Paine saw economic inequality as natural but king-subject distinction as unnatural

Evidence

Accepting “the distinctions of rich and poor” as a natural consequence of liberty and of “good and bad [as] the distinctions of Heaven,” Paine writes, “there is another and greater distinction for which no truly natural or religious reason can be assigned, and that is, the distinction of Men into KINGS and SUBJECTS.” — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 53

Categorization

• DEFINE: Sharpens the founder-era distinction between natural inequality (wealth, virtue) and artificial inequality (monarchy), a foundational competing conception of equality.
• XREF: Relevant to the course goal of examining competing foundational understandings of equality; pairs against later Federalist defenses of ranks and distinctions. — connects to: Paine deemed wealth inequality natural but king-subject hierarchy unnatural and unchristian. — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 53; Paine overstated colonial self-sufficiency while arguing unity outweighed British numbers — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 89

Broader Connections

• Paine deemed wealth inequality natural but king-subject hierarchy unnatural and unchristian. #corroborates (0.95) — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 53