Thomas Paine's Common Sense

1. ● What is the best-selling printed work by a single
author in American History through 1776?
● What books inspire you?
Challenge Question:
One of the first orders of business the First Continental
Congress addressed was boycotting British goods. What
problems would that create for the colonists and how
would it benefit the colonists?
Objective (I Can…)
Identify important arguments for independence
made in Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and
why these arguments influenced the colonists to
fight for independence
Brain Quest

2. Set
●Paine put forth the first comprehensive, public call
for independence, arguments that far exceeded
previous critiques of English rule.
●Pamphlet was just 46 pages and convinced people
like George Washington that any hope of mending
fences with England was over.
●What are the most popular books today?
●Harry Potter Series: 75% of children from 7-15 have
read at least one book. Over 450 million copies sold
●Paine’s Common Sense: Over 80% of people read or
heard it during a public reading… SO WHAT

3. Background of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

4. Common Sense Activity
●In your group of 3, read the excerpts out loud then
answer the questions that follow.