Nonfiction · 1776
Common Sense
Published anonymously in Philadelphia in January 1776, Thomas Paine’s pamphlet argued in plain words, to ordinary readers, that the American colonies should separate from Britain and govern themselves as a republic. It sold in the hundreds of thousands within months and turned a dispute over rights into an argument for independence.
It is short, direct and still quotable — “the cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind” — and it is presented here complete, with its appendix.
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About this edition
The text is free of copyright. This edition was prepared from an authoritative digitisation, processed by Bibliomancer under its own review protocol; every automated correction is recorded in its transformation log. Rights assessed for CA, EU, GB, US.
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About the author
1737–1809 · Enlightenment
Thomas Paine (1737–1809) was born in Thetford, Norfolk, worked as a staymaker and excise officer, and emigrated to Philadelphia in 1774 with a letter from Benjamin Franklin. Common Sense (1776) and the American Crisis papers made him the voice of the Revolution; Rights of Man (1791–92) defended the French Revolution and forced him to flee England; The Age of Reason (1794–95) attacked organised religion. He died in New York, largely ostracised.
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