{"product_id":"a-resistance-history-of-the-united-states","title":"A Resistance History of the United States","description":"\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eTad Stoermer\u003c\/b\u003e is a public historian who trained at the University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins, and Harvard, with a particular focus on Colonial and Revolutionary America. He is also a former congressional staffer and speechwriter, and he served in the US Army and Reserves as a reconnaissance scout. He lives in Denmark.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAuthor's Note \n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIntroduction \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eNine Resistance History Principles\u003c\/b\u003e -- patterns that emerge across centuries of Americans confronting abusive authority. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e1.The Rebellion That Wasn't (1676)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003ePrinciple #1: Beware of False Prophets\u003c\/i\u003e -- not all who wave the banner of resistance seek liberty; some only seek their own power. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e2.The Weight of Truth (1692)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003ePrinciple #2: The Weight of Truth\u003c\/i\u003e -- in a system built on lies, the refusal to validate falsehood is the most basic and dangerous resistance. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e3.A Declaration of Their Own (1783)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003ePrinciple #3: My Enemy's Enemy\u003c\/i\u003e -- alliances in resistance don't require shared ideals, only a shared opponent, if they advance liberation. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e4.The Haunted Man on Maiden's Lane (1789)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003ePrinciple #4: Make Them Fight\u003c\/i\u003e -- abusive authority never yields on its own; it must be forced to recalculate, to concede under pressure, to pay a cost. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e5.The Fugitive President (1796)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003ePrinciple #5: The First Step\u003c\/i\u003e -- every resistance begins with one refusal. But survival depends on persistence: the courage to take the next step, and the next. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e6.The Right to Refuse (1846)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003ePrinciple #6: Ideas Matter\u003c\/i\u003e -- symbolism only endures if it rests on conscience and higher principle, not just revolt for power's sake. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e7.The Unbreakable Chain (1850)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003ePrinciple #7: Build Your Networks\u003c\/i\u003e -- when institutions fail, resistance builds its own: parallel structures of trust, intelligence, and collective will. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e8.Arming the Hosts of Freedom (1859)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003ePrinciple #8: Know What It Takes\u003c\/i\u003e -- resistance must abandon ineffective tactics and embrace what works, even when it demands risk or provocation. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e9.The Last Battle of the American Revolution (1866)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003ePrinciple #9: Seize Your Moment\u003c\/i\u003e -- when power is toppled and opportunity opens, act decisively. Make the change real, permanent, and deep--because the chance may not come again. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eConclusion: \n\u003ci\u003eAn American Way of Resistance\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEpilogue: The Return of the First Republic \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Resistance History Toolkit \u003c\/b\u003e-- Nine hard-earned principles drawn from American history's fiercest defiance, distilled into a usable framework for confronting abusive authority today.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Bracing, unsentimental and deeply necessary for this moment in American life, Tad Stoermer's \n\u003ci\u003eA Resistance History of the United States\u003c\/i\u003e refuses the soft landing ... the idea that progress is inevitable and that justice slowly bends on its own. Instead, he offers a clear-eyed account of how freedom is constructed, defended and repeatedly taken back. This is history written for people who understand that democracy is not inherited ... it is fought for. Over and over again.\"\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Ava DuVernay \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"An inspiration for those fighting for democratic rights in the face of authoritarianism.\"\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Readers interested in U.S. history, particularly political and social histories, will find Stoermer's work to be an insightful approach in understanding a pattern of organized resistance movements and how they confronted violence and authority, and attempted to reform structural changes for a better future in America.\"\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e--Booklist \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Stoermer casts a critical eye on the historical record, the mythology surrounding it, and its implications for resistance movements today... the result is an honest portrayal that sheds light on what can truly be learned and applied... This is a must-read for the moment and for any general history fan.\"\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e--Library Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e, Starred Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e - INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER! - #1 ABA Indie Bookstores (PB Nonfiction) - #6 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003e(combined HC and PB Nonfiction) - #9 \u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly \u003c\/i\u003e(overall PB) - #16 \u003ci\u003eUSA Today \u003c\/i\u003eoverall (all genres, formats) - \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAn urgent, bracing new look at American history that Ava DuVernay calls \"deeply necessary for this moment.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRevisit the Salem Witch Trials, the Underground Railroad, and other resistance movements of American history to get a bold new understanding of how resistance shaped our past--and how its principles can change our future.\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe 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. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \n\u003ci\u003eA Resistance History of the United States\u003c\/i\u003e, 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. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eUtililizing 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, with each chapter identifying a key resistance movement and principle meant to inspire contemporary readers, including: \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBacon's Rebellion\/Metacomet's War (1676)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSalem Witch Trials (1692)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Black Loyalists (1783)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Underground Railroad (1850)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eThrough 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/span\u003e 05\/01\/2026 pg. 125 (EAN 9781586424367, Paperback) - *Starred Review\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eBooklist\u003c\/span\u003e 05\/01\/2026 (EAN 9781586424367, Paperback)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 06\/01\/2026 (EAN 9781586424367, Paperback)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Stoermer, Tad\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Steerforth Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePub Date:\u003c\/b\u003e 2026-06-02\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC:\u003c\/b\u003e History \/ United States \/ General|Social Science \/ Activism \u0026amp; Social Justice|Political Science \/ Political Freedom\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.85 lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781586424367\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eASIN:\u003c\/b\u003e -\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSKU:\u003c\/b\u003e SP-9781586424367\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Steerforth Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67739495923993,"sku":"SP-9781586424367","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0913\/0380\/5209\/files\/9781586424367_spiral.png?v=1791611299","url":"https:\/\/westbindery.com\/products\/a-resistance-history-of-the-united-states","provider":"West Bindery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}