Thomas Paine and Pamphlets

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Thomas Paine and Pamphlets

• In the years leading up to the American
  Revolution, a large group of the population was
  illiterate. That, along with the high price of
  books, made spreading the word to the common man
  about the Revolution difficult. Thomas Paine
  understood this and wrote Common Sense, a
  pamphlet in plain articulate language, to spread
  the word that America deserved to govern itself.
  Besides writing Common Sense, what did Thomas
  Paine do to influence America?

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In the years leading up to the American
Revolution, radical changes occurred throughout
the colonies. New political ideas, social trends,
and economic developments reshaped the lives of
all people. At the center of all these changes
were the creation of large-scale printing presses
and the production of pamphlets, broadsides, and
almanacs. With this newfound ability to produce
written documents, people could spread ideas and
information in efficient and creative ways.
One person who understood the power of printing
was Thomas Paine, pictured here. Unknown.
(n.d.). Thomas Paine. Library of Congress Prints
Photographs, Popular Graphic Arts.
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During the Revolutionary era, books like this one
were not commonly available. Only the wealthiest
people could afford to buy books. Most literate
people only read broadsides and pamphlets.
Therefore, many news stories spread first through
the literate population, then to the illiterate
portion of the population through word-of-mouth.
Wheelock, M. (1770). Matthew Wheelock
Reflections Moral and Political on Great Britain
and Her Colonies. (page 1) . Library of
Congress Exhibitions, American Treasures of the
Library of Congress.
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Paines pamphlet, Common Sense, was one of the
most popular pieces of writing during the
Revolution. In Common Sense, Paine attacked the
British monarchy and argued for Americans right
to govern themselves. The ideas expressed in
Common Sense were as important as the way in
which Paine wrote he used simple, common phrases
so most literate people could understand his
writing. This was a major change from other
writings of the era, which were often written for
the educated aristocracy. Paine, T.
(1776). Common Sense Addresses to the
Inhabitants of America...(page 1). Library of
Congress Exhibitions, American Treasures of the
Library of Congress.
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Benjamin Franklin ran a successful print shop in
Philadelphia. Printing presses like Franklins
allowed people to produce materials much faster
and more efficiently than in earlier times.
Unknown. (n.d.). Franklin's printing press in
the Division of Graphic Arts, Smithsonian
Institution. Library of Congress America's
Library, Meet Amazing Americans.
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Paine is remembered as a pamphleteer and a
revolutionary philosopher. This 19th century
song-sheet, a popular form of printing at that
time, celebrates Paine as the Author-Hero of the
Revolution. Unknown. (n.d.). Programme.
Paine's ode to America. Air-"Rule
Britannia.". Library of Congress American
Memory, America Singing Nineteenth-Century Song
Sheets.