In A Necessary Evil, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Wills shows that distrust of government is embedded deep in the American psyche. From the revolt of the colonies against king & parliament to present-day tax revolts, militia movements & term limits debates, he shows that American antigovernment sentiment is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of history. By debunking myths about the Founding Fathers, the Constitution & the taming of the frontier, he shows how tendencies to hold our elected government in disdain are misguided. 1 Revolutionary myths. Minutemen Term limits 2 Constitutional myths. Sovereign states Checking efficiency Co-equal branches The uses of faction Bill of Rights No standing army 3 Nullifiers. John Taylor of Caroline: father of nullification Jefferson: prophet of nullification Madison: abettor of nullification Nullification North: Hartford Convention Nullification South: John C. Calhoun Academic nullifiers 4 Seceders. Civil War 5 Insurrectionists. From Daniel Shays to Timothy McVeigh Acdemic insurrectionists 6 Vigilantes. Groups: from regulators to clinic bombings Individuals: frontier Individuals: NRA 7 Withdrawers. Individuals: from Thoreau to Mencken Groups: from Brook Farm to hippie communes 8 Disobeyers. From Dr King to SDS 9 A necessary good. The uses of government The uses of fear