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Overview
Common Sense is a pamphlet by British-born American political activist, philosopher, and theorists Thomas Paine that was first published in 1775
. In it, Paine argues that the American colonies should seek full independence from Britain.The pamphlet convinced many who were unsure of the purpose of the war and played a profound role in influencing the opinion of laymen and lawmakers alike. Common Sense was crucial in turning American opinion against Britain and was one of the key factors in the colonies’ decision to engage in a battle for complete independence.
Read the free full text, the overall summary, brief discussions of the pamphlet’s core ideas, and explanations of important quotes from Common Sense.
