Making Sense of the Molly Maguires

Rating:
Summary: Social Violence
Review: This is a long and complex book. However, it should not dissuade those that are interested in how some people can be driven to feel their only choice is violence. When the political, social, judicial, religious, and economic institutions of the elite are used to suppress some will react violently. The urban riots of the 60's and most recently in Cincinnati are examples of the desperation that can turn to violence and destruction when people feel they have no legal recourse. The book illustrates how the Molly's methods of violence and intimidation were transferred from Ireland to the United States. The Molly's were not a Mafia organization. The combination of the anti-labor press and powerful corporate interests refused to explore why the Molly's came into being. It was easy to sell to the American Public that the Molly's were a criminal organization or anarchists, who deserved to be hanged. The press of the mid 19th century was not interested in telling the story of why the Molly's existed. Answering why does not justify murder. The line is very gray from terrorism, and rebellion to patriot at times.