Overview

Revisit 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. The 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. In A Resistance History of the United States, 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. Utililizing 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- Bacon's Rebellion/Metacomet's War (1676) Salem Witch Trials (1692) The Black Loyalists (1783) The Underground Railroad (1850) Through 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.

Full Product Details

Author:   Tad Stoermer
Publisher:   Steerforth Press
Imprint:   Steerforth Press
Weight:   0.369kg
ISBN:  

9781586424367

ISBN 10:   158642436
Pages:   352
Publication Date:   02 June 2026
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
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Table of Contents

Author’s Note Introduction The Resistance Toolkit — Nine hard-earned principles drawn from American history’s fiercest defiance, distilled into a usable framework for confronting abusive authority today. 1.The Rebellion That Wasn’t (1676) Principle #1: Beware of False Prophets — not all who wave the banner of resistance seek liberty; some only seek their own power. 2.More Weight (1692) Principle #2: The Weight of Truth — in a system built on lies, the refusal to validate falsehood is the most basic and dangerous resistance. 3.Nancy’s War (1783) Principle #3: My Enemy’s Enemy — alliances in resistance don’t require shared ideals, only a shared opponent, if they advance liberation. 4.The Haunted Man on Maiden Lane (1789) Principle #4: Make Them Fight — abusive authority never yields on its own; it must be forced to recalculate, to concede under pressure, to pay a cost. 5.The Fugitive President (1796) Principle #5: The First Step — every resistance begins with one refusal. But survival depends on persistence: the courage to take the next step, and the next. 6.A Right to Refuse (1846) Principle #6: Ideas Matter — symbolism only endures if it rests on conscience and higher principle, not just revolt for power’s sake. 7.The Unbreakable Chain (1850) Principle #7: Build Your Networks — when institutions fail, resistance builds its own: parallel structures of trust, intelligence, and collective will. 8.Arming the Hosts of Freedom (1859) Principle #8: Know What It Takes — resistance must abandon ineffective tactics and embrace what works, even when it demands risk or provocation. 9.The Last Battle of the American Revolution (1866) Principle #9: Seize Your Moment — when power is toppled and opportunity opens, act decisively. Make the change real, permanent, and deep—because the chance may not come again. Epilogue: An American Way of Resistance Conclusion

Reviews

“Bracing, unsentimental and deeply necessary for this moment in American life, Tad Stoermer’s A Resistance History of the United States 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.” —Ava DuVernay ""An inspiration for those fighting for democratic rights in the face of authoritarianism."" —Kirkus Reviews ""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."" —Booklist

“Bracing, unsentimental and deeply necessary for this moment in American life, Tad Stoermer’s A Resistance History of the United States 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.” —Ava DuVernay

Author Information

Tad Stoermer 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.

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