We the People Thomas Paine and the 250th Anniversary of Common Sense
Feb 12, 2026
Scott Cleary, an 18th-century literature scholar, and Gary Berton, president of the Thomas Paine Historical Association, discuss Thomas Paine's life and the 250th anniversary of Common Sense. They explore how Paine’s plain, emotional language mobilized ordinary readers. They trace his influence on independence, his political training, networks that spread the pamphlet, and later controversies around his reputation.
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Accessible Style Rooted In Shared Culture
- Paine wrote in the vulgar style: accessible language tied to shared literary culture.
- Scott Cleary highlights Paine's use of the Bible and Paradise Lost to argue to ordinary readers without elite references.
Circulation Beyond Print
- Common Sense spread far beyond printed copies through public readings and letter networks.
- Gary Berton and Scott Cleary explain illiterate listeners heard it aloud while colonists wrote letters urging others to read it.
Catalyst For Local Declarations
- Common Sense triggered a wave of local declarations pushing independence across towns and colonies.
- Gary Berton reports roughly 96 local declarations followed its circulation and it outlined the Declaration's core points.
