Thomas Paine and Common Sense

Thomas Paine, arguably one of the most influential figures of American Revolution, rose to prominence in late 17th century when he published his pamphlet titled the “Common Sense”. Thomas Paine was a self-educated English essayist and pamphleteer who emigrated to the Americas during the American Revolution and became in 1774. At that time, he was working as an editor for Pennsylvanian Magazine and according to many historians such as James Roark, Paine was very social and was considered a “Coffeehouse intellectual”. During a time of great tension and war, Paine was ushered by the affiliates of the “Second Continental Congress” to write up a 50-page revolutionary polemic on American independence from Great Britain.

In this pamphlet, Thomas Paine condemned the British monarchy and wanted to share his belief that Americans had no choice but to separate themselves from Great Britain’s abusive rule because Britain had only ruled the colonies for its own benefits, and not for colonists’ benefits. He advocated that “I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense; and have no other preliminaries to settle with the reader, that he will divest himself of prejudice and prepossession”. According to Roark, Paine was very passionate about the fight for America's freedom and hoped to enlist every America to support the cause for liberty. Paine’s pamphlet’s title "common sense' served as an revelation for the colonists to fight against the tyranny of Britain. Paine yearned for his countrymen to ponder over the concerns of British oppression and to decide upon their sentiment.

In addition, Paine asserted that “America would have flourished as much and probably much more, had no European power had anything to do with her,” Here at first Paine emphasizes that America, as an independent country, will openly be able to trade with other countries, even with countries hostile to Britain. Second, America does not need to import huge amounts of raw materials for production from other countries because America