The Commodification of Revolution

Common Sense did not, of course, “cause” either the movement or the decision for independence…But the pamphlet’s astonishing impact stemmed from the fact that it appeared at precisely the moment when Americans were ready to accept Paine’s destruction of arguments favoring conciliation and his appeal to latent republicanism, to the material interests of the colonists and to the widespread idealistic hopes for the future of the New World.*

 Paine can be considered “first professional pamphleteer” in America.  Having only moved to the Colonies in 1774, his single goal was to stir public opinion in a manner in which to create support for the oncoming war.** 

* Ibid., 86.

** Ibid., xix.