Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession

Paine argues that the division of mankind into kings and subjects is unnatural and leads to war.

Paine claims monarchy began with heathens, promotes idolatry, and is expressly disapproved of in the scriptures.

Paine recounts the biblical story of Gideon refusing kingship, asserting that only the Lord should rule Israel.

Paine details the biblical account of the Jews demanding a king and Samuel's warning of the oppression that would follow.

Paine argues that hereditary succession is an unnatural imposition on future generations who may be ruled by unworthy descendants.

Paine speculates that the first kings were likely chieftains of gangs who established hereditary rule through force and superstition.

Paine argues that kingship's origins do not support heredity, which he compares to the doctrine of original sin.

Hereditary succession is evil because it produces ignorant rulers, is vulnerable during minorities, and fails to prevent civil war.

The bloody history of the English Wars of the Roses demonstrates that monarchy does not ensure peace.

Paine concludes that an English king's only tasks are making war and giving away places, making him worthless.