A very comprehensive history of radical movements in the U.S. in the 19th century. What's amazing is how much of the resistance to ending slavery and giving women equal rights mirror the resistance today toward equal rights for the LGBTQ community and women (again). ( )

This tome on activists and agitators leading slavery and race, sex and gender, and property and labor uprisings between 1817 and 1877 is support by extensive notes. While some would argue the figures described in the book failed in achieving their goals, author Jackson proposes the very acts of defiance set the stage for the protest seen today. ( )

Interesting look at the 1800's in the United States and what people thought the U.S. should be and do to achieve it. Those who wanted changes in society in response to the Constitution and the ideal of the U.S. were shut out/down by the conservatives who wanted to keep the status quo.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the ideas put out by those considered radical. They made sense. Some of the people I had heard of but there were new people who had an influence on society. We are still fighting for the same things 200 years later--slavery/black lives and equality, women's suffrage, union strength. The arguments sound the same today as they did then and those arguments are still denigrated by those in power trying to keep their status quo. This is a timely book for all to read. ( )