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Thomas Paine’s Common Sense | A250 Mini Documentary
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In early 1776, as the Revolutionary War intensified across North America, the American cause stood at a crossroads. Fighting had erupted at Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill, British warships patrolled colonial waters, and a massive invasion force was preparing to crush the rebellion. Yet many colonists still hesitated to break with Britain until Thomas Paine’s Common Sense delivered a bold, uncompromising case for independence and republican self-government.
The pamphlet became an instant bestseller, spreading through taverns, homes, and the Continental Army and helping turn public opinion toward independence. Its powerful case for natural rights and a government of citizens influenced Congress and helped pave the way for the Declaration of Independence in July 1776.
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Thomas Paine published Common Sense in January 1776 support of the Patriot cause. Using clear, plain language, Paine rallied the colonists to support the break from Britain.
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