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Interdisciplinary Studies in History
Rioting in America: (Interdisciplinary Studies in History
" . . . a sweeping, analytical synethsis of collective violence from the colonial experience to the present." ―American Studies
"Gilje has written 'the book' on rioting throughout American history." ―The Historian
". . . a thorough, illuminating, and at times harrowing account of man's inhumanity to man." ―William and Mary Quarterly
" . . . fulfills its title's promise as an encyclopedic study . . . an impressive accomplishment and required reading for anyone interested in America's contentious past." ―Journal of the Early Republic
"Gilje has written a thought-provoking survey of the social context of American riots and popular disorders from the Colonial period to the late 20th century. . . . a must read for anyone interested in riots." ―Choice
In this wide-ranging survey of rioting in America, Paul A. Gilje argues that we cannot fully comprehend the history of the United States without an understanding of the impact of rioting. Exploring the rationale of the American mob brings to light the grievances that motivate its behavior and the historical circumstances that drive the choices it makes. Gilje's unusual lens makes for an eye-opening view of the American people and their history.
"Gilje has written 'the book' on rioting throughout American history." ―The Historian
". . . a thorough, illuminating, and at times harrowing account of man's inhumanity to man." ―William and Mary Quarterly
" . . . fulfills its title's promise as an encyclopedic study . . . an impressive accomplishment and required reading for anyone interested in America's contentious past." ―Journal of the Early Republic
"Gilje has written a thought-provoking survey of the social context of American riots and popular disorders from the Colonial period to the late 20th century. . . . a must read for anyone interested in riots." ―Choice
In this wide-ranging survey of rioting in America, Paul A. Gilje argues that we cannot fully comprehend the history of the United States without an understanding of the impact of rioting. Exploring the rationale of the American mob brings to light the grievances that motivate its behavior and the historical circumstances that drive the choices it makes. Gilje's unusual lens makes for an eye-opening view of the American people and their history.
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1996
69 people want to read
About the author
Paul A. Gilje
17 books3 followersPaul A. Gilje is the George Lynn Cross Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Oklahoma.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 14, 2019
Gilje’s books is most useful for its broad catalogue of American collective violence and his analysis of broad historical trends in this violence rather than his analysis of the causes or consequences of any one incident. His general thesis is that following the brutal upheaval of the early colonial period (which mirrored social unrest in England) later colonial disruptions often followed nonviolent (or nonfatal) English customary models. This changed in the nineteenth century as rioting became more violent and fatal. This period of fatal collective violence (1820-1940) continued into the early 20th century. The post WWII order represents another turning point as demonstrations become more ritualized and nonviolent. Protest became more symbolic and violence was more often directed toward property.
Of interest to my research, Gilje’s survey helps highlight the prevalence of urban ethnic violence in northern cities that is often conveniently forgotten in north-south geographies of racist violence. So, for instance, the 1985 Philly police bombing of a black Philadelphia neighborhood which resulted in multiple deaths and the destruction of 61 houses (and really was an act of state terrorism), is often called unprecedented. It was in the form of the violence but not in the object, scale, and consequences of this violence. Gilje documents how during the Reconstruction period white riots in Northern and Midwestern cities destroyed--or attempted to destroy--portions of many black neighborhoods— in places like Chicago; New York; Springfield, IL; and East St. Louis. Gilje suggest that part of the purpose of these assaults was to destroy black wealth. If police didn't participate directly in these assaults on black lives and property, they at least allowed them to happen. See also the Tulsa massacre: https://www.colorlines.com/articles/i...
Of interest to my research, Gilje’s survey helps highlight the prevalence of urban ethnic violence in northern cities that is often conveniently forgotten in north-south geographies of racist violence. So, for instance, the 1985 Philly police bombing of a black Philadelphia neighborhood which resulted in multiple deaths and the destruction of 61 houses (and really was an act of state terrorism), is often called unprecedented. It was in the form of the violence but not in the object, scale, and consequences of this violence. Gilje documents how during the Reconstruction period white riots in Northern and Midwestern cities destroyed--or attempted to destroy--portions of many black neighborhoods— in places like Chicago; New York; Springfield, IL; and East St. Louis. Gilje suggest that part of the purpose of these assaults was to destroy black wealth. If police didn't participate directly in these assaults on black lives and property, they at least allowed them to happen. See also the Tulsa massacre: https://www.colorlines.com/articles/i...
March 19, 2021
A very interesting study of riots in American history and the role they played in shifting public opinions. Gilje studies mobs as if they operate with a hive-mind type of consciousness in which rioters, aware or not, are rehearsing patterns that are practiced elsewhere by other rioters in their time.
He traces the development of civil disorder from the pre-revolutionary era up through the 90's. And he traces the connection civil disorder holds to the political movements of the day. He also traces the rituals and practices that rioters use in each era, as well as the role of violence in riots.
It was certainly interesting but it painted with too broad a brush for me. This is of course, what Gilje was aiming to do, but I kind of wanted detailed stories of each riot, especially when it came to the big ones like Baltimore, Watts and the LA riots of the 90's (among others).
Additionally, there's one big question I would have liked to see answered which is: what is the effect of rioting on public opinion? While Gilje makes it obvious that rioting inspires backlash, it isn't clear to me from this book what the effect is on the rest of the country when a riot takes place.
This is also one of the essential questions at play when we talk about a riot because ultimately we want to know if such things are effective means of achieving political goals.
Anyhow, great book, just a few minor issues.
He traces the development of civil disorder from the pre-revolutionary era up through the 90's. And he traces the connection civil disorder holds to the political movements of the day. He also traces the rituals and practices that rioters use in each era, as well as the role of violence in riots.
It was certainly interesting but it painted with too broad a brush for me. This is of course, what Gilje was aiming to do, but I kind of wanted detailed stories of each riot, especially when it came to the big ones like Baltimore, Watts and the LA riots of the 90's (among others).
Additionally, there's one big question I would have liked to see answered which is: what is the effect of rioting on public opinion? While Gilje makes it obvious that rioting inspires backlash, it isn't clear to me from this book what the effect is on the rest of the country when a riot takes place.
This is also one of the essential questions at play when we talk about a riot because ultimately we want to know if such things are effective means of achieving political goals.
Anyhow, great book, just a few minor issues.
February 3, 2019
I am very conflicted by this book. It is very well researched, organized and written. However, his analysis of four types or riots seems so abstracted from the data that it is almost useless for an historian. It is primarily a sociological analysis. It does not consider essential distinctions like governmental abuse of power or the distinction between civil disobedience and revolution. Race riots, the ethnic riots and later political riots seem to either fall into different categories other than the four he has found or should not be consider riots but rebellions.
October 19, 2015
An informative, if somewhat encyclopedic review of rioting in the United States throughout the past couple hundred years. While Gilje presents a laundry list of riots, he doesn't spend much time critically analyzing them.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews