Who wrote the 1776 revolutionary pamphlet Common Sense?

Thomas Paine wrote the 1776 revolutionary pamphlet Common Sense.

Published anonymously in Philadelphia on January 10, 1776, Common Sense argued that the American colonies should pursue complete independence from Great Britain. Paine used direct, accessible language rather than the formal style common in political writing, helping the pamphlet reach ordinary readers as well as political leaders.

The pamphlet was initially published by Robert Bell and was sold widely in the Thirteen Colonies. It was often read aloud in taverns, meeting places, and military camps. Paine’s arguments attacked hereditary monarchy and supported representative government, making independence appear practical and morally justified to many colonists.

Common Sense is sometimes confused with the Declaration of Independence because both promoted separation from Britain. They were different works: Paine’s pamphlet persuaded the public, while the Declaration was an official statement adopted by Congress. Paine later wrote the American Crisis pamphlet series during the Revolutionary War.