Common Sense Revisted

By James Cox for Corey Morrow There is a new freedom pamphlet sweeping across America. It has been featured by Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty, Restore the Republic and Republic Magazine, Freedom Law School, and many other liberty organizations. I am pleased to announce my support for this new pamphlet and wish to share it with you. In January 1776, it seemed unlikely that the 13 American colonies would declare independence from England. Even as George Washington was leading the Colonial Army against the British in Boston, most of the delegates wanted to patch things up with King George. The advocates of Freedom, led by John Adams, asked for a non-binding survey to see where they stood. The results were disheartening. Less than a third voted to declare independence. What happened between January and July that led to our Declaration of Independence? COMMON SENSE, written by Thomas Paine, was published late in the month of January. It presented arguments to refute the divine birthright of kings. Paine made the case for individual sovereignty, declaring all powers of government are derived from the individuals that created the government. The first printing of 50,000 copies sold out in one day. The second printing also sold out in one day. An estimated 500,000 copies were printed and circulated over the next few months. At the time, the population of the colonies was only 3 million. The vast majority of the population had read Paine’s pamphlet. [Continue reading]

digg story ~ Submitted by evryonesacritic