Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine is best known as being the author of Common Sense. In 1776, Common Sense was published in Philadelphia and became an instant best-seller. Paine had written the pamphlet in the language of a common man and used religious terms to attract more and more people to read his arguments. Paine was not religious himself, but he knew the people who would read his arguments were. Paine argued for two main points. He wanted independence from England and encouraged the creation of a democratic-republic. He also argued that Great Britain, being a small island, cannot govern the huge continent. |
Above: Thomas Paine's Common Sense.