In early January 1776, Thomas Paine published Common Sense, a 47-page pamphlet that powerfully argued for American independence from Great Britain. Written in clear, plain language, the pamphlet quickly spread revolutionary ideas to ordinary colonists and shifted public opinion toward a complete break from British rule. Paine warned against the tyranny of King George III, emphasized natural rights and freedom, and declared that Americans had the opportunity to “begin the world over again.” Selling hundreds of thousands of copies within a year, Common Sense transformed colonial resistance into a unified movement for independence and played a decisive role in shaping the American Revolution.
Read the full article here: https://familyschool.org/spotlight/thomaspaine-commonsense-6
This episode was created using Notebook LM voice-overs and original research by Rosemary Pollock, historian and published author, who holds an MA in U.S. History and an MA in U.S. History with a focus on the History of Science and Medicine.
Produced by Isaac Okawa with American Heritage Worldwide.
