Frequent Sense: Penguin Civic Classics for American Students

The unconventional pamphlet that helped incite the American Revolution

Discover a curated collection of six portable and accessible reads from American political history handpicked by top scholars at Penguin. Edited by Richard Beeman, the renowned author of The Penguin Guide to the U.S. Constitution, this series brings together essential texts of American civic life. Whether you're delving into these timeless writings for the first time or revisiting them ahead of the Civil Rights Act's fiftieth anniversary, these concise volumes serve as a valuable and enlightening resource for scholars, students, and civic-minded individuals.

The e-book "Frequent Sense" played a pivotal role in shaping the United States as we know it today. Published anonymously in 1776, just before the Declaration of Independence, this radical and impassioned call to arms by Thomas Paine urged Americans to revolt against British rule and establish a just society. Paine vehemently criticized hereditary kingship and aristocratic systems, advocating for personal freedom, social equality, and overall progress. "Frequent Sense" quickly gained popularity, resonating with a wide audience and sparking a movement towards independence. Through its assertive and sometimes sharp tone, the pamphlet embodied the democratic ideals that Paine championed, making it a groundbreaking piece of American civic literature that continues to influence students and readers today.