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American Homicide Randolph Roth

In American Homicide, Randolph Roth charts changes in the reputation and incidence of homicide in the U.S. from colonial times to the present. Roth argues that the United States is distinguishable in it is level of violence among unrelated adults—friends, acquaintances, and strangers. America was extraordinarily homicidal in the mid-seventeenth century, but it became comparatively non-homicidal by the mid-eighteenth century, even in the slave South; and by the early nineteenth century, rates in the North and the mountain South were exceedingly low. But the homicide rate rose substantially amidst unrelated adults in the slave South after the American Revolution; and it skyrocketed all over the United States from the late 1840s through the mid-1870s, while rates in most other Western nations kept steady or fell. That surge—and all subsequent increments in the homicide rate—correlated almost with four distinct phenomena: political instability; a loss of government legitimacy; a loss of fellow-feeling among members of society caused by racial, religious, or political antagonism; and a loss of faith in the social hierarchy. Those four factors, Roth argues, best explain why homicide rates have gone up and down in the United States and in other Western nations over the past four centuries, and why the United States is today the most homicidal affluent nation.

(20090915)

From Publishers WeeklyOhio State history professor Roth’s ambitious project—analyzing American homicide from colonial times to the present—makes for an intriguing if dense read. He distills his argument into assorted key statistics, all of which hinge upon the fact that Americans are murdered more many times than citizens in any other original world democracy: U.S. homicide rates are amidst six and nine per 100,000 people. Roth refutes usual theories in regards to why this is so (e.g., poverty, drugs) and lays out an substitute hypothesis: increments in homicide rates correlate with changes in people’s sensations in regards to government and society, such as whether they trust government and it is officials and their sense of kinship with fellow citizens. Roth examines homicides by historical period, race and region, specially substantial when comparing the ante- and postbellum North and South—turmoil and divisiveness in the South led to an explosion of murder in numerous areas for the duration of the war that continued for the duration of Reconstruction. Readers raring with stats or desiring a more narrative overview may be disappointed, but those wanting to learn what history may instruct us regarding this most primal act of aggression will find Roth’s analysis fascinating. (Oct.)
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ReviewRandolph Roth’s American Homicide will have to take it is place as the definitive study in it is field.
–Roger Lane, author of Murder in America: A History (20090824)

[Roth] distills his argument into various key statistics, all of which hinge upon the fact that Americans are murdered more often times than citizens in any other primary world democracy: U.S. homicide rates are amongst six and nine per 100,000 people. Roth refutes standard theories in regards to why this is so (e.g., poverty, drugs) and lays out an alternate hypothesis: “increases in homicide rates” correlate with changes in people’s sensations with regards to government and society, such as whether they trust government and it is officials and their sense of kinship with fellow citizens. Roth examines homicides by historical period, race and region, exceptionally significant when comparing the ante- and postbellum North and South–turmoil and divisiveness in the South led to an explosion of murder in galore areas for the duration of the war that continued for the duration of Reconstruction…Those wanting to learn what history may instruct us in regards to this most primal act of aggression will find Roth’s analysis fascinating. (Publishers Weekly 20091116)

Roth meticulously mines not only court records but also newspaper accounts, critical records, and complex mental states indicated in diaries and letters, concluding that killings “are not determined by proximate causes such as poverty, drugs, unemployment, alcohol, race, or ethnicity, but by factors…like the sensations that persons have toward their government, the degree to which they distinguish with members of their own communities, and the prospects they have to earn respect without resorting to violence.” This nuanced treatise regards social elements as correlative or coincidental rather than causative, seeing alienation and a deep absence of faith in governmental legitimacy as signifiers of violent actions.
–Frederick J. Augustyn Jr. (Library Journal 20091129)

American Homicide offers a vast investigation of murder, in the aggregate, and over time. Roth’s argument is profoundly unsettling…As a discussion of the available data, American Homicide is rich, fascinating, and unrivalled.
–Jill Lepore (New Yorker 20091230)

In American Homicide, Randolph Roth traces the history of our murdering ways through the lens of our sensations in regards to those in power…Roth argues that how we see ourselves in relation to our government–fringe motion or ruling party, patronized or disenfranchised–is at the heart of a good deal of conclusions to take another life…If an person feels secure in his social standing, it’s more comfortable to get over life’s disappointments. But for a person who feels alienated from the American Dream, the tiniest offense may provoke a murderous rage… Looking at the wavering homicide rate at respective times in our history, Roth tracks the historical aftermaths of shifting power. After the Revolutionary War, murder rates soared as the newly formed U.S. was struggling to absorb British loyalists. The end of the Civil War didn’t relieve the bitterness a great deal of Southerners felt toward the government and it shows in the precipitous rise in homicides in the rural South. On a positive note, Roth credits FDR for falling murder rates in the 1930s as Roosevelt’s New Deal “increased Americans’ faith in the country, their leadership, and one another.”…Roth’s book also offers a warning regarding our volatile political rhetoric. Words may have real-life, even violent, consequences. American Homicide is a bright reminder that politics isn’t just when it comes to winning–it’s also when it comes to how you treat those who lose.
–Raina Kelley (Newsweek 20100201)

