Paine begins Common Sense by refuting the idea that the British government is legitimate. He argues that the government is not based on the consent of the governed, but rather on force and conquest. He also argues that the British government is corrupt and inefficient, and that it has no interest in the well-being of the American colonies.
Paine then goes on to argue that the American colonies have a right to independence. He points out that the colonies have a distinct culture and identity from Great Britain, and that they have the ability to govern themselves. He also argues that independence is the only way to secure the colonies' rights and liberties.
Paine concludes Common Sense by calling on the American colonies to declare their independence from Great Britain. He argues that the time is ripe for revolution, and that the colonies should seize the opportunity to create a new and better government.
Common Sense was a powerful and persuasive argument for American independence. It helped to convince many Americans that the British government was not worth fighting for, and that the colonies should instead fight for their own freedom. Common Sense is still considered one of the most important documents in American history, and it continues to be read and studied today.