The 250th Anniversary of Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense'
The 250th Anniversary of Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense'  
Podcast: All Of It
Published On: Fri Jan 09 2026
Description: 250 years ago tomorrow, a relatively unknown colonist swept up in revolutionary fever, Thomas Paine, wrote and published a pamphlet called Common Sense, criticizing King George III of England. The document would be one of the most sold and circulated written works published in America, before or after independence, and helped tip the scales for Independence from Great Britain, which was realized just 6 months later. For the anniversary, Julie Silverbrook, vice president of Civic Education at the National Constitution Center, reflects on the legacy and present implications of "Common Sense."