Common Sense
Definition
"Common Sense" is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 advocating independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies.
Analogy
Imagine you're trying to convince your friends to go on an adventurous trip instead of staying home. You write them an exciting letter detailing why this trip would be beneficial - that's essentially what Thomas Paine did with "Common Sense", but his adventure was independence from Britain!
Related terms
Declaration of Independence: The document adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4th 1776 declaring independence from Great Britain.
Propaganda: Information used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
Revolutionary War: The war fought by American colonies against British rule aiming for their independence.
"Common Sense" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Practice Questions (12)
- Thomas Paine's pamphlet Common Sense was most instrumental in....
- How did the point of view in Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" pamphlet influence colonial attitudes towards independence?
- How does Thomas Paine's audience affect his arguments in "Common Sense"?
- Who wrote "Common Sense," arguing for American independence from Britain?
- Who was the author of the influential pamphlet "Common Sense" that advocated for American independence?
- What principle did Thomas Paine argue for in his pamphlet "Common Sense"?
- How were the political ideas of Thomas Paine in "Common Sense" different from those of John Locke?
- How might colonial resistance to British rule be different if Thomas Paine had never written "Common Sense"?
- Who wrote "Common Sense," a pamphlet that played a crucial role in influencing public opinion towards supporting independence from Britain?
- Why did Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" have such a significant influence on revolutionary sentiment?
- Who was known for his influential pamphlet "Common Sense" that advocated independence from Britain?
- Who authored the "Common Sense" pamphlet that pushed for American independence?
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