How Did Thomas Paine Contribute To American Independence

Thomas Paine's Common Sense

During 1776, the most important persuader of American Independence was Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, a pamphlet that expressed his advocacy for the independence of American colonies from Great Britain. As the pamphlet gained popularity, it received both praise and criticism from Patriots who supported the cause, as well as rejection from Loyalists who supported Britain. The Loyalists found the pamphlet to be extreme and labeled it as insidious and absurd. In contrast, the majority of Patriots found it to be a wonder and a miracle that was promoting a good cause. However, there were still some patriots that believed it was hurting the cause.

A lot of the support for Common Sense was seen in colonial newspapers such as The Pennsylvania Evening Post and The New York Journal who received letters from colonists that wanted to show support for the pamphlet. They cited it as “plain [straightforward]” “just“ and “conclusive”. It convinced them that American independence was necessary and that Thomas Paine had given the American individual the materials needed for liberty. Meanwhile, one of the

loudest supporters was the Connecticut Gazette, which conveyed Americans as blind until they had read the pamphlet and been enlightened. The article said that until Common Sense, previous writings that promoted independence had been detested. It declared that through Common Sense, America will rise and claim independence, gaining admiration from countries all around the world.
Alarmed by Common Sense, a Loyalist by the name of Reverend Charles Inglis responded by writing a rebuttal.

He claimed the pamphlet was “insidious”, “pernicious” and that it promoted bad ideas during a time when the population was unstable. Additionally, he wrote “...he gives vent to his own private resentment and ambition, and recommends a scheme which must infallibly prove ruinous.” believing that renouncing allegiance from the King and Britain would be a disaster and was far from common sense. Another criticizer was a moderate Loyalist by the name of Hannah Griffitts. She wrote a poem where she labeled Paine a “Snake beneath the Grass”. She thought the pamphlet promoted extreme views that would make reconciliation with Britain even less likely. A lot of Loyalists throughout the colonies echoed the views of Rev. Charles Inglis and poet Hannah

Griffitts.
Although most Patriots supported what Common Sense said, some Patriots thought the pamphlet was extreme and that it undermined the work of the Continental Congress. One of them was founding father John Adams. He called the work “disastrous” and in a letter he wrote to his wife, he said he wished to reverse the effect the pamphlet had on the American people. An additional Patriot who found Paine’s work to be unsatisfactory was Thomas Jefferson. He went as far as to mention that he never referenced the pamphlet when writing the Declaration of Independence. Although both Adams and Jefferson supported the main ideas from Common Sense, they made it clear that its approach was somewhat radical.
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense received strong reviews from both Loyalists and Patriots.
While one side expressed admiration and the other condemnation, both groups acknowledged its necessary role in spreading the idea of American independence. Common Sense laid a foundation that allowed the discussion, betterment and growth of independent ideals throughout not only North America but the world.