| Thomas Paine was perhaps one of the most influential people of the American Revolution. Paine published a pro-independence monograph titled Common Sense. It was released to literate colonists on January 1776, anonymously, of course. About 120000 were alleged to have been distributed, the colonies themselves only had a few million inhabitants. Common Sense encouraged many people, along with George Washington, so seek political independence from Great Britian. During the war, Paine published a series of pamphlets titled The Crisis. These pamphlets helped keep the colonists and troops hopeful and full of optimism. When the first Crisis paper was published in 1776, it was so inspiring that General George Washington ordered his troops to read it. After the colonists defeated the British in the war, it was Paine who suggested the name The United States of America for the new nation. Thomas Paine helped America join together and fight against the British as one. |
