“In America, the Law is King”: Considering Thomas Paine’s Common Sense at 250

On the 250th anniversary of Common Sense, join the Stowe Center for Literary Activism for an evening of shared reading, conversation, and civic reflection.

Together, we will revisit Thomas Paine’s revolutionary pamphlet, read selected excerpts, and explore its enduring declaration that “In America, the Law is King.” With scholars and community leaders, we will draw throughlines between Common Sense’s anti-monarchical message and present-day challenges to democracy—and consider what action looks like now.