Page "United States Declaration of Independence" Paragraph 10

In January 1776, just as it became clear in the colonies that the king was not inclined to act as a conciliator, Thomas Paine's pamphlet Common Sense was published.

Paine, who had only recently arrived in the colonies from England, argued in favor of colonial independence, advocating republicanism as an alternative to monarchy and hereditary rule.

Common Sense introduced no new ideas, and probably had little direct effect on Congress's thinking about independence ; its importance was in stimulating public debate on a topic that few had previously dared to openly discuss.

Public support for separation from Great Britain steadily increased after the publication of Paine's enormously popular pamphlet.