In "Common Sense," Thomas Paine wrote that the king was an obstacle to American independence and that the American colonies should break away from British rule. Paine argued that the king was not only a tyrant, but also a symbol of tyranny and oppression, and that the American colonies would never be truly free as long as they remained under British rule.
Paine's argument was rooted in the idea of natural rights, which held that all individuals had certain inherent rights that could not be taken away by any government or monarch. Paine believed that the king had violated these natural rights through his actions, such as imposing taxes and regulations on the colonies without their consent.
Paine also argued that the king was not a legitimate ruler, as he had assumed power through hereditary succession rather than through the consent of the governed. Paine believed that the American colonies should be governed by representatives chosen by the people, rather than by a monarch who was detached from the needs and desires of the people.
Overall, Paine's argument in "Common Sense" was a powerful critique of the king and British rule, and helped to mobilize support for the American Revolution.