Common Sense (pamphlet) facts for kids
Pamphlet's original cover
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| Author | Thomas Paine |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Published | January 10, 1776 |
| Pages | 48 |
Common Sense was a very important pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1775 and 1776. It encouraged people in the Thirteen Colonies to seek independence from Great Britain. Paine wrote it in a clear and strong way, using good reasons to convince ordinary people to fight for a fair government.
The pamphlet was published without an author's name on January 10, 1776. This was right at the start of the American Revolution. It quickly became incredibly popular.
It was sold and given out everywhere. People even read it aloud in taverns and meeting places. Compared to the number of people living in the colonies back then (about 2.5 million), Common Sense sold more copies than any other book in American history. Even today, it is still one of the best-selling American titles ever. You can still buy it!
Why Common Sense Was So Popular
Common Sense was one of the most popular books in America during the 1700s. Thomas Paine wrote in a way that was easy for most people to understand. This was different from many other writers of the Enlightenment period, whose ideas were often hard to follow.
Paine also used ideas and phrases from the Bible. He included common sayings, called idioms, that many of the Protestant colonists already knew. This helped people connect with his message.
How Common Sense Changed America
This important document played a huge role in the American Revolutionary War. It helped lead to the Declaration of Independence. The Second Continental Congress wrote and signed this declaration later in 1776.
Common Sense helped create strong support for the American Revolution. It convinced many colonists that becoming independent from Britain was the right thing to do.
See also
In Spanish: El sentido común para niños
