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American Writers: a journey through history is a permanent archive for educators, researchers and every one interested in the writers featured in the  C‑SPAN series.


I

  

  

  
In January of 1776, Thomas Paine anonymously published the 50-page pamphlet Common Sense which supported America's independence from England and its monarchy. Paine arrived from England after the conflict between the colonists
Paine
and the British had already begun. Paine's work helped the colonists unite behind the idea that America should be free of England's oppressive taxes and that they should demand independence from the monarchy because reconciliation with the crown was impossible. Within months after its publication, this pamphlet sold over 500,000 copies, and many scholars credit this work as a major force leading to the Declaration of Independence.

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Common Sense

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