What Makes an American Constitutional Revolution, and Are We Having One?

Carol Nackenoff

The 1775 Gadsden flag (“Don’t tread on me”), 1776 hoodies, references to Capitol stormers as patriots, and claims that January 6, 2021, was the “Republicans’ ‘1776 Moment’” certainly allude to revolution. A number of groups whose names are increasingly familiar oppose what they view as federal government tyranny and illegitimate exercise of power—they do not believe the government speaks for them (although President Trump may). Some who stormed the Capitol to “Stop the Steal” do not vote. Trump and followers refuse to accept that the Democrats constitute a legitimate opposition party; instead, the country must be saved from them. A Pew survey tracked how partisan antipathy has become both more intense and more personal during the past decade: The proportion of partisans who harbor cold or very cold feelings toward the other party continues to rise, and a disproportionate share of the most hostile are male. A January 2021 survey found that 39% of Republicans (17% of Democrats) agreed that “[i]f elected leaders will not protect America, the people must do it themselves even if it requires taking violent actions.” In the same survey, 56% of Republicans (22% of Democrats) agreed that “[t]he traditional American way of life is disappearing so fast that we may have to use force to save it.”

A number of scholars have emphasized the oversized importance of the moment, some drawing analogies between the elections of 2020 and 1860. Few think the results of this election will fundamentally address the crisis of democracy that they perceive.