Thomas Paine wrote the 1776 pamphlet Common Sense, which argued that the American colonies should become independent.
Published anonymously in Philadelphia on January 10, 1776, the pamphlet attacked monarchy and made a direct case for a complete break with Great Britain. Paine used clear, forceful language aimed at ordinary colonists rather than only political elites.
Common Sense quickly became one of the most widely read publications in the colonies. It was often read aloud in taverns and meeting places, helping spread arguments for independence before the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
A common mix-up is confusing Common Sense with the Declaration of Independence. Paine wrote the pamphlet, but Thomas Jefferson drafted most of the Declaration's text. Benjamin Rush helped Paine find a printer and suggested the pamphlet's title.