Summary

Overall, the Prologue states Snyder’s justification for writing this book. He notes that, when establishing the United States, the Founding Fathers were concerned about the possibility that a small group seizing power over the country by circumventing its system of laws. They referred to such an usurpation as “tyranny.” Since then, political debates in the United States, such as those over slavery, have been centered on this concept. Snyder argues that the country is currently at particular risk of descending into tyranny, just as much of Europe did during the twentieth century. Snyder argues that Americans are no wiser, and thus resistant, in this regard than their historical European counterparts, but that we do have the opportunity to learn from their experience. This book, therefore, presents twenty lessons that can be drawn from that history.

Chapter 1 focuses on the concept of anticipatory obedience...