Vigilantism: Political History of Private Power in America

• NCJ Number: 125021
• Author(s): W C Culberson
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 184 pages
• Sale Source: Praeger Publishers
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis of the nature and role of vigilantism in the history of the United States argues that vigilantism should be clearly distinguished from domestic terrorism, because their purposes differ sharply.

Abstract

Thus, domestic terrorism involves actions that deny the progression of the social order, while vigilantism is conducted by people who are vigilant in all matters that could do harm to the progressive social order. In the history of the United States it therefore has represented private violence conducted to preserve values connected with leading a moral life and protecting property when institutionalized government would not or could not. In addition, vigilantism has been the motivating social force in American politics since the founding of the United States. Moreover, considering vigilantism the equivalent of domestic terrorism denies the peoples' right to criticize or challenge the status quo or the direction of social policies. Case examples, chapter notes, appended chronologies of events, and index. (Publisher summary modified)