Capital's Terrorists

“Even if labor historians have delved into some of these cases before, the new light in which they are presented here and the wealth of detail accompanying them are important contributions… . The book’s core argument will surely provoke discussion.”–Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era

“Capital’s Terrorists adds a critical layer to our understanding of mass violence … [and] presents a series of fascinating case studies to make his point… . This is an outstanding and important book.”–Arkansas Historical Quarterly

”[Capital’s Terrorists] is a history of antilabor activism in the United States during the long nineteenth century, but it is, perhaps more crucially, a series of categorical provocations. Pearson invites readers to reconsider the definition of such terms as ‘terrorist’ and to think about ‘labor-management conflicts’ in a more expansive way… . By focusing on tactics, or practical ways that ideology shaped the behaviors of actors on the ground, Pearson gives readers an opportunity to see the cultural dimensions of violence from new angles.“–Journal of the Civil War Era

”[Pearson’s] extensive research supports a convincing argument that these vigilante groups shared common antilabor biases which influenced their work across regions and moments and suggests that the popular view of this period–romanticized in novels and films, particularly those set in the mythical West–needs significant reexamination.“–Journal of American History

“A comprehensive and wide-ranging study. Pearson’s arguments are skillfully presented with abundant supporting documentation… . It is a timely and thought-provoking book.”–Southwestern Historical Quarterly

“A well-documented and -crafted narrative, Capital’s Terrorists powerfully points us to the origins of anti-labor violence and terrorism rooted in racial supremacy ideologies, anti-immigrant xenophobia, and a pathological obsession with violence to uphold the existing capitalist order.”–Journal of Labor and Society

“Counter-revolution combines white supremacy, worker exploitation, and patriarchy. After the Civil War, it was maintained by the terror of lynching, kidnapping, massacres, drive-outs, blacklisting, and book burnings organized by gentlemanly brotherhoods of the propertied–the Ku Klux Klan, the Law and Order League, and the Citizen’s Alliance. Call them brutes in suits, millionaire murderers, or simply the bourgeoisie, their decentralized, disguised, dastardly, dark, and demonic deeds deserve damnation, as Chad Pearson factually describes and brilliantly shows.”–Peter Linebaugh, author of Red Round Globe Hot Burning

“Not only is Capitalist’s Terrorists an important history, but it is also essential to understanding the brutal truth of US capitalism and its meaning in today’s hypercapitalist reality.”–CounterPunch

“Pearson’s book is not only a remarkable achievement of the historian’s craft, but it also marks a major contribution to the history of American capitalism and the current revitalization of labor and working-class history in the United States.”–American Historical Review

“Scholars of business and labor history will enjoy this work, given the broad sweep of material that the author brings together. But it will also interest political historians of the mid to late twentieth century who are interested in the origins of ‘Law and Order’ politics, as well as cultural historians interested in the relationship between language and violence in the creation of a hegemonic bloc.”–H-Socialisms

Chad E. Pearson is professor of history at Collin College.