Common Sense

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Focusing on the powerful impact of a pamphlet, it played a crucial role in shaping American independence by swaying public opinion against King George III, whom Paine referred to as a "royal beast." Its straightforward vernacular language made it accessible to the masses, leading to its status as the most popular pamphlet in the colonies. Paine's ideas directly influenced the Declaration of Independence and he was the first to suggest the name "United States of America." However, it faced criticism from aristocrats for advocating a unified parliament without a privileged House of Lords.