These Are the Times: Thomas Paine and the Power of Common Sense

Dr. Aaron Zubia explains how Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" revolutionized colonial thinking in 1776 by presenting independence as the logical solution for America. This radical pamphlet sold 100,000 copies and helped catalyze support for the Declaration of Independence through accessible, powerful language that spoke directly to ordinary citizens.• Thomas Paine came from England to America to escape debtor's prison and met Benjamin Franklin who set him up at a Philadelphia printing shop• Published in January 1776, "Common Sense" argued it was illogical for an island nation to rule a continent across an ocean• Paine used biblical references to argue against monarchy, citing passages where God warned against human kings• Despite not being an orthodox Christian himself, Paine effectively used scriptural language to connect with religious colonists• His "American Crisis" pamphlets, especially the first with "These are the times that try men's souls," inspired Washington's troops• Paine's radical democratic views sometimes conflicted with other founders' more conservative positions• Later works like "Rights of Man" and "Age of Reason" criticized orthodox Christianity and supported the French Revolution, diminishing his popularity• The 18th-century public sphere centered around pamphlets read in coffeehouses and theaters, similar to today's social media but more communal Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum!School of Civic and Economic Thought and LeadershipCenter for American Civics