Final answer:
Thomas Paine's Common Sense was important in convincing colonists to reject monarchy and the British Empire in favor of independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Paine's Common Sense was important because it played a significant role in convincing many colonists to reject monarchy and the British Empire in favor of independence and a republican form of government. The pamphlet was written in simple and direct language, making it accessible to ordinary people and not just the educated elite. Paine's main arguments in Common Sense were that equality was a natural condition for humans, and a hereditary monarchy was unjustified. He also highlighted the failures of the British government in responding to the needs of the American colonies, which helped to justify the call for independence.