"These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” So begins the first of The American Crisis series of pamphlets by Thomas Paine published during the American Revolution between 1776 and 1783. George Washington was so moved by the first in the series that he had it read aloud to the Continental Army on December 23, 1776, three days before the Battle of Trenton, to bolster morale. Thirteen numbered pamphlets appeared in 1776 and 1776 and appeared at critical junctures of the early days of the struggle; three more appeared between 1777 and 1783. Signed with the pseudonym “Common Sense”, Paine wrote in simple language that everyone could understand, and his writings clarified the issues, improved morale, appealed to the good sense of the English and argued against a negotiated peace.