Posted on 01/09/2010 8:11:35 AM PST by syc1959
On January 9th, 1776, Thomas Paine published Common Sense, a pamphlet that set the American colonies a fire with a longing for Independence.
Paine, born in England met then living in London, Benjamin Franklin, who advised Paine to Go to America. Arriving in America almost dead from a fever, once recovered and with letters of recommendation Paine got a job as a magazine writer. With 'more brains then books' but Paine who could work magic with pen and paper, established himself and in Common sense made bold statements that America should demand freedom, 'The birthday of a new world is at hand' O! ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose not only the tyranny but the tyrant, stand forth! Every spot of the Old World is overrun with oppression. Freedom hath been hunted round the globe, Asia and Africa have long expelled her. Europe regards her as a stranger and England hath given her warning to depart. O! receive the fugitive and prepare in time an asylum for mankind.
Thomas Edison, 150 years later would state, "That in Common Sense, Paine flared a document so powerful that the Revolution became inevitable."
http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/commonsense/
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