Even after Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, and the closing of the port of Boston—even after the creation of a Continental Army and the appointment of Washington as its commander—most colonists in late 1775 still hoped for reconciliation with England. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Thomas Paine’s pamphlet hit the streets. Published anonymously on January 10, 1776 for the bargain price of two shillings, Common Sense set the country ablaze with talk about independence. It “was read by cobblers in their shops, bakers by their ovens, teachers in their schools, and by officers in the army to their standing ranks.”
Common Sense became the best-selling pamphlet ever written in the English language. Though several publishers profited handsomely from its sale, Paine re-directed his earnings to the American cause, to purchase mittens for soldiers in Quebec. Three years after its publication, Paine reflected that “the importance of [Common Sense] was such that if it had not appeared, and at the exact time it did, the Congress would not now be sitting where they are [representing independent states].”
Common Sense had many detractors, including John Adams, the leading champion for independence in Congress. Though Adams liked the part favoring independence, he referred to Paine as a “Star of Disaster” for his Old Testament arguments against monarchy and his recommendation for a unicameral legislature.
The distinguished Harvard lawyer, Adams had little in common with Paine, who had scant formal education and led an obscure existence in England before arriving in Philadelphia in late 1774 at age 37. Though Adams was a prolific writer, his literary style was too bookish for mass consumption. Paine wrote so that people could understand him.
If Common Sense was needed to radicalize Americans to the cause of independence, what might have happened if Paine had devoted his time to his bridge-building passion, say, instead of writing the pamphlet?
Desperate for popular support, would the independence faction in Congress try to recruit a writer to sell their message to the people? Perhaps; and perhaps Paine might have sent his résumé to them. And what could Congress infer from Paine’s résumé about his potential as a revolutionary pamphleteer? Nothing. But they would try. Here’s what might have happened:
(Fictional) Proceedings of the Second Continental Congress (1775)
Charles Thomson, Sec.
Sunday October 15, 1775.
After brief debate between Mr. John Dickinson and Mr. John Adams, Congress agreed to hire a pamphleteer who would argue the cause for independence.
Mr. Dickinson wanted a comparable publication presenting the case for reconciliation, but Mr. Adams pointed out that many American newspapers carried commentaries outlining the British side.
Therefore it was Resolved, that a committee be appointed to hire, for compensation of five pounds, an author of known merit to write a pamphlet presenting the case for separation from England. The pamphlet shall be written with such clarity and force that persons from all stations in life will comprehend its message.
Résumés should be couriered with all possible dispatch to John Adams, Committee for Independence, Continental Congress, State House, Philadelphia.
Mr. Adams said the ideal candidate will possess most, if not all, of the following qualifications:
- He will belong to a family of distinction, whose surname will be synonymous with leadership and will strike confidence and respect in every soul.
- His life will have been a trail of triumph in matters of import, well-known to all.
- He will have been schooled at a leading American or European university.
- He will possess ample experience in affairs of the state, with a tendency toward dissenting views.
- He will possess extensive literary credits in history and political philosophy. Latin will be one of several languages as natural to him as English.
- He will be a man of considerable means, if not independent wealth.
- He will be American-born, because of the divisive nature of the conflict.
Congress adjourned till to Morrow 9 o’Clock.
Sunday October 22, 1775
Mr. Adams reports on the Committee for Independence.
Mr. Adams:
The committee has received three résumés.
Mr. Thomas Jefferson, delegate from Virginia and author of the recent ”Necessity for Taking Up Arms,” offered to write the pamphlet. To our great misfortune, Mr. Jefferson will soon depart again for Virginia where his many duties will preclude his taking the assignment.
Dr. Benjamin Rush, delegate from Pennsylvania, who has written bravely against the injustice of slavery, has recently withdrawn his résumé. Due to the impact of his abolitionist remarks on his medical practice, Dr. Rush decided he cannot afford to lose more clients.
I will now discuss the third résumé, not for possible consideration, but in an effort to identify the treasonous parties who encouraged him to submit it.
It begins, gentlemen, with an insolent fiction. His name is one Thomas Paine, whose true family name is spelled without the ending “e.” In an obvious attempt to associate himself with one of our distinguished delegates, Mr. Robert Treat Paine, he has shown utter contempt for this body.
He lists his place of birth as Thetford, England. Perhaps I hold the résumé of a spy.
He managed to stay in school only until the age of 12. Need I bother adding he knows no Latin whatsoever?
It is apparent this person is neither a banker, merchant, lawyer, planter, nor statesman. I would venture he has scarcely heard of these professions. He worked as a stay-maker, teacher, tax collector, and manager of a tobacco-goods store. In each endeavor he failed miserably.
You might wonder if he has distinguished himself in the military. Gentlemen, he lists his religious affiliation as Quaker, a sect that abhors war. This alone disqualifies him.
I trust you are as indignant as I am. This Thomas Paine claims to have written a petition on behalf of his fellow excise tax collectors and presented it to Parliament. He thought the tax men deserved a raise. The ministers refused to give him a hearing. I had a colleague read his petition and was told it suffered from “decorous overstatement.” That was the kindest thing he could say about it. Fortunately for Mr. Paine the ministers didn’t read it—in England, they hang bad writers, along with all the other rabble.
Now we get to the real strength of his résumé—his political experience. From 1768 to 1774 he served as a member of the town council of Lewes. One can only imagine who the other members were. In the evening they would meet at the White Hart Tavern, argue and toast the memory of Guy Fawkes. Mr. Paine was frequently awarded the most headstrong debater.
Oh, you remember Guy Fawkes, right? In 1605 he conspired to blow up King James and both houses of Parliament and was later executed. Mr. Paine states on his résumé he has never read John Locke, the father of political freedom, but he worships anarchists with bombs.
The man likes to write songs, even fancies himself a singer, and has twice failed at marriage, though his first wife had to die in order to leave him.
Dr. Franklin, I see you smiling. What could possibly be funny about this?
[The floor recognizes Dr. Benjamin Franklin.]
Dr. Franklin: I asked Mr. Paine to write a history of our conflict with England, based on some materials I loaned him. He apparently has taken it upon himself to go further, in applying to write this pamphlet.
Mr. Adams: Are you serious?
Dr. Franklin: I met him in England and gave him a letter of introduction to come here. I thought there was something special about him—if not genius, at least ingenious. I see that I am not yet wrong. Mr. Adams, you look ill. Are you okay? Someone get Mr. Adams some water.
[Mr. Adams thumps his hickory cane.]
Mr. Adams: I forbid it!
Dr. Franklin: Then allow me to read you something, to give you a taste of Mr. Paine’s style and thinking.
Degeneracy is here almost a useless word. Those who are conversant with Europe would be tempted to believe that even the air of the Atlantic disagrees with the constitution of foreign vices; if they survive the voyage, they either expire on their arrival, or linger away in an incurable consumption. There is a happy something in the climate of America, which disarms them of all their power both of infection and attraction.
There is a happy something in the climate of America. The man who wrote those words claimed he could quote them or any others he’s written without reliance on the written copy.
I agree with you, Mr. Adams, we should reject Mr. Paine’s résumé. Reject it and recommend he write the pamphlet on his own. If we are to preserve that “happy something,” it will come from individual passion, not an act of Congress.
Mr. Adams: God save us.
Congress adjourned till to Morrow 9 o’Clock.
