January 10

One of the pivotal documents of eighteenth century American history was the pamphlet Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine. This was the single most important document that moved popular opinion towards the support of the revolutionaries seeking independence from England. Common Sense was one of a series of essays, collectively called The American Crisis. It was in this work that the familiar line ‘these are the times that try men’s souls’ first appears. Published anonymously Common Sense descended on a waiting world on the 10th in 1776. Another Paine essay, “African Slavery in America", was published on March 8, 1775. This was the first American writing to advocate the abolition of slavery.