Patriots that wanted to declare their independence against Britain feared that most other colonists wanted to still be loyal to the king of England. Many people that took place in the Continental Congress worried that a declaration stating the colonies independence might cost them vital public support. Most people looked towards Parliament as the enemy, not the king. Public opinion began to favor independence when Thomas Paine published his pamphlet Common Sense. In this writing, he attacked the monarchy, saying that King George III should be held responsible for the actions against the colonies. He argued that Parliament did nothing without the king’s support and encouragement. He said the king ruled as a tyrant and they needed to declare