A Resistance History of the United States (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781586424367)

A bold new understanding of how resistance has shaped American history--told through episodes from America's past that illustrate resistance principles we can use to change our world today.

The United States was shaped by resistance--but not in the way we've been taught. The Revolution did not secure liberty; it opened the door to either liberty or oppression, where only white men enjoyed all of the benefits and protections of citizenship.

In A Resistance History of the United States, public historian Tad Stoermer shows how from the very beginning, that tension--between the ideals of resistance and the realities of power--has defined America more than the Enlightenment ideals enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Utililizing powerful storytelling to focus on key--and often lesser-known--moments in American history, this book reveals the truth of how resistance movements from Colonial times have opposed the powers that be. Stoermer covers an impressive roster of pivotal movements, including:

• Bacon's Rebellion/Metacomet's War (1676)
• Witch Trials (1692)
• The Black Loyalists (1783)
• The Underground Railroad (1850)

Through these and many more examples, Stoermer dismantles the mythologies that pass for American history--exposing the curated nostalgia, moral evasions, and institutional silences that have long protected abusive power. What emerges is an essential look at how we can take lessons from the past to understand, and effectively respond to, the injustices we face today.

Author: Tad Stoermer
ISBN-10: 158642436X
ISBN-13: 9781586424367
Publisher: Steerforth Press
Language: English
Published: 06/02/2026
Pages: 288
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.81lbs