jan 10, 1776 - Common Sense
Description:
Common Sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine advocating for independence from Great Britain. Paine wrote about the flaws in a monarchical government, complained that the English constitution was borne out of tyrannies of the king and aristocracy, and affirmed that honesty and good moral character is worth more than "crowned ruffians." Paine assured readers that if they remained colonies, their economy would be forever tied down by the Navigation Acts, but could flourish on its own. Americans could stay out of the many wars fought by Great Britain against other European powers, and most grandiosely of all, become a haven for freedom, a savior of mankind.
It was written in layman's terms, and although not everyone could read, those who could read it to everyone else. Common Sense was directed towards everybody, not just the elite, in an effort to include the number of people thinking about politics. It soon became the most widely read book in America (percentage-wise) and sold more than 150,000 copies. It dramatically changed how Americans saw the war, as, before the book, most hoped to eventually repair relations with Great Britain. Instead, they desired to form a new republic, and less than five months later the Declaration of Independence was ratified.
Full Text: https://bit.ly/2KIi9lj
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