Ace the Enlightenment & Revolutions Challenge 2026 – Spark Brilliance and Ignite Change!

Thomas Paine authored Common Sense, published in 1776. He argued that the American colonies should break from Britain and form a republic, rather than remain under a monarchy. The pamphlet’s plain, direct language made complex political ideas approachable for everyday readers, which helped spread the case for independence beyond the elite. Its persuasive argument shifted public opinion in favor of independence and provided moral and intellectual support for colonial leaders to pursue a break with Britain and establish a government based on republican principles.