Thomas Paine’s Common Sense Sounds a Clarion Call for Independence
The first edition of Thomas Paine’s revolutionary pamphlet, Common Sense, was published by Richard Bell in Philadelphia on January 10, 1776. Using “simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense,” Paine argued that the American colonies should break away from Britain and form an independent nation. At the time, although the war with Britain had been going on since the previous April, few Americans were aiming for independence: most were fighting for what they saw as their rights under the British constitution. For example, some colonists demanded some sort of representation in Parliament, others wanted some recent oppressive laws to be repealed, and so on. But Paine and others had already concluded that “reconciliation” — that is, coming to terms with the “mother country” — was out of the question, and it was time for America to strike out on her own. Common Sense was a great tool in helping to spread that viewpoint. People throughout the colonies read and discussed it, and many became convinced that independence was the solution to their political problems.
A few interesting facts about Thomas Paine and Common Sense:
- “Paine” was originally spelled “Pain”; it was in 1776 that he started adding an “e” on the end.
- Paine was an Englishman who had come to America a little over a year earlier.
- Common Sense was published anonymously. Paine said this was because he wanted people to pay attention to the arguments, rather than to the person who wrote them. He managed to keep his authorship a secret for some time.
- Not only did Paine not put his name on the pamphlet, but he didn’t make any money from it — even though it sold tens of thousands of copies. He directed that his share of the profits be used to help the American army.
- An expanded edition of Common Sense was published on February 14, 1776, by William and Thomas Bradford.
Here are a few inspiring and thought-provoking excerpts from Common Sense:
The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind…
Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived…
The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth. ‘Tis not the affair of a city, a country, a province, or a kingdom, but of a continent — of at least one eighth part of the habitable globe. ‘Tis not the concern of a day, a year, or an age; posterity are virtually involved in the contest, and will be more or less affected, even to the end of time, by the proceedings now. Now is the seed time of continental union, faith and honor…
The reformation was preceded by the discovery of America, as if the Almighty graciously meant to open a sanctuary to the persecuted in future years, when home should afford neither friendship nor safety…
As parents, we can have no joy, knowing that this government is not sufficiently lasting to ensure any thing which we may bequeath to posterity: And by a plain method of argument, as we are running the next generation into debt, we ought to do the work of it…
But where says some is the King of America? I’ll tell you Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain. …let a day be solemnly set apart for proclaiming the charter [of government]; let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America THE LAW IS KING. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be King; and there ought to be no other…
A government of our own is our natural right…
O ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose, not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth! Every spot of the old world is overrun with oppression. Freedom hath been hunted round the globe. Asia, and Africa, have long expelled her. — Europe regards her like a stranger, and England hath given her warning to depart. O! receive the fugitive, and prepare in time an asylum for mankind…
As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensible duty of all government, to protect all conscientious professors thereof, and I know of no other business which government hath to do therewith…
…we have every opportunity and every encouragement before us to form the noblest purest constitution on the face of the earth. We have it in our power to begin the world over again. A situation, similar to the present, hath not happened since the days of Noah until now. The birthday of a new world is at hand…
Our plan is peace for ever. We are tired of contention with Britain, and can see no real end to it but in a final separation…