Final answer:
Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' encouraged support for American independence and a republican government, contributing to the shift in public opinion towards the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pamphlet, Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine in 1775, greatly encouraged support for independence from Great Britain and the creation of a republican form of government. Paine's Common Sense was written in a straightforward style that was accessible to the general population, not solely the intellectual elite. Its popularity was owed to its clear and convincing arguments that resonated with the sentiments of many colonists at the time who were becoming increasingly discontent with British rule. By offering "simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense", Paine's work contributed to a significant shift in public opinion and helped pave the way for the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.