Thomas Paine’s pamphlet “Common Sense” was a transformative publication for the American revolutionary cause. Published in January 1776, it shifted American sentiment toward independence. Paine’s critique of the monarchy and advocacy for self-governance resonated with those oppressed by British rule, urging many undecided colonialists to embrace the American identity. The pamphlet catalyzed a paradigm shift within the colonies; Paine argued for a new nation founded on individual rights and religious freedom. “Common Sense” not only galvanized public support for independence, surpassing the influence of the Declaration of Independence, but also shaped the nation’s founding principles and inspired subsequent constitutional documents. Despite lacking formal recognition, Paine’s ideas, often attributed to “the forgotten founder,” remain a cornerstone of American history.

The Continental Congress served as the government of the American colonies, and later the United States, from 1774 to 1789. Initially convened in response to the Intolerable Acts, the First Continental Congress met in 1774, comprised of delegates from the colonies. In 1775, the Second Continental Congress convened after the American Revolutionary War had already begun. In 1776, it declared America’s independence from Britain.