From tax rebels to religious dissidents, it is amazing that the United States of America have not fallen apart - although it has not been for lack of trying. The best-known secessionist movement in U.S. history, the Confederate States of America is far from the only example of Americans declaring independence from the union. The quest for political, religious, and economic independence has been a constant force in the United States over the centuries. For the first time ever, 80 secessionist and autonomy movements and their stories are gathered in one volume. In this looking-glass view of U.S. history, students and researchers will read about states that preferred not to join the Union, islanders who declared their independence to prove a political point, Native Americans trying to remain free from white domination, and Utopians seeking to create a new and more perfect society. All entries conclude with suggestions for further reading and relevant Web sites. The work is cross-referenced and fully indexed.