Thomas Paines Common Sense is considered the most important political pamphlet in American history. It was extremely popular and influential, selling upwards of 75,000 copies in just three months at the beginning of 1776. At the time, its message was considered very radical, which made some leading revolutionaries uncomfortable.
Indeed, reflecting upon the pamphlet later in life, John Adams called it malicious and shortsighted. What was so radical about Common Sense and why did some Americans
consider it dangerous?
Chicago Manual of Style footnotes required.
