Thomas Paine: Monarchy Is A Bad Form Of Government

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Thomas Paine was born in England in 1737 and worked as a corset maker in his teens and, later, as a sailor and schoolteacher before becoming a writer. In 1774, Paine arrived in Philadelphia and soon came to support American independence. Two years later, his 47-page pamphlet “Common Sense” sold many copies, powerfully influencing American opinion. Thomas Paine focused on two main points in this pamphlet. One being that monarchy was a bad form of government and the other being that the American colonies should become free from England and form their own country.
Monarchy is a form of government in which one person leads, usually a king or queen that is often only the head of state, not the head of government. The crown is usually inherited in this case. The head of government is usually the prime minister. Thomas Paine believed that this was a bad form of government because the biblical origin of monarchy began in sinfulness. The many pages of scriptural evidence make it clear that God stands in opposition to monarchy. He argues that since all men are born equal, no man could or should have the right to establish his family as forever above others. He also observes that recent kings of England have mostly been bad, which he says should indicate, even to those who favor hereditary succession, that the present line of kings does not exercise legitimate power. Thomas Paine also supported Frances revolution from Monarchy to a new republic and wrote “The Rights …show more content…
One of the ways Thomas Paine supported and acted on his beliefs was by joining the American Army. Thomas Paine found a way to display what so many Americans were thinking but could not put into words. He united average citizens and political leaders behind the idea of independence. America would not be where it is today without the great works of Thomas

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