In Common Sense, Thomas Paine cites the evils of hereditary monarchy, exposing its flaws and the injustices it inflicted upon the American colonies. Paine argued that an island nation like Britain could never truly understand the needs of a vast continent, showing the absurdity of such a colonial relationship.

Credited by George Washington with swaying public opinion, Common Sense became an instant sensation, selling over half a million copies within months. Its clear and passionate prose, crafted to resonate with the common man, served as a powerful tool against tyranny.