"It was basically Common Sense"

             Common Sense is a Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. It was first published anonymously on January 10, 1776, during the American Revolution. At the time when it was published it had the largest sale and circulation of any book in American history. Common Sense presented the American colonists with a powerful argument for independence from British rule at a time when the question of independence was still undecided. Paine wrote and reasoned in a style that common people understood. Paine structured Common Sense like a sermon and relied on Biblical references to make his case to the people. Thomas Paine began work on Common Sense in late 1775 under the working title of Plain Truth. Thomas Paine received help from Benjamin Rush who suggested the title Common Sense and helped edit and publish it. Paine developed his ideas into a forty-eight page pamphlet. Paine published Common Sense anonymously because of its treasonous content. Common Sense was printed and sold by R. Bell on Third Street in   Philadelphia. It sold as many as 120,000 copies in the first three months, 500,000 in the first year, and went through twenty-five editions in the first year alone. Paine donated his royalties from Common Sense to George Washington’s continental. 

            Thomas Paine had some very strong opinions that he voiced in his pamphlets. He thought that it was absurd for an island to rule a continent. He also thought that being part of Britain would drag America into unnecessary European Wars and keep it from the international commerce in which America excelled. Finally another opinion of his was that Britain ruled the colonies for its own benefit Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was solely one of the most influential writings leading the way for an independent America free from the ruling of the British.