Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense, the influential 1776 pamphlet advocating American independence from Great Britain.
Published anonymously in Philadelphia on January 10, 1776, Common Sense presented arguments against monarchy and in favor of representative government in direct, accessible language. Paine aimed his appeal at ordinary colonists rather than only political leaders, helping make independence a subject of popular debate.
The pamphlet was issued as tensions and military conflict were escalating, several months before the Declaration of Independence. It circulated widely through print, tavern readings, and handwritten copies. Paine's writing helped strengthen support for a complete break with Britain, although historians debate how directly it influenced Congress's final decision.
Common Sense is often confused with the Declaration of Independence because both argued for separation. They were different works: Paine's pamphlet was a persuasive political argument, while the Declaration was the Continental Congress's formal statement. Paine later served the revolutionary cause in other ways, including writing The American Crisis during the war.