In A Necessary Evil, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Wills shows that distrust of government is embedded deep in the American psyche. From the revolt of the colonies against king & parliament to present-day tax revolts, militia movements & term limits debates, he shows that American antigovernment sentiment is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of history. By debunking myths about the Founding Fathers, the Constitution & the taming of the frontier, he shows how tendencies to hold our elected government in disdain are misguided.
1 Revolutionary myths.
Minutemen
Term limits
2 Constitutional myths.
Sovereign states
Checking efficiency
Co-equal branches
The uses of faction
Bill of Rights
No standing army
3 Nullifiers.
John Taylor of Caroline: father of nullification
Jefferson: prophet of nullification
Madison: abettor of nullification
Nullification North: Hartford Convention
Nullification South: John C. Calhoun
Academic nullifiers
4 Seceders.
Civil War
5 Insurrectionists.
From Daniel Shays to Timothy McVeigh
Acdemic insurrectionists
6 Vigilantes.
Groups: from regulators to clinic bombings
Individuals: frontier
Individuals: NRA
7 Withdrawers.
Individuals: from Thoreau to Mencken
Groups: from Brook Farm to hippie communes
8 Disobeyers.
From Dr King to SDS
9 A necessary good.
The uses of government
The uses of fear