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Common Sense pamphlet open to its title page next to Plain Truth pamphlet, closed to show cover

Collection Highlight: Common Sense and Plain Truth

A Closer Look with Meg Bowersox

So at the start of the Revolutionary War, many people at this time were arguing over rights and representation. But many of the people living in the colonies still wanted to be loyal to King George III and England. But then, as you get closer to the year 1776, things start to change. The war begins, the battles take off, and many people who are living in the colonies are changing their hearts and their minds. And in January of 1776, Thomas Paine writes a pamphlet called Common Sense. And in this pamphlet he talks about how it is a necessity that we in the colonies separate from King George III, and become an independent nation.Now prior to this, people were talking about Independence, but nobody had really thought about it as a tool to argue for rights and freedom until Thomas Paine writes it in his pamphlet. What's really interesting about this pamphlet is the first time it's actually printed is in Philadelphia, just a few blocks from the museum actually at Robert Bell's print shop.Now while you have this document that's arguing for the ideas of the revolutionaries, you also have many loyalists living here in the colonies. And one loyalist in particular, James Chalmers, writes a pamphlet called Plain Truth. And in this document he talks about his love for his mother country, meaning Great Britain. And he writes passionately about how we need King George III and we need a monarchical system in order to govern ourselves.So these documents were printed. You could read them in the pamphlet way that you have here separately. One is Common Sense and what is Plain Truth. But one person in particular, John Almon, actually took both of these pamphlets and bound them together in one book. And this allowed the people in England to be able to read what these colonists were arguing for, what these revolutionaries were arguing for, and that they actually did deserve independence from King George III and England.

Philadelphia printers issued works that stoked debate over the American Revolution on both sides of the Atlantic. In the early months of 1776, Thomas Paine issued his clarion call for American <span class="wordDefine" tabIndex="0" data-term="Independence" data-def="Relying on oneself and no longer being affiliated to or controlled by others. Interior Inside. When used in relation to 18th century American geography, interior generally means away from the Atlantic Coast, towards the frontier of the American colonies.">independence, Common Sense, and Loyalist James Chalmers offered his pointed rebuke, titled Plain Truth, through the printer and bookseller Robert Bell on Third Street. London publisher John Almon bundled the two works in this June 1776 edition for British readers who wondered "whether Americans are, or are not prepared for a state of independence."

These copies of Thomas Paine's Common Sense and James Chalmer's rebuke, Plain Truth, were bundled by London publisher John Almon for British readers.

Thomas Paine's Common Sense and James Chalmers' Plain Truth

War and Independence

Visitors of the Museum of the American Revolution in the Liberty Tree gallery which features a Liberty Tree

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Pride and Protest

Inside the Declaration of Independence gallery featuring a copy of the Declaration of Independence

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A high up view of the War at Sea gallery in the Museum of the American Revolution featuring a sloop

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A New Nation

Inside of the Revolutionary Generation gallery in the Museum of the American Revolution featuring photographs of the revolutionary generation

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Timeline of the American Revolution

Thomas Paine's Common Sense and James Chalmers' Plain Truth

Details

A Closer Look with Meg Bowersox

Sources