When Was Common Sense Published By Thomas Paine

Common Sense was published by Thomas Paine in early January 1776. The reason for publication was because colonists believed they were entitled to the same rights as Englishmen. Common Sense, which was published anonymously at first, was a pamphlet that argued against all the laws and rules that the Englishmen had. Paine and the colonists believed that it wasn't right for a king to be a ruler. In his pamphlet, Paine explained how the whole government should be changed. He didn't believe that a king or a hereditary monarch should have control over who rules. Instead, Thomas Paine introduced the idea of popular sovereignty which states that the people and/or citizens should decide who rules-- which makes perfect sense since the rulers are here

The problems they caused included the Sugar Act where everyone that imported molasses or sugar from foreign countries had to be taxed. Another very big problem for the colonists was the Tea Act, where the government taxed everyone for the tea they used because of the great amount of debt Great Britain was in. As a way to fight back, the colonists decided to dump tea worth more than one million dollars in the water. This event came to be known as the Boston Tea Party. After the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliaments came up with a set of laws called the Coercive Act that was known as the Intolerable Act to some people. This act was made as a way to get payback on the colonists. It also closed the harbor until the tea in the water was paid for in pound sterlings, and it made sure to ban town meetings without asking the governor

At first, Paine decided to leave the pamphlet anonymous because he didn't know it would turn into a huge sensation and blow up as it did. “Small islands not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something very absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island.” In this quote, Paine is insinuating that we should not be governed by an island (Great Britain) because they can't take care of themselves. He also says, “Of more worth is one honest man to society, and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.” This quote backs up what Paine said about not having a monarchy as their form of government because this quote means: One honest person is better to society and to god, than one crowned violent person. Also, a monarchy would never work because the power is not chosen by the people. It is given to one person and the cycle continues on with that one family ruling forever. Instead, Paine brings up why we should have an American republic of popular sovereignty because that gives the people a say. They get to elect their own representative and also, in a republic, there is no way for one person to have too much