The 2024 presidential election starkly illustrated how deeply divided the nation remains, with a near-even split between red and blue states. Yet, amid this polarization, nearly 75% of Americans are united in the belief that our democracy is facing significant threats.
In this respect, today’s America echoes the era of 1776, when discord almost jeopardized the budding democratic experiment. Back then, as patriots prepared to fight for independence and loyalists clung to British authority, Thomas Paine released “Common Sense.” This powerful pamphlet galvanized the Colonists to rise against monarchy and embrace self-governance.
Paine famously stated, “It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.” He transformed democratic principles into a collective mission. America, guided by its people’s will, stood in opposition to a world ruled by monarchs. Through “Common Sense,” Paine inspired Americans to boldly believe they could reshape the world.
The pamphlet rapidly spread across the nation—its words whispered in soldiers’ tents at Valley Forge, echoed in Philadelphia pubs, and quoted in sermons. By the end of the Revolutionary War, with half a million copies circulated, “Common Sense” became one of the best-selling publications relative to the U.S. population of 2.5 million at that time.
Without “Common Sense,” the United States might have taken a different path. Today, nearly 250 years later, Paine’s work not only remains historically significant but also serves as a guide for preserving democracy. His call to challenge authoritarian power, curb the influence of wealth, and honor majority rule is as pertinent today as ever.
His message underscored the necessity of uniting to face threats to the republic, particularly the danger of unchecked authority. Paine’s criticism of absolute power was central to advocating a government by and for the people. He depicted King George III’s reign as a prime example of tyranny, cautioning that “a thirst for absolute power is the natural disease of monarchy.” This warning still resonates as Donald Trump returns to power, having previously tested the limits of authority.
In July, as Trump’s actions led to the Supreme Court bolstering presidential immunity, Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent mirrored Paine’s warnings. She remarked, “In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law”—a stark contrast to Paine’s assertion that “in America, the law is king … and there ought to be no other.”
Paine’s concerns also extended to the disproportionate influence of the wealthy. Condemning “aristocratical tyranny,” he critiqued the rich as being driven by fear and argued that their minds are corrupted by a sense of self-importance. Paine believed democracy couldn’t endure if the elite could purchase power, a concern that remains relevant today.
Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United, which unleashed unrestricted election spending by corporations and individuals, have materialized Paine’s fears into our reality. The 2024 elections witnessed a staggering $16 billion in campaign expenditures, fueled by small donors, super PACs, and over 150 billionaire families, reflecting how both major parties are entangled in a system where influence is often bought.
Paine’s criticisms against monarchs and aristocrats were rooted in the principle of fair representation. During Colonial protests, the slogan “no taxation without representation” sparked rebellion. “Common Sense” amplified this demand, advocating for “large and equal representation”—a principle unmet by the distant rulers.
Today, as policy drifts further from majority opinions, Americans face a new divide—not geographical but ideological. The overturn of Roe vs. Wade ignored 63% of Americans who, according to Pew Research, support broad access to abortion. Similarly, 61% think gun ownership is too easy, and 63% support abolishing the electoral college, yet public sentiment remains overshadowed by entrenched political norms.
This disconnect between political actions and majority beliefs is driven by tribalism and power pursuits, where party loyalty overshadows the public’s needs. Historian Craig Nelson notes Paine would be “confounded” by today’s political divide. To Paine, unity was essential for survival; our current polarization surrenders to the very forces he cautioned against.
Learning from America’s founding is crucial to avoid democratic failure. Referring back to “Common Sense” guides us to sustain ideals for which Colonists fought: accountable leadership, un-purchasable influence, and laws that reflect the majority’s will.
“Common Sense” was more than a call to arms; it was Paine’s attempt to forge an American identity rooted in self-governance and trust in collective power. Paine taught us that our greatest strength lies in collective resolve and unity, essential for democracy to thrive.
A democracy’s salvation lies within itself. To preserve the American venture, we must recall how its promise first united us. Overcoming our deep divides will be challenging. However, as “Common Sense” reminds us, “The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth.”
A.T. McWilliams is a poet and writer based in Brooklyn.
