History Resources

Inside the Vault: Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"

On July 7, 2022, our curators discussed Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense. They were joined by Eric Slauter, Associate Professor of English at the University of Chicago, who provided an overview of the pamphlet’s publication history and discussed its role in the American Revolution.

Click here to download the slides from the presentation.

Featured Documents

Use the Timestamps Below to Jump to the Topics You Want to View

  • Thomas Paine: 1:45–4:59
  • Overview of Common Sense: 5:00–24:40
  • The Boston Massacre: 24:41–28:51
  • Newspaper Advertisement: 28:52–33:39
  • Comparing Editions: 33:40–55:25
  • Paine’s Later Career: 55:26–57:23
  • Female Readership: 57:24–59:26
  • Q&A: 59:27–1:11:43

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