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Is This the Most Politically DIVISIVE Era
in the History of US Politics?
April 5th 2026
Many people ask: "Is this the most politically divisive era in the history of US politics?" And the short answer is, "no." However, to understand, "why?" We must first compare our current turmoil... particularly in cities like LA and NYC, to past era's of overt political violence.
The 1860's: A Benchmark for Brutality
The 1860's remain arguably the most divisive era in US political history. This time period was marred by the Civil War and the actions of those who fought to maintain slavery. Even the political figure's of this era were, "rough and tumble." Abraham Lincoln, who stood 6 foot 4 inches tall and was infamously a wrestler with over 50 matches to his name, likely collided not only verbally but physically with political opposition. This was an era where political disagreement's often ended in physical bloodshed. And lest we forget... that this level of animosity was predominantly over the sheer prospect... of paying farm hands, "a free man's wage." I can hardly imagine.
Violence in the Senate Chambers
One cannot forget the most infamous fight in Congressional history. On May 22, 1856, Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina brutally beat Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with a cane in the Senate Chamber. This attack was in retaliation for Sumner's anti-slavery speech, "The Crime Against Kansas," which occurred the prior week. This remains, to this day, as a defining moment of American Pre-Civil War violence that made even today's televised argument's seem mild by comparison.
Grassroots Realities in NYC and LA
While the 1860's might, "win,"... the race for divisiveness, our modern era has it's own deep-seated issues. Reporting from a grassroot's perspective, I have seen the cracks in our social fabric first-hand and all over America. After ten year's of living in Queens, NYC and now living in Los Angeles, California... I have witnessed extreme public violence including stabbing's and violent confrontations involving ICE. And we've all seen the massive economic divide which is present today in America. So much so, that in today's US economy a McDonald's Manager might earn $100,000 a year while the 16 year old counter staff struggles to, "earn," $200 a week.
The Lack of Public Objectivity
But what bothers me the most about today's era is the American people's current lack of what I call, "public objectivity." Where there is a perceived imbalance in the voice's of those who are amplified and those who are compensated within, "The Journalism Industry," today. For example, professional guilds support thousands of paid African American journalist's, yet... independent platforms like Civilians News which have been running since 2011... often operate as, "a labour of love." There is also a growing frustration within the Journalism Community concerning how certain narratives are forced upon public school student's, making children feel a sense of, "shame," or, "white guilt," for history that they had no part in. Not to mention the 100+ articles of un-compensated labour that might've otherwