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Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession

            Common Sense is Thomas Paine's personal opinion on the English government. He used the Bible to justify his opinion. This seemed to work because the people of that time were very religious. Thomas Paine had a real problem with countries that had governments that involved hereditary succession or monarchies. Thomas Paine did not favor kings or monarchies because he felt that the only person or being that should rule over people should be God. He felt that if mere man were meant to be ruler over other men then God would have made it that way and he would not be upset or jealous if men worshipped other men instead of Him. Paine supports his thesis by giving examples from the Bible. One example that Paine gives is about Samuel and his sons. Samuel's sons wanted a king to rule over them and the people like that of other nations. Samuel prayed to God and He told Samuel that the people had rejected Him by wanting a king to rule them and told Samuel to tell they people that they will be greatly punished for doing so. By giving this example Thomas Paine is showing that monarchies are against the will of God. Paine also felt that hereditary succession was also against the will of God. He felt that "for all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have a right to set up his own family and though himself might deserve some decent degree of honors yet his descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit them." One really can't say if Thomas Paine was fair or no because everyone has their on opinion right?.
            


Essays Related to Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession

1. Common Sense - The Influence of Thomas Paine

... Paine launches a general attack on the British system of government. Paine states that the British system is too complex and has many contradictions, and the monarchy has too much power. The British system pretends to offer a reasonable system but in reality it does not. Paine discusses the notions of monarchy and hereditary succession. Paine argues that man was born into a state of equality. It is believed that at first the ... world was without kings, but the ancient Jews decided they wanted a King; and it is said that this angered God, but he let them have a King. There are specific ...

  • Word Count: 1116
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Japanese Monarchy

... under their control. However, the Yamato period showed that there was clearly only one leader. It was also found that the leader was hereditary, and had the authority to perform rites between living and deceased as well as between rulers and their divine ancestors (Hall, 1989). It wasn't until the Kofun period (300 BC - 700 AD) where leadership was solidified by ... are linked to Yamato's first kings and the worship of the kami (Hall, 1989). Thus this indiginous religion of Japan became one which was embraced by the Japanese monarch. The Japanese way of life and thinking intertwined its...

  • Word Count: 3562
  • Approx Pages: 14
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. History of the Roman Empire

... transformed the Roman Empire from a republic into a monarchy. Although he instituted many important administrative reforms and continued to grant the senate a role in governing, most of the political power remained within the hands of the princeps, as he called himself. The army swore loyalty to him and the restoration of peace soon made his newly established political order acceptable to ... wide spread repercussions on the empire. The five good emperors were the ancient Roman imperial succession of Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. These rulers presided over...

  • Word Count: 2291
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Comparative Analysis - James Otis and Thomas Paine

... such a position. Paine used his analogy to attack the British system of government adding that it's too complex hindering finding solutions for any problem, also monarchy was spoiled with excessive power and an absurd system of checks and balances. Otis does not agree with the current British government because monarchists like princes and kings are blinded by the flattery from peers or aristocrats who worship ... these rulers like they are chosen by the divine and have the right for full power and control to "legislate& ... Jews when they decided they wanted a king. Paine adds that man...

  • Word Count: 1192
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. Common Sense

... king requires him to know what goes on thoroughly. These conflicting parts prove that the character of a king is a useless one (6). Another evil of the monarchy Paine says is its hereditary nature of succession. Through succession the throne is subject to the rule of minors, and as kings get older and feeble they are both easily manipulated by men with strong wills within the court (15). Paine states that the ... thrown of England has also been plagued by wars of successions which split the country in two. After thoroughly ... ...

  • Word Count: 871
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Common Sense

... any society, there are much better ways to govern a people besides the British monarchal system. Paine discusses how the Parliament is set up as a representation of the people, but what good is representation in a monarchy? The monarch still has absolute power, even though a system is set up to make it appear as though the people have say so. This lack ... , which needs checking, be from God; yet the provision, which the constitution makes, supposes such a power to exist." (70) Hereditary succession, as approved by the British constitution, is one of the greater evils of the British gover...

  • Word Count: 1249
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Thomas Paine's Common Sense

... requires five or six more to explain it in- (24). To worsen the situation of the King, Paine also discusses the existence of heredity succession in a monarchy. "To the evil of monarchy we have added that of hereditary succession; and as the first is a degradation and lessening of ourselves, so the second, claimed as a matter of right, is an insult and an imposition on posterity- (13). This statement explains how the first King or ... chosen King might better society; however, there is no guarantee that his oldest son or brother has any integrity. The King succession ... ...

  • Word Count: 1406
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. Richard II

... king and even if the Elizabethans did not feel that the chosen king was fit to rule or that he was corrupt, the Elizabethans felt that God chose this king to punish them. The King ruled by divine rights, "The Divine Right of Kings, indicates that this theory involved the following propositions: (1) Monarchy is a divinely ordained institution. (2) Hereditary right is indefeasible. The succession to monarchy is ... regulated by the law of primogeniture. The right acquired by birth cannot be forfeited through any acts of usurpation, of however long continuance, by any incapacity in the hei...

  • Word Count: 1230
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Ancient Rome

... pater, meaning father. He divided the people into three tribes, mentioned above, and each tribe was divided into smaller curiae. The succession of kings wasn't hereditary. The previous king appointed someone, and that person had to show the good will of heaven. Once king he had to keep the pax deorum, Latin for peace of the gods. Romulus created an army that was to have three thousand ... became consuls. After one year, they turned the state over to "the free decision of the Senate and People of Rome" (Adcock 74). The Senate and people of Rome gave Octavian ten years of complete control...

  • Word Count: 4232
  • Approx Pages: 17
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

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