"Delineates the truly sobering, often frightening, role that violence, often generated by a desire to maintain white supremacy, has played in the six states--Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Kansas, Arkansas, South Carolina, and North Carolina--whose histories he examines closely...Gadson writes with remarkable lucidity, making the book fully accessible (and illuminating) to any and all readers."--Sanford Levinson, University of Texas Law School

"An engaging and persuasive account of how constitutional change in America--on issues ranging from the definition of democracy to the meaning of racial equality--often derives less from dispassionate political theorizing and more from fervent resistance to the existing constitutional order, often including violence."--Michael J. Klarman, author of From Jim Crow to Civil Rights

"Marcus Gadson has written a book of stunning originality and importance, examining constitutional crises that occurred in state governments. Focusing on examples, both from early in American history and Reconstruction, he tells compelling stories of how violence and even treason threatened democratic rule. Beautifully written, this book reminds us of important events in American history that seem to have been forgotten."--Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean, UC Berkeley School of Law

"The people and political climates of each example [of constitutional crisis] are well researched, creating compelling narratives that illustrate the pressure points within a state constitution, both then and now... a relevant, dynamic tool for understanding states' rights; recommended for all collections."-- "Library Journal"

"Illuminating... and troubling, this is a timely reflection on the robustness of the American system."-- "Publishers Weekly (STARRED)"