Thomas Paine argued that hereditary monarchy went against "common sense." If a king gained power through some sort of election process, then all future kings in the kingdom should have to be elected -- not simply inherit the throne. And if a king had gained his power by conquest over another king, then hereditary succession was already interrupted and no longer valid. So the whole notion of kings handing their power down to their children in a dynasty was an illegitimate idea, not really how things are in truth. Thus hereditary monarchy should be considered an illegitimate form of government.
For the next 71 days, Indian protesters at Wounded Knee would hold off the federal government at gunpoint. Media from around the world would give the siege day-by-day coverage. And Native Americans from across the nation would come to Wounded Knee to be part of what they hoped would be a new beginning.
