A pamphlet written in America by Englishman Thomas Paine, published on January 10, 1776. It called for American independence and a union of the American colonies, and as propaganda, it influenced colonists to pursue both in the Revolutionary War. Paine's “Crisis” papers, issued from 1776 to 1783, were each signed “Common Sense.”
See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.
The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. Copyright © 2001, 2002 by Oxford University Press, Inc. All rights reserved.
