A minority movement even at its height, anarchism has nevertheless had a profound influence on American history. Its weapons of protest — violence, propaganda, and civil disobedience — have been widely adopted by movements today, and some anarchist trends such as an urge toward decentralization and dissatisfaction with modern industrial life are apparent in much of the current rebellion against society.
In this brilliant survey of American anarchism, Corinne Jacker traces the origins and philosophy of anarchism and antistatism, going back to the Greek philosophers. Our founding fathers shared many antistatist thoughts and believed, as Jefferson put it, "that government is best which governs least." In part, we owe our unique constitution to their concern for the rights of the individual above the state. Miss Jacker discusses the great American anarchists, both violent and nonviolent, the Utopian colonies that sprang up all over the country during the nineteenth century — testaments to anarchist idealism, the "Red Scare," and, in particular, three events that affected American history: the Haymarket Affair, McKinley's assassination, and the case of Sacco and Vanzetti.
Illustrated with engravings, photo-graphs, and anarchist documents, this fascinating book is important for an understanding of our century. -
ABOUT THE AUTHOR -
Corinne Jacker was born in Chicago and attended Stanford and Northwestern Universities. She was a fellow of the MacDowell Colony in 1959 and has worked as a science editor and teacher. Her history of the microscope, WINDOW ON THE UNKNOWN, published in 1966, received unanimously excellent reviews.
Miss Jacker lives in New York City. At present, she is working on a history of world pacifism.