Anarchy in the United States
Encyclopedia
Anarchy in the United States is a phenomenon that existed mostly in colonial times. The historical records of it are sketchy, since historians tend to display scant interest in stateless societies. Nonetheless, Murray Rothbard
and other historians have identified instances of it. Among them, the coastal region of North Carolina
north of the Albemarle Sound
in what was then Virginia
was a congregating point for those who wished to escape the control of England or the Anglican Church or even wealthier residents of Virginia until 1663. Other major regions of anarchy were located in Rhode Island
, Pennsylvania
, and the American West.
(or "Rogue's Island") was founded on anarchic ideals by Roger Williams
and a group endeavoring to flee from the oppression by the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay
, but as they set about selling or renting the lands that they had illegitimately purchased from natives, they themselves became land-monopolists.
Subsequent political struggles in the area now known as Portsmouth
led to more explicit anarchism in the person of Anne Hutchinson
, who settled in Rhode Island in 1638 and who would became the first explicit anarchist in North America. Resisting the efforts of William Coddington
, one of her followers, to establish himself as ruler over the area, Hutchinson forced an election for governor in which her husband, William Hutchinson, claimed the title. Residents under William Hutchinson were guaranteed certain freedoms: equality among men before the law, the separation of Church and State, and the right to jury trial. The struggles firmed Hutchinson's opposition to any kind of magistry government, and she passed her philosophies on to her sister, Catherine Scott
, who in turn influenced the Baptist anarchists.
Also in Rhode Island, Shawomet (later Warwick
) was anarchistic for more than five years before becoming part of Providence Plantation.
was not intended to be anarchistic, but became so after founder William Penn
temporarily set aside all taxes to encourage rapid development. Residents not only resisted the restoration of taxes but also ignored Penn's lime monopolies, and after Penn retreated to England the colony was essentially without governance from Fall 1684 to 1688. An Assembly appointed by Penn attempted to restore taxes and assert government in 1688, but although a few laws were passed, taxes were not restored and efforts to govern the colony subsided. Penn next attempted to reassert control through the appointment of John Blackwell, but the people nonviolently resisted and eventually forced Blackwell to resign and Penn yielded governance of the colony to itself until 1691, when he insisted that the colonists select a governor, with his own appointed deputy governor. Government was restored to the colony in 1691, although they managed to hold off taxes, aside from a period between April 1693 and 1694, until 1696.
s, and mining camps. Violence arrived on a large scale with the arrival of the state, as the U.S. Army began attacking American Indians
(a conflict that spilled over onto civilians) and the state took over the lawmaking and law enforcement functions.
Murray Rothbard
Murray Newton Rothbard was an American author and economist of the Austrian School who helped define capitalist libertarianism and popularized a form of free-market anarchism he termed "anarcho-capitalism." Rothbard wrote over twenty books and is considered a centrally important figure in the...
and other historians have identified instances of it. Among them, the coastal region of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
north of the Albemarle Sound
Albemarle Sound
Albemarle Sound is a large estuary on the coast of North Carolina in the United States located at the confluence of a group of rivers, including the Chowan and Roanoke. It is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Outer Banks, a long barrier peninsula upon which the town of Kitty Hawk is located,...
in what was then Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
was a congregating point for those who wished to escape the control of England or the Anglican Church or even wealthier residents of Virginia until 1663. Other major regions of anarchy were located in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and the American West.
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode IslandRhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
(or "Rogue's Island") was founded on anarchic ideals by Roger Williams
Roger Williams (theologian)
Roger Williams was an English Protestant theologian who was an early proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. In 1636, he began the colony of Providence Plantation, which provided a refuge for religious minorities. Williams started the first Baptist church in America,...
and a group endeavoring to flee from the oppression by the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay
Massachusetts Bay
The Massachusetts Bay, also called Mass Bay, is one of the largest bays of the Atlantic Ocean which forms the distinctive shape of the coastline of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Its waters extend 65 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Massachusetts Bay includes the Boston Harbor, Dorchester Bay,...
, but as they set about selling or renting the lands that they had illegitimately purchased from natives, they themselves became land-monopolists.
Subsequent political struggles in the area now known as Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
led to more explicit anarchism in the person of Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson was one of the most prominent women in colonial America, noted for her strong religious convictions, and for her stand against the staunch religious orthodoxy of 17th century Massachusetts...
, who settled in Rhode Island in 1638 and who would became the first explicit anarchist in North America. Resisting the efforts of William Coddington
William Coddington
William Coddington was an early magistrate of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and later of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, serving as the Judge of Portsmouth, Judge of Newport, Governor of Portsmouth and Newport, Deputy Governor of the entire colony, and then Governor of the...
, one of her followers, to establish himself as ruler over the area, Hutchinson forced an election for governor in which her husband, William Hutchinson, claimed the title. Residents under William Hutchinson were guaranteed certain freedoms: equality among men before the law, the separation of Church and State, and the right to jury trial. The struggles firmed Hutchinson's opposition to any kind of magistry government, and she passed her philosophies on to her sister, Catherine Scott
Catherine Scott
Catherine Scott is a retired Jamaican athlete who specialized in the 400 metres hurdles. She also competed on the successful Jamaican team in the 4 x 400 metres relay, winning an Olympic silver medal in 2000. she is the sister of Michael Blackwood.-Achievements:-External links:...
, who in turn influenced the Baptist anarchists.
Also in Rhode Island, Shawomet (later Warwick
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
) was anarchistic for more than five years before becoming part of Providence Plantation.
Pennsylvania
PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
was not intended to be anarchistic, but became so after founder William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
temporarily set aside all taxes to encourage rapid development. Residents not only resisted the restoration of taxes but also ignored Penn's lime monopolies, and after Penn retreated to England the colony was essentially without governance from Fall 1684 to 1688. An Assembly appointed by Penn attempted to restore taxes and assert government in 1688, but although a few laws were passed, taxes were not restored and efforts to govern the colony subsided. Penn next attempted to reassert control through the appointment of John Blackwell, but the people nonviolently resisted and eventually forced Blackwell to resign and Penn yielded governance of the colony to itself until 1691, when he insisted that the colonists select a governor, with his own appointed deputy governor. Government was restored to the colony in 1691, although they managed to hold off taxes, aside from a period between April 1693 and 1694, until 1696.
The American western frontier
Private production of law has occurred, for instance, in American frontier associations that moved west at a rate that far outpaced the geographic expansion of formal local, state, territorial, and federal governments. Law and legal systems were established by land claim clubs, cattlemen's associations, wagon trainWagon train
A wagon train is a group of wagons traveling together. In the American West, individuals traveling across the plains in covered wagons banded together for mutual assistance, as is reflected in numerous films and television programs about the region, such as Audie Murphy's Tumbleweed and Ward Bond...
s, and mining camps. Violence arrived on a large scale with the arrival of the state, as the U.S. Army began attacking American Indians
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
(a conflict that spilled over onto civilians) and the state took over the lawmaking and law enforcement functions.
See also
- Anarchism in the United StatesAnarchism in the United StatesAnarchism in the United States spans a wide range of anarchist philosophy, from individualist anarchism to anarchist communism and other less known forms. America has two main traditions, native and immigrant, with the native tradition being strongly individualist and the immigrant tradition being...
- List of anarchist communities
- Individualist anarchism in the United StatesIndividualist anarchism in the United StatesIndividualist anarchism in the United States was strongly influenced by Josiah Warren, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Lysander Spooner, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Max Stirner, Herbert SpencerHenry David Thoreau...
- Off the Grid: Life on the MesaOff the Grid: Life on the MesaOff the Grid: Life on the Mesa is a 2007 documentary written and directed by Jeremy Stulberg and Randy Stulberg. The film documents a loose-knit desert community in "the Mesa," five miles from the Rio Grande and 25 miles from the nearest town...
- documentary film about an ungoverned community in a United States desert