"Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil... A government of our own is our natural right... 'Tis time to part." — Thomas Paine, Common Sense, January 1776
Together, the chart and excerpt best demonstrate that:
- Acheck_circle
Paine's pamphlet rapidly mobilized public opinion in favor of independence
- B
Common Sense had little popular impact in the colonies
- C
Most colonists in 1776 still preferred reconciliation with Britain
- D
Paine argued for retaining a hereditary monarchy in America
Explanation
The rapid spread of hundreds of thousands of copies in 1776, combined with Paine's blunt case for independence, helped tip colonial opinion toward separation.