Thomas Paine: The Pungent Pamphleteer Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is credited with having precipitated the move for independence. In fact, the exact nature of the American cause would have been rather hard to define in 1775 or early 1776. Clearly the Americans wanted the English to stop abusing them, as they saw it, but how was fighting a war supposed to achieve that end? What would constitute victory? As long as they were still British subjects, …showed first 75 words of 720 total…

…showed last 75 words of 720 total…day, Americans continue to fight for still more freedom; for blacks, women and other minorities. And we will always “undergo the fatigues of supporting it,” as long as there are those who have not yet been able to “reap the blessings of freedom.” Thomas Paine proved that it does not matter what class you are born into, or how great a formal education you receive. What matters is what is in your mind and heart.