January 10, 1776 — Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense
Paine's pamphlet made the plainspoken case for independence in language ordinary colonists could feel, and it spread like wildfire — selling perhaps 500,000 copies in a country of 2.5 million. It turned a simmering rebellion into a genuine movement for a new kind of nation. Ideas, printed cheap and written clear, changed everything.
Common Questions
What happened on January 10 in American history?
In 1776: Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense. Paine's pamphlet made the plainspoken case for independence in language ordinary colonists could feel, and it spread like wildfire — selling perhaps 500,000 copies in a country of 2.5 million.
Why is January 10 significant?
Paine's pamphlet made the plainspoken case for independence in language ordinary colonists could feel, and it spread like wildfire — selling perhaps 500,000 copies in a country of 2.5 million. It turned a simmering rebellion into a genuine movement for a new kind of nation. Ideas, printed cheap and written clear, changed everything.
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