United States
On January 10, 1776, Thomas Paine published “Common Sense” in Philadelphia. The pamphlet argued plainly for American independence and criticized monarchy and hereditary rule. Its accessible style reached a wide readership among colonists of different backgrounds. The work helped shift public opinion toward a complete break with Britain. Sales were extraordinary for the time, and multiple editions spread rapidly through the colonies. “Common Sense” became one of the most influential political texts of the American Revolution.
