to strengthen public support for independence and the Continental Army.