Question

How did Thomas Paine appeal to the common people to rebel against British rule?

Answer 1

Many historians believe Common Sense, authored by the English immigrant Thomas Paine and published in January 1776, was instrumental in accelerating Americas Revolution. Written at a time when the majority of colonists were ambivalent towards fighting for full-scale separation from Great Britain, Common Sense made a powerful argument for independence.

In January 1776, before the publication of Common Sense, the colonists were divided more-or-less equally into three groups. One third were Patriots willing to fight for independence. Another third were still loyal to King George III and Parliament. The final third was undecided, sympathetic to colonial grievances, but unready to risk war by severing all ties to Great Britain.

In Common Sense, Paine argued that it was absurd for an Island to rule a Continent, that America could avoid European conflicts by being free of Great Britain, that London was too far from America to rule it, and that the King and Parliament would inevitably rule for Britains benefit, not Americas. Paines eloquent arguments influenced a large part of the undecided group to support American independence. It was this surge of popular support that allowed the delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in July 1776 to declare independence. In short, in less than six months this small pamphlet altered the course of American history.
- http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/content/common-sense-doc.html
He won over the appeal of the common people in his common sense essay