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Thomas Paine's Common Sense: 245 Years Later
The Pamphlet That United
the Nation for Independence
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January 10, 1776, 245 years ago this week, an anonymously-written pamphlet called Common Sense was published, paving the way for American independence.
Common Sense made the case for a new nation based on freedom and equality, which unified many of the people for the first time in support of the American Revolution.
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Written by Thomas Paine, political activist, theorist, and writer, the pamphlet was an immediate popular sensation. Hundreds of thousands of colonists read the document or heard it read aloud in public spaces.
Prior to its publication, the American colonists were sharply divided. While some wanted independence, others vehemently disagreed, and wished to remain loyal to the king and to the British empire. But Paine's persuasive and powerful argument shifted the views of many people.
Paine presented a clear vision for a life, no longer under a monarch, but as part of a self-ruling nation.
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A New Form of Government
Paine wrote about complex ideals that we now take for granted—liberty and self-determination among them—principles at the core of our American identity.
Paine envisioned a nation where all were free and equal under the law, a nation where justice—not a man or monarch—reigned. He charged readers with the creation and maintenance of a nation founded on ideals that unified them.
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A Nation United by Freedom and Equality
Paine ardently defended liberty, equality, and justice in Common Sense, ideals that soon were enshrined in our founding documents.
America became a nation made up of many people from many lands, not united by a common heritage, religion, or history, but rather by a set of common principles in our Declaration of Independence—that all men are created equal and are entitled to their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
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The Legacy of Common Sense
One-hundred seventy-five days after Paine published Common Sense, our founders declared independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. Since then, we have worked to be the nation Thomas Paine envisioned.
Paine emphasized that our strength lies in unity. Today, unity can be restored through understanding our common values—liberty and self-determination—and teaching them to all our future generations. The Jack Miller Center is committed to revitalizing such teaching throughout our educational systems, from kindergarten through college.
See below to learn how you can help in this endeavor.
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The battle for the soul of our country will be won or lost in our classrooms. —Jack Miller
There are many battles we face today as Americans. Here at the Jack Miller Center, ours is to transform the teaching of American history and civics throughout our educational systems.
A great amount of work is needed to improve civic education, but we are already seeing the difference, working directly with those in the classroom teaching.
JMC is charging ahead. We've launched a new national campus initiative, three statewide high school initiatives, a new workshop series for educators, a new editorial website, new webinars, videos, and much more.
In short, we are committed to every available means to reinvigorate education in our nation’s history and founding principles—throughout our educational systems and beyond.
We cannot win this battle without your support. Will you join us in the effort?
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About the Jack Miller Center
The Jack Miller Center is a 501(c)(3) public charity with the mission to reinvigorate education in America's founding principles and history. We work to advance the teaching and study of America's history, its political and economic institutions, and the central principles, ideas and issues arising from the American and Western traditions—all of which continue to animate our national life.
We support professors and educators through programs, resources, fellowships and more to help them teach our nation's students.
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