In 1737 a man named Thomas Paine was born in England. As a teenage he worked as a corset maker then later as a sailor and schoolteacher. Paine moved to Pennsylvania in 1774 and would shortly become a supporter of the American Revolution. Two years later Paine wrote a lengthy pamphlet which he titled "Common Sense". Fascinated with the idea of independence, Paine expressed in his pamphlet that Britain's tyranny and oppression of the colonies was unjust. He even went to call Britain a monster rather than a mother.
Common Sense was first published anonymously and was an instant success within the colonies. It is considered one of the most influential documents in American history. Before this pamphlet independence was never given any serious consideration. It united the average people with government officials in their thirst of liberty. Common Sense served as a major catalyst for the Revolution (it basically catapulted the war and thirst of independence from the colonists). It transformed quarrels between the colonists and British authority into a series of Battles that would change America's history forever.
Paine later went on to serve in the American army and work for the Committee of Foreign Affairs. However he did eventually return to live in England where he still mustered propaganda in support of the Revolution. The British obviously were not happy with the actions and political opinions of Paine. Paine fled to France but was arrested. He returned to New York in 1802 and died in 1809.
Paine's pamphlet Common Sense was a huge hit in the colonies. It had one of the largest sale and circulation of any article or book to be published in America. Even today it remains one of the all-time selling best books and still is in print.
Comments