Thomas Paine's argument, presented in his 1776 pamphlet Common Sense, could have been used to convince colonists to declare independence from Great Britain by clearly articulating that British rule was exploitative, limiting America's economic potential, and that continued dependence on Britain was untenable. Paine argued that Britain was harming the American economy and consuming its wealth through unfair laws such as the Stamp Act and the Tea Act. He emphasized that America had the strength and military experience to become independent and that delaying independence would only make it harder to achieve. Paine used plain language and persuasive reasoning to make independence sound like a natural, necessary step for the colonies to fully thrive as a nation, criticizing monarchy and hereditary power while promoting the idea of a republic where the people govern themselves. His work made a bold case that reconciliation with Britain was not a viable option and rallied support for independence as a practical and urgent necessity.