The document discusses the overlooked contributions of Thomas Paine in American history, highlighting his struggles with poverty and tumultuous career before becoming a pivotal advocate for American independence. It details his arrival in Philadelphia in 1774 with the help of Benjamin Franklin, leading to his influential role as an editor and radical thinker. Paine's 1776 pamphlet 'Common Sense' called for independence from England and the creation of a unified American nation.