<P> Born in Thetford in the English county of Norfolk , Paine migrated to the British American colonies in 1774 with the help of Benjamin Franklin , arriving just in time to participate in the American Revolution . Virtually every rebel read ( or listened to a reading of ) his powerful pamphlet Common Sense ( 1776 ) , proportionally the all - time best - selling American title , which crystallized the rebellious demand for independence from Great Britain . His The American Crisis ( 1776 -- 83 ) was a pro-revolutionary pamphlet series . Common Sense was so influential that John Adams said , `` Without the pen of the author of Common Sense , the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain . '' </P>
common sense which was written by thomas paine was an important work because it
crystallized the rebellious demand for independence from Great Britain