1776 the book5/22/2023 ![]() ![]() Thomas Paine arrived in North America at an auspicious time. Illiterate Americans heard it read aloud. Those who could not buy the book borrowed copies from friends or neighbors. Regardless of the exact number, Common Sense enjoyed enormous popularity. Estimates range from 70,000 to 500,000, with most estimates falling between 100,000 to 150,000. No one is sure how many copies of Common Sense were printed in 1776. Common Sense: The Right Pamphlet at the Right Time ![]() Philadelphia publisher Robert Bell published the 46-page pamphlet on Januand hyped it in Philadelphia newspapers. There he began honing his writing skills and started Common Sense in late 1775. Franklin’s letter enabled Paine to gain employment in the Philadelphia newspaper business. ![]() Paine, an impoverished immigrant from Great Britain, arrived in British North America in November of 1774, armed with little more than a raw talent for political rhetoric and a letter of introduction from Benjamin Franklin. It is a safe bet that no book published in 2023 will do so, either.Īmerican history teachers are familiar with the broad context behind the publication of Thomas Paine’s Common Sensein early 1776. Although several political books hit the non-fiction best-seller list in 2022, none delivered the impact a 46-page pamphlet did when it was published early in the American Revolutionary War. Various media sources publish “best books of the year” each December, accompanied by a preview of books scheduled for release in the new year. It’s a pattern familiar to most Americans. ![]()
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