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In an ironic twist, colonists who were once filled with British pride were now consumed with American patriotism. When Americans realized they were never to be thought of as equals to Englishmen, they resolved to find that sense of equality among themselves; while concurrently denying such liberties to those who were deemed inferior. Such men as John and Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry courageously paved the path to freedom for white men in the colonies. Arguably, the man most instrumental in the movement towards independence, and perhaps the forgotten Founding Father, was Thomas Paine.
[[File:commonsense.jpg|thumbnail|300px|Cover of the pamphlet, ''Common Sense.'']]
An Englishman born in 1737, Paine arrived in Philadelphia on November 30, 1774 at the urging of Benjamin Franklin. Paine defined the origin of government as “a mode rendered necessary by the inability of moral virtue to govern the world.”<ref>Thomas Paine, “Common Sense,” 1776, in ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486296024/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0486296024&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d78cfe9337d9078ded91c6e41d82b646 Common Sense, Rights of Man, and Other Essential Writings of Thomas Paine]'' (New York: Signet, 2003), 7.</ref>He believed governmental representation was a right for every citizen and wrote his pamphlet, ''Common Sense'', in a language accessible to all. Through Paine’s words, poor white citizens were able to envision a role in the electoral process and a voice in legislature. For generations these people were seen as intellectually inferior to the gentry class and were therefore deemed unworthy of consideration. Although far less educated than the elites, the lower classes were not necessarily less intelligent. Their grasp of politics and understanding of freedom was recognized by Thomas Paine.
Paine’s language and call for a new form of government struck a chord with common men and invoked a sense of purpose among small farmers and poor whites. His words instilled ideas in average citizens and brought to light notions held within this group that had lain dormant in their hearts and minds. Public discussions took place among commoners regarding politics and social change. People envisioned a future in which their wishes were considered. The generals and diplomats may have been gentry but the men fighting and dying were common farmers.
