Alma 51 - 52

While Pahoran served as the Chief Judge, there was a part of the people that felt -

"...who desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered." (Book of Mormon Alma 51:2)

But -

"...Pahoran would not alter nor suffer the law to be altered; therefore, he did not hearken to those who had sent in their voices with their petitions concerning the altering of the law." (Book of Mormon Alma 51:3)

First impressions may be that Pahoran had an ego and a sense of power and authority in his high position and that he was just unwilling to listen to the people. But any such opinion would be quickly dispelled as we learn that -

"...they were desirous that the law should be altered in a manner to overthrow the free government and to establish a king over the land." (Book of Mormon Alma 51:5)

That does not sound like any small altering of the law. Sounds more like an usurp of power and loss of freedoms. Because Pahoran rejected their rebellious attitude, they -

"..were angry with him, and desired that he should no longer be chief judge over the land...and those who were desirous that Pahoran should be dethroned from the judgment–seat were called king–men..." (Book of Mormon Alma 51:4 - 5)

The truth comes out when we learn that -

"...those who were in favor of kings were those of high birth, and they sought to be kings; and they were supported by those who sought power and authority over the people."
(Book of Mormon Alma 51:8)

Sounds typical of some people we know. And with all of this -

"...there arose a warm dispute concerning the matter, but not unto bloodshed." (Book of Mormon Alma 51:4)

Which led to a dividing of the people -

"And those who were desirous that Pahoran should remain chief judge over the land took upon them the name of freemen; and thus was the division among them, for the freemen had sworn or covenanted to maintain their rights and the privileges of their religion by a free government." (Book of Mormon Alma 51:6)

So they decided -

"...that this matter of their contention [should be] settled by the voice of the people." (Book of Mormon Alma 51:7)

Sounds like a civil solution for a free people, and -

"...the voice of the people came in favor of the freemen, and Pahoran retained the judgment–seat, which caused much rejoicing among the brethren of Pahoran and also many of the people of liberty, who also put the king–men to silence, that they durst not oppose but were obliged to maintain the cause of freedom." (Book of Mormon Alma 51:7)

In a time of peace, maybe these two parties could have been remained civil in compliance to the law, but it wasn't for it -

"...was a critical time for such contentions to be among the people of Nephi; for behold, Amalickiah had again stirred up the hearts of the people of the Lamanites against the people of the Nephites, and he was gathering together soldiers from all parts of his land, and arming them, and preparing for war with all diligence..." (Book of Mormon Alma 51:9)

Even then, the two parties could have co-existed if they set aside their differences when faced with a common enemy, but when -

"...the Lamanites were coming down to battle against them, [the king-men] were glad in their hearts; and they refused to take up arms, for they were so wroth with the chief judge, and also with the people of liberty, that they would not take up arms to defend their country." (Book of Mormon Alma 51:13)

If you were head of the government, what would you do? Not do anything? Allow succession of the king-men? Pahoran did probably the same thing Abraham Lincoln would do. He would would stop dissention and maintain free men's interests, liberty, and freedom.

And in accordance with the voice of the people, allowed Moroni

"...to put an end to such contentions and dissensions among the people; for behold, this had been hitherto a cause of all their destruction." (Book of Mormon Alma 51:16)

And -

"...Moroni commanded that his army should go against those king–men, to pull down their pride and their nobility and level them with the earth, or they should take up arms and support the cause of liberty... and there were four thousand of those dissenters who were hewn down by the sword; and those of their leaders who were not slain in battle were taken and cast into prison, for there was no time for their trials at this period.
20 And the remainder of those dissenters, rather than be smitten down to the earth by the sword, yielded to the standard of liberty, and were compelled to hoist the title of liberty upon their towers, and in their cities, and to take up arms in defence of their country.
21 And thus Moroni put an end to those king–men, that there were not any known by the appellation of king–men; and thus he put an end to the stubbornness and the pride of those people who professed the blood of nobility; but they were brought down to humble themselves like unto their brethren, and to fight valiantly for their freedom from bondage." (Book of Mormon Alma 51:17 - 21)

This scenerio of these events have many similarities to our own Civil War.