Now comes a book to help them find their roots, in the strong tradition
of American anarchism.
Anarchism has exploded back into the forefront of today's
political movements. While modern radicals have shied away from broad social
systems to narrow, issue-oriented groups, the doctrine of anarchism has
surfaced in all of them. One increasingly hears about "anarcho-feminists,"
non-government alternative communities, and direct-action environmentalists.
Now comes a book to help them find their roots, in the strong tradition
of American anarchism.
It is not surprising that anarchism is being reborn in today's progressive movements; many of those movements were started by anarchists over a century ago. Anarcho-pacifists protested the War of 1812 and the Civil War, while demanding freedom for slaves. Women's rights, birth control, sexual and moral freedom were championed by Frances Wright, Voltairine de Cleyre, Emma Goldman and other anarchists. Alternative communities such as New Harmony, Utopia and Modern Times were formed around anarchist principles. Environmental activists and labor organizers can still learn much from the anarchists who preferred "direct action" to idle words.
Native American Anarchism is not only an important historical book for contemporary radicals - it's also enjoyable and exciting reading. You'll thrill as you read about Thoreau's defense of John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, the efforts of abolitionists to free the slaves, the new age communities that struggled for survival, the early battles for women's rights and sexual freedom, the assassination of President McKinley, and the deportation of America's leading anarchists.
Native American Anarchism is by far the best book ever published on the history of anarchism in the United States. Don't miss this timely classic, finally back in print, explaining the roots of American radicalism!
