Common Sense

Common Sense by Thomas Paine is a powerful political pamphlet published in 1776 that argued for the American colonies’ independence from Great Britain. Written in clear and accessible language, Paine challenged monarchy and hereditary government while advocating for representative democracy and the rights of ordinary people. He argued that political authority should be based on the will of the people rather than tradition or inherited privilege. Widely read and influential during the American Revolution, Common Sense helped shape public opinion in favor of independence and became an important document in the development of American political thought.