Common Sense is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1775-1776
advocating independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen
Colonies. Writing in clear and persuasive prose, Paine marshaled moral
and political arguments to encourage common people in the Colonies to
fight for egalitarian government. It was published anonymously on
January 10, 1776, at the beginning of the American Revolution and became
an immediate sensation.