<p>Among the most influential authors and reformers of his age, Thomas Paine (1737&ndash;1809) was born in England but went on to play an important role in both the American and French Revolutions. In 1774, he emigrated to America where, for a time, he helped to edit the&nbsp;<em>Pennsylvania Magazine</em>. On January 10, 1776, he published his pamphlet&nbsp;<em>Common Sense,</em>&nbsp;a persuasive argument for the colonies&#39; political and economic separation from Britain.<br />
<em>Common Sense</em>&nbsp;cites the evils of monarchy, accuses the British government of inflicting economic and social injustices upon the colonies, and points to the absurdity of an island attempting to rule a continent. Credited by George Washington as having changed the minds of many of his countrymen, the document sold over 500,000 copies within a few months.<br />
Today,&nbsp;<em>Common Sense</em>&nbsp;remains a landmark document in the struggle for freedom, distinguished not only by Paine&#39;s ideas but also by its clear and passionate presentation. Designed to ignite public opinion against autocratic rule, the pamphlet offered a careful balance between imagination and judgment, and appropriate language and expression to fit the subject. It immediately found a receptive audience, heartened Washington&#39;s despondent army, and foreshadowed much of the phrasing and substance of the Declaration of Independence.</p>