What was the purpose of Thomas Paine’s influential pamphlet, Common Sense? Is it accurate to assert that this work served as a clarion call for revolution, challenging the very foundations of monarchical governance? Could it be that Paine sought not only to galvanize the American colonies towards independence from British rule but also to inspire a broader philosophical discussion on the rights of individuals and the legitimacy of government? How did Paine’s passionate rhetoric resonate with the colonists of his era, compelling them to question their subservience to a distant crown? In an increasingly turbulent political climate, what rhetorical strategies did he employ to make complex ideas accessible and appealing to the general populace? Might his synthesis of Enlightenment thought and pragmatic argumentation have provided a critical framework that emboldened a collective desire for emancipation? In what ways did the clarity and urgency of his message contribute to the burgeoning sentiments of nationalism and self-determination in the New World?