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Rage in the Streets: A History of American Riots
Why do people riot?
From the Boston Massacre in 1770 to the Los Angeles riots of 1992, mob violence in the United States is often sparked by unjust court decisions, unfair taxes, unpopular wars, the fear of unemployment, and racial and ethnic prejudice. But there are also seemingly senseless riots over wild concerts and sports championships. What causes a peacefully assembled crowd to turn into a mindless, violent mob? What causes a police force or militia to lose control?
In this timely, comprehensive overview, Jules Archer describes and explains the causes of mob violence in the United States and suggests that unless we make some basic changes in the nature of our society, the despair and rage that ignite mob violence may always be with us.
From the Boston Massacre in 1770 to the Los Angeles riots of 1992, mob violence in the United States is often sparked by unjust court decisions, unfair taxes, unpopular wars, the fear of unemployment, and racial and ethnic prejudice. But there are also seemingly senseless riots over wild concerts and sports championships. What causes a peacefully assembled crowd to turn into a mindless, violent mob? What causes a police force or militia to lose control?
In this timely, comprehensive overview, Jules Archer describes and explains the causes of mob violence in the United States and suggests that unless we make some basic changes in the nature of our society, the despair and rage that ignite mob violence may always be with us.
- GenresHistory
200 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1994
About the author
Jules Archer
122 books18 followersJules Archer was an American author who wrote many volumes of non-fiction history for a general audience and for young adults.
Archer served four years during World War II with the Army Air Corps in the Pacific theater. He is the author of many books on U.S. history, political events, and personalities, including The Plot to Seize the White House: The Shocking True Story of the Conspiracy to Overthrow FDR, and Jungle Fighters: A G.I. War Correspondent's Experiences in the New Guinea Campaign.
Archer served four years during World War II with the Army Air Corps in the Pacific theater. He is the author of many books on U.S. history, political events, and personalities, including The Plot to Seize the White House: The Shocking True Story of the Conspiracy to Overthrow FDR, and Jungle Fighters: A G.I. War Correspondent's Experiences in the New Guinea Campaign.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 2, 2022
I went looking for a book about mobs and this was all I could find, but from the fact that only 7 people had rated it on Goodreads and the consensus was that it sucked, I went in fairly warned! And indeed, it is not good. At just 157 pages of text it’s a relatively quick read, though.
Basically, this book is a long and repetitive collection of brief summaries of riots in American history, mostly describing the same types of violence over and over with very little analysis. The author has a tendency to use emotionally charged language and attribute feelings to people, none of which comes with specific citations. The bibliography at the end contains an eyebrow-raising proportion of citations to his own work, but the guy apparently wrote 70 books, which might explain why this feels like such a rush job. Also, this book is classified as juvenile nonfiction, which might explain the didactic tone (it surprises me a bit since the book consists primarily of descriptions of violence, but then in many ways kids take violence less seriously than adults, not more).
On the positive side, although the 1994 publication date is very obvious in the way the author talks about women—usually pictured either screaming, sobbing or fleeing—and minorities (and perhaps vaguely alludes to LGBT people at the end with a comment about the importance of getting to know people from other “races, religions and life-styles”), it actually does come across as fairly progressive. The author is clear about the underlying reasons that have caused members of disempowered groups to riot, and makes no bones about describing mass violence by police and anti-labor groups as “rioting” as well. The most unexpectedly depressing part of this book was all the accounts of violence against strikers and others protesting for their rights.
I actually was surprised at the severity of some of these events, some of which I hadn’t known about—on the one hand, the takeaway regarding racism and labor rights is very much “the more things change, the more they stay the same,” but on the other it’s somewhat comforting to know that as bad as things may be now, it isn’t unprecedented and has often been worse in the past. Though to judge by this book, a mob actually invading the Capitol in an attempt to overthrow the government is new. At least in the U.S., which is the only country discussed.
Overall, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this. It feels a bit like a paper written by a student who procrastinated too long and ultimately just had to hastily type up the most easily accessible facts, tie them together with a bit of shallow analysis and hand it in. But if for some reason you want to read (or want your child to read?) a bunch of short descriptions of mob incidents and their aftermath, you will indeed find that here.
Basically, this book is a long and repetitive collection of brief summaries of riots in American history, mostly describing the same types of violence over and over with very little analysis. The author has a tendency to use emotionally charged language and attribute feelings to people, none of which comes with specific citations. The bibliography at the end contains an eyebrow-raising proportion of citations to his own work, but the guy apparently wrote 70 books, which might explain why this feels like such a rush job. Also, this book is classified as juvenile nonfiction, which might explain the didactic tone (it surprises me a bit since the book consists primarily of descriptions of violence, but then in many ways kids take violence less seriously than adults, not more).
On the positive side, although the 1994 publication date is very obvious in the way the author talks about women—usually pictured either screaming, sobbing or fleeing—and minorities (and perhaps vaguely alludes to LGBT people at the end with a comment about the importance of getting to know people from other “races, religions and life-styles”), it actually does come across as fairly progressive. The author is clear about the underlying reasons that have caused members of disempowered groups to riot, and makes no bones about describing mass violence by police and anti-labor groups as “rioting” as well. The most unexpectedly depressing part of this book was all the accounts of violence against strikers and others protesting for their rights.
I actually was surprised at the severity of some of these events, some of which I hadn’t known about—on the one hand, the takeaway regarding racism and labor rights is very much “the more things change, the more they stay the same,” but on the other it’s somewhat comforting to know that as bad as things may be now, it isn’t unprecedented and has often been worse in the past. Though to judge by this book, a mob actually invading the Capitol in an attempt to overthrow the government is new. At least in the U.S., which is the only country discussed.
Overall, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this. It feels a bit like a paper written by a student who procrastinated too long and ultimately just had to hastily type up the most easily accessible facts, tie them together with a bit of shallow analysis and hand it in. But if for some reason you want to read (or want your child to read?) a bunch of short descriptions of mob incidents and their aftermath, you will indeed find that here.
January 30, 2025
It was just ok. A quick read that wasn't boring.
I would have preferred more information on many of these riots. Some are so short and they just stop without really explaining the outcome.
Also, I'm not a fan of the way he wrote many of them. He goes right into the story without stating when and where so you can read several paragraphs before knowing what year and location the incident is taking place. Seeing as each story can have just a few years or many, many years in between them, this was frustrating. I found myself skimming for a date and location and going back to read it through. Being that the book is about history, the timeframes and what is being talked about should come first. Maybe use varying ways of beginning in a different type of book? It was annoying.
Other than that, it was alright. Interesting subject.
I would have preferred more information on many of these riots. Some are so short and they just stop without really explaining the outcome.
Also, I'm not a fan of the way he wrote many of them. He goes right into the story without stating when and where so you can read several paragraphs before knowing what year and location the incident is taking place. Seeing as each story can have just a few years or many, many years in between them, this was frustrating. I found myself skimming for a date and location and going back to read it through. Being that the book is about history, the timeframes and what is being talked about should come first. Maybe use varying ways of beginning in a different type of book? It was annoying.
Other than that, it was alright. Interesting subject.
June 11, 2020
“ the people are sick and tired, and they are sick and tired of being sick and tired”
“From one side of America’s house we hear the demand for order: There must be order! It is the voice of those who resist change. From the other side of our house comes the plea for justice: Give is justice! This is the voice of those who seek change. But the history of mankind says you will have neither order nor justice unless you have both”- Ramsey Clark
The topic of this book is important, and I couldn’t find other books written on it. And despite listing historical accounts of interest, the writing is just so poor. The book is ineffectively organized and communicated.
“From one side of America’s house we hear the demand for order: There must be order! It is the voice of those who resist change. From the other side of our house comes the plea for justice: Give is justice! This is the voice of those who seek change. But the history of mankind says you will have neither order nor justice unless you have both”- Ramsey Clark
The topic of this book is important, and I couldn’t find other books written on it. And despite listing historical accounts of interest, the writing is just so poor. The book is ineffectively organized and communicated.
June 13, 2020
Could have been more comprehensive and organized. It’s more like a glossing over of events than a deep dive. Skips over many riots choosing instead to lump some together or not address them at all like the many race riots of 1916. Overall a good read though.
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February 28, 2012I would recommend the book rage in the streets because i like how it teaches you about the mob and stuff that has happen'd in the book. I think anybody would enjoy it if the were interested in learning more info about the book. i disagree how they treat the people some times but it is a part of are history any we all deserve to have knowledge about are early life time.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews