Why is Thomas Paine important to us now?

Thomas Paine is important in United States History. As our relationship began to deteriorate with Great Britain in the 1770s, there were voices that began to call for independence. Thomas Paine was of those people who believed we should become independent from Great Britain.

Thomas Paine wanted to convince people that independence from Great Britain was needed. He wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense that explained why we needed to break free from British rule. This pamphlet was widely read and was very influential in convincing people that breaking away from the rule of Great Britain was the proper and correct action to take. After this document was written, published, and read, our relationship with Great Britain deteriorated further eventually leading to the writing of and the issuing of the Declaration of Independence. What Thomas Paine had formally suggested in Common Sense was now fully realized when we declared independence from Great Britain in July 1776.