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Boston Riots: Three Centuries of Social Violence
From the food uprisings in the early 1700s to the notorious anti-busing riots in the mid-1970s, incidents of communal social violence have played a significant role in Boston's history.
Jack Tager explores the more than 100 riots that occurred in the city over a span of nearly three centuries. Drawing on exhaustive research in newspaper archives, Jack Tager revisits both well- and lesser-known episodes, including the grain, impressment, brothel, and Pope Day riots of the eighteenth century; the anti-Catholic, abolition, and draft riots of the nineteenth century; and the Kosher meat, police strike, ghetto, and busing riots of the twentieth century.
Tager identifies the protagonists, highlights their motives and demands, and seeks to determine whether they realized their goals. He also examines how victims suffered at the hands of their fellow citizens, shows how law enforcement responded to the riots, and considers the complex social interactions and tensions that contributed to the uprisings. He finds that most incidents of violent civil disorder were initiated by the powerless lower classes who believed rioting was the only avenue for giving voice to their grievances over political, cultural, religious, or economic oppression.
This vivid portrait of an ever-changing community over time provides a revealing glimpse into peoples' anger, aspirations, and frustrations. It sheds new light on why groups are provoked to take unlawful action in response to unjust conditions, and it opens a fresh vista on the social history of Boston.
Jack Tager explores the more than 100 riots that occurred in the city over a span of nearly three centuries. Drawing on exhaustive research in newspaper archives, Jack Tager revisits both well- and lesser-known episodes, including the grain, impressment, brothel, and Pope Day riots of the eighteenth century; the anti-Catholic, abolition, and draft riots of the nineteenth century; and the Kosher meat, police strike, ghetto, and busing riots of the twentieth century.
Tager identifies the protagonists, highlights their motives and demands, and seeks to determine whether they realized their goals. He also examines how victims suffered at the hands of their fellow citizens, shows how law enforcement responded to the riots, and considers the complex social interactions and tensions that contributed to the uprisings. He finds that most incidents of violent civil disorder were initiated by the powerless lower classes who believed rioting was the only avenue for giving voice to their grievances over political, cultural, religious, or economic oppression.
This vivid portrait of an ever-changing community over time provides a revealing glimpse into peoples' anger, aspirations, and frustrations. It sheds new light on why groups are provoked to take unlawful action in response to unjust conditions, and it opens a fresh vista on the social history of Boston.
- GenresHistory
304 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2000
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June 12, 2016
I read this book for a project when I was in college. Unlike many books you read when you have to do research for a school project, this was actually quite compelling. That Christmas, I bought it for myself. (Note: Ignore the date except for the year.)
If you are interested in history, especially Massachusetts history, I think you'll find it quite interesting. It isn't judgmental, but it exposes a dark side to the state that many gloss over. From Boston's tumultuous early days to the Boston Busing Riots, the book shows that Boston isn't exactly the paragon of virtue I'd like to think it is.
If you're interested in sociology, the author has some interesting theories about how riots work. The main point of this book is that people who believe their rights are being stolen (whether correctly or otherwise) will often turn to violence. The author not only proves this correct and explain why the riot happened in each case, but you can also apply his logic to certain events that are currently happening.
Is it a perfect book? No. But I believe it is quite valuable and if you live in or near Boston, you should definitely give it a read.
If you are interested in history, especially Massachusetts history, I think you'll find it quite interesting. It isn't judgmental, but it exposes a dark side to the state that many gloss over. From Boston's tumultuous early days to the Boston Busing Riots, the book shows that Boston isn't exactly the paragon of virtue I'd like to think it is.
If you're interested in sociology, the author has some interesting theories about how riots work. The main point of this book is that people who believe their rights are being stolen (whether correctly or otherwise) will often turn to violence. The author not only proves this correct and explain why the riot happened in each case, but you can also apply his logic to certain events that are currently happening.
Is it a perfect book? No. But I believe it is quite valuable and if you live in or near Boston, you should definitely give it a read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review