250 years ago, Common Sense, the most important pamphlet in American history, was first published, energizing the colonies with a newfound hope for freedom. Written by Thomas Paine, a newcomer to America, he put words to a revolution, signing it simply, “an Englishman.” It is a radical pamphlet that challenged the concept of monarchy, argued for independence, and shifted public opinion toward a new idea of self-government. And less than six months later, those ideals would be solidified in a dec