The American Crisis - Paperbackby Thomas Paine (Author) The American Crisis, or simply The Crisis, is a pamphlet series by eighteenth century Enlightenment philosopher and author Thomas Paine, originally published from 1776 to 1783 during the American Revolution. Thirteen numbered pamphlets were published between 1776 and 1777, with three additional pamphlets released between 1777 and 1783. The first of the pamphlets was published in The Pennsylvania Journal on December 19, 1776.