Explanatory Preface 

The North American Republic consists of twenty-four regularly organized states, and an immense extent of territory not yet formed into states, which, with the exception of some mountain ridges, is wholly susceptible of cultivation.  It contains upward of two millions of square miles, and is therefore thirteen times as large as France, twenty-three times as large as England, and would, were it peopled as densely as these countries, contain FOUR HUNDRED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

It is watered on its eastern, western, and part [begin page x] of its southern sides by the ocean, and on part of its northern frontier by immense lakes.  It is intersected in all directions by magnificent rivers, and has more facilities for water conveyance than any other continental country; it abounds in mines and minerals, and produces everything necessary for the sustenance and enjoyment of mankind.

The population of the United States has been several times doubled in periods of less than twenty-five years; it now contains upward of twelve millions of people, and bids fair at no very distant period to be more populous and powerful than any nation ever was.

Such is the present state, and such the prospects of a nation originally settled by men who either fled from religious intolerance and persecution to seek peace in the wilderness - by men whose notions of liberty were too high to permit them to endure the tyranny they were subjected to at home - or by men who sought their fortunes as commercial speculators or cultivators of the land.  From Britons thus circumstanced has sprung a people who have increased in number, wealth, and intelligence with a rapidity of which history furnishes no parallel.

From the time that the commerce of the [begin page xi] North American colonies became worth the notice of the British Government, it was put under the most pernicious and absurd restraints, for the supposed advantage of the mother country, and laws were occasionally passed here to regulate their internal affairs.
 
In the war which preceded the peace of 1762, the colonists took a very decided part, and greatly contributed to the conquests made from the French.  Canada, which had been taken from that people, was retained by the British, and Florida was ceded to us by Spain.  Thus se- cured from attack by foreign neighbors, Great Britain and her colonies were more than ever attached to each other. 

The Americans were proud of the land of their ancestors and gloried in their descent from Englishmen.

This state of harmony was, however, of short duration.  The unexampled expenses of the war required additional taxes to a large amount, and the difficulty this occasioned led the Government in 1764 seriously to contemplate the levying of taxes in the colonies.  This was objected to by the colonists, unless they were permitted to send representatives to the British Parliament; to this the Government would not consent, and a dis- [begin page xii] pute commenced which ended in the separation of the two countries.

Some at least, if not all the colonies, contended that they possessed every legislative power not surrendered by compact: while in Britain it was contended on the part of the Government, that "Parliament possessed the power of binding them in all cases whatever."

The dispute became serious, but so contemptible was the power of the colonists considered in the eyes of the English Government, that in a debate in the House of Commons, General Grant, who should have known better, declared that "with five regiments of infantry he would 
undertake to traverse the whole country and drive the inhabitants from one end of it to the other."

This contempt was not only entertained by the Government and its adherents, but by the people, who were eager to compel their American brethren to submission by force of arms, against which the voice of a few wise men was of no avail.  The colonists continuing to refuse the unconditional submission demanded, recourse was had to arms, and on the night of April 18, 1775, they were attacked by: the King's troops [begin page xii] at Lexington, and here the first American blood was spilled by their English brethren.

The Americans repelled the aggression, appointed George Washington Commander-in-chief, and a desultory civil war desolated the colonies.  The people were undecided in opinion: some were for submission; and others who deprecated the conduct of Government, and publicly declared their detestation, disapproved of resistance as useless, and few were disposed to risk their lives and property in a contest of which none appeared able to foretell the consequences.

The doctrine of independence was a novelty hitherto but slightly advocated by its friends, and they, from the want of numbers and the timidity always attendant on newly-started notions, were looked upon as rash and dangerous, or treacherous and designing men, more deserving of suspicion and censure than of applause and imitation.

It was in this crisis, this interval between fear and principle, that Thomas Paine, then unknown as a public character, published the pamphlet "Common Sense." Taking a broader and long- [begin page xiv] er view than his contemporaries, seeing the inevitable consequence of submission, the probable result of a declaration of independence, correctly appreciating the reasons which could be urged [begin page xv] on either side, and preeminently possessing the power of clearly stating what he strongly conceived, he addressed himself to the Americans in language which everyone could understand, and none could successfully controvert.
 
This remarkable and inestimable production may be described from the anathemas of the enemies of liberty.  It has received the highest possible praise from the pen of Cheetham, one of Thomas Paine's most venal and shameless calumniators, who thus characterizes the work: 

"This pamphlet of forty-seven octavo pages, holding out relief by proposing INDEPENDENCE to an oppressed and despairing people, was published in January, 1776.  Speaking a language which the colonists had felt, but not thought, its popularity, terrible in its consequences to the mother country, was unexampled in the history of the press.
 
"At first involving the colonists, it was thought, in the crime of rebellion, and pointing to a road leading inevitably to ruin, it was read with alarm and indignation, but when the reader (and everybody read it), recovering from the first shock, re-perused it, its arguments, ravishing his feelings and appealing to his pride, re-animated his hopes and satisfied his understand- [begin page xvi] ing, that COMMON SENSE, backed by the resources and force of the colonies, poor and feeble as they were, could alone rescue them from the unqualified oppression with which they were threatened.
 
"The unknown author, in the moments of enthusiasm which succeeded, was hailed as an angel sent from heaven to save from all the horrors of slavery, by his timely, powerful, unerring councils, a faithful but abused-a brave but misrepresented people. "When COMMON SENSE arrived at Albany, the Convention of New York was sitting there.  General Scott, a leading member, alarmed at the boldness and novelty of its arguments, mentioned  his fears to several of his distinguished colleagues, and suggested a private meeting in the  evening, for the purpose of writing an answer.
  
"They accordingly met, and Mr. McThesson read the pamphlet through.  At first it was deemed necessary and expedient to answer it without delay, but casting about for the requisite arguments, they concluded to adjourn and meet again.  In a few evenings they reassembled, but so rapid was the change of opinion in the colonies at large in favor independence, that they agreed not to oppose it." [begin page xvii]
 
Dr. Gordon in his "History of the American Revolution" writes thus: "The publications which have appeared have greatly promoted the spirit of independency, but no one So much as the pamphlet under the signature of COMMON SENSE, written by Thomas Paine, an Englishman.  Nothing could have been better timed than this performance - it has produced astonishing effects." 

Testimonies of this sort from friends and enemies could easily be multiplied, and proofs almost without end could be adduced to Show how much the cause of mankind was promoted by Thomas Paine in thus assisting to lay the foundation of the American Republic -the example of [begin page xvii] which will in time be followed by every people on the earth.
 
The principles maintained in "Common Sense" are applicable to all times, and to all mankind.   They should be carefully studied by every one who is at all desirous to possess that information without which he must ever remain a slave at heart.