<P> Thomas Paine arrived in the American colonies in November 1774 , shortly before the Battles of Lexington and Concord . Though the colonies and Great Britain had commenced hostilities against one another , the thought of independence was not initially entertained . Writing of his early experiences in the colonies in 1778 , Paine `` found the disposition of the people such , that they might have been led by a thread and governed by a reed . Their attachment to Britain was obstinate , and it was , at that time , a kind of treason to speak against it . Their ideas of grievance operated without resentment , and their single object was reconciliation . '' Paine quickly engrained himself in the Philadelphia newspaper business , and began writing Common Sense in late 1775 under the working title of Plain Truth . Though it began as a series of letters to be published in various Philadelphia papers , it grew too long and unwieldy to publish as letters , leading Paine to select the pamphlet form . Benjamin Rush recommended the publisher Robert Bell , promising Paine that , where other printers might balk at the content of the pamphlet , Bell would not hesitate nor delay its printing . Bell zealously promoted the pamphlet in Philadelphia 's papers , and demand grew so high as to require a second printing . Paine , overjoyed with its success , endeavored to collect his share of the profits and donate them to purchase mittens for General Montgomery 's troops , then encamped in frigid Quebec . However , when Paine 's chosen intermediaries audited Bell 's accounts , they found that the pamphlet actually had made zero profits . Incensed , Paine ordered Bell not to proceed on a second edition , as he had planned several appendices to add to Common Sense . Bell ignored this and began advertising a `` new edition '' . While Bell believed this advertisement would convince Paine to retain his services , it had the opposite effect . Paine secured the assistance of the Bradford brothers , publishers of the Pennsylvania Evening Post , and released his new edition , featuring several appendices and additional writings . Bell began working on a second edition . This set off a month - long public debate between Bell and the still - anonymous Paine , conducted within the pages and advertisements of the Pennsylvania Evening Post , with each party charging the other with duplicity and fraud . Both Paine and Bell published several more editions through the end of their public squabble . </P>
<P> Thomas Paine arrived in the American colonies in November 1774 , shortly before the Battles of Lexington and Concord . Though the colonies and Great Britain had commenced hostilities against one another , the thought of independence was not initially entertained . Writing of his early experiences in the colonies in 1778 , Paine `` found the disposition of the people such , that they might have been led by a thread and governed by a reed . Their attachment to Britain was obstinate , and it was , at that time , a kind of treason to speak against it . Their ideas of grievance operated without resentment , and their single object was reconciliation . '' Paine quickly engrained himself in the Philadelphia newspaper business , and began writing Common Sense in late 1775 under the working title of Plain Truth . Though it began as a series of letters to be published in various Philadelphia papers , it grew too long and unwieldy to publish as letters , leading Paine to select the pamphlet form . Benjamin Rush recommended the publisher Robert Bell , promising Paine that , where other printers might balk at the content of the pamphlet , Bell would not hesitate nor delay its printing . Bell zealously promoted the pamphlet in Philadelphia 's papers , and demand grew so high as to require a second printing . Paine , overjoyed with its success , endeavored to collect his share of the profits and donate them to purchase mittens for General Montgomery 's troops , then encamped in frigid Quebec . However , when Paine 's chosen intermediaries audited Bell 's accounts , they found that the pamphlet actually had made zero profits . Incensed , Paine ordered Bell not to proceed on a second edition , as he had planned several appendices to add to Common Sense . Bell ignored this and began advertising a `` new edition '' . While Bell believed this advertisement would convince Paine to retain his services , it had the opposite effect . Paine secured the assistance of the Bradford brothers , publishers of the Pennsylvania Evening Post , and released his new edition , featuring several appendices and additional writings . Bell began working on a second edition . This set off a month - long public debate between Bell and the still - anonymous Paine , conducted within the pages and advertisements of the Pennsylvania Evening Post , with each party charging the other with duplicity and fraud . Both Paine and Bell published several more editions through the end of their public squabble . </P>
where was thomas paine 's common sense written
where was thomas paine 's common sense written
Philadelphia
Philadelphia