Randolph Roth’s American Homicide presents a working hypothesis with regards to why America is the most murderous of all the so-called First World nations. Roth’s conclusions are unfathomed and disturbing.
–Richard Rayner (Los Angeles Times 20100412)

American Homicide by Randolph Roth is a wonky, meticulously researched, arousing and attention holding survey of murder in America and why we’ve become the bloodiest wealthy nation on earth. Roth begins in the colonial period, then walks us through American history as he documents, analyzes, and hypothesizes in regards to the evolving reasons why, how, and how many times we kill one another. He looks at territorial and chronological variances in the homicide rate, as well the divergences amid murders where killer and victim know one another versus when the two are strangers. Roth concludes from his exploration that four elements bestow to variations in the murder rate in America: political instability; loss of government legitimacy; loss of a sentiment of belonging amid castaway or throughout history oppressed groups; and loss of faith in the social hierarchy. Crudely summarized, when Americans believe we’re being governed wisely, fairly, equally, and legitimately, we’re peaceful and productive. But when government misbehaves, the citizenry does too.
–Radley Balko (Reason 20100611)

In American Homicide, Randolph Roth offers an intriguing hypothesis to explain the country’s homicide rates: Murder isn’t personal; it’s political. Drawing on the work of criminologist Gary LaFree, who argues that, in the 20th century, the crime rate increased when persons reported more outstanding distrust in government and other social institutions, Roth looks back through American history and locates a similar strength at work over the former century-and-a-half. According to Roth, homicide rates amid unrelated adults are not determined by proximate causes such as poverty, drugs, unemployment, alcohol, race, or ethnicity. Nor are they influenced by stricter prison sentences or other tough-on-crime measures…With few exclusions for the duration of the 20th century, ours has remained the most murderous democracy in the world…In the end, whether or not we hug Roth’s thesis as definitive, his provocative and wide-ranging history persuasively argues for the gains of a less divisive and polarized political culture. After all, if Roth is right, it just might be killing us.
–Christine Rosen (Weekly Standard )

A groundbreaking book…that offers something like a unified theory of why Americans kill each other at such a high rate and what may be done regarding it.
–Gregory Rodriguez (Los Angeles Times )

[A] magisterial analysis of the history of homicide in America…The heart of Roth’s concern is to explain both the historical variations that he so meticulously charts, and America’s comparative exceptionalism in regard to murder. He stresses the enormous gulf in U.S. homicide rates equated with other affluent democracies…His book is a major accomplishment in charting the long-term patterns in American homicide, and broadly relating them to variations in political economy and culture.
–Robert Reiner (Times Literary Supplement )

About the Author

Randolph Roth is Professor of History, The Ohio State University.

American Homicide Randolph Roth Image

American Homicide Randolph Roth Picture

American Homicide Randolph Roth Picture

American Homicide Randolph Roth Picture

Murder most foul!
Actually you’ll find it’s murder most political. I lately had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Roth on my show. He presents exceedingly interesting data and arguments backed by a large total of very meticulous, painstaking research. Dr. Roth is a very compassionate and thoughtful man who uses murder, of all things, to aid us better comprehend ourselves and our behavior. This book will eternally change your understanding of both murder and politics. Don’t miss it!

The Surprising Roots of Homicide
This book by Randolph Roth (History and Criminology, Ohio State), presents data from tens of thousands of murder cases from the United States and Europe. A reconstruction has been made of the history of homicide in the colonial and revolutionary periods for New England, New Netherlands, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina and eleven regions in Virginia.

It has been shown by this scholar that strong patterns emerged from the info that show connections amidst increments in homicide rates and changes in peoples’ sensations with regards to government and society. Research has been drawn using diaries, letters, and speeches, along with historians’ analyses of those sources. It is revealed that some scientists, according to Professor Roth, may measure the affect of gun laws by statistics, which according to this author is by controlling the data.

Qantitative selective information may be tested; for instance, the increase in racial solidarity amidst white New Englanders after King Philips was correlated with a decrease in the homicide rate. Many patterns and hypotheses developed, according to Professor Roth, seem to be powerful but difficult to establish.

A concluding chapter entitled “Can Americans’ Homicide Be Solved?” was of interest to this reviewer. The selective information concludes that there is scarcely any nation, even if it has a low murder rate, which will be free of homicides forever. More effective police work, along with shelters and increased therapy for depression and marital abuse are primary components in decreasing homicide.

Quoting from this highly technical book, which would interest principally quantitative and economic historians and, to a lesser extent, the non-academic community, namely “whether the homicide rate will proceed to rise will depend on whether Americans may come up with a new set of policies and a style of leadership which will reunite the nation and restore faith in government.”

Reviewed by Claude Ury

Balance
Okay, I confess it. I am only posting this review to remainder the poor numbers of Jade Queen’s review. C’mon now JQ! You didn’t even read the book? Yes, I listened to the consultation too and found Professor Roth’s remarks interesting and well-reasoned. I understand taking issue with an author’s conclusions, but, hey, read the book FIRST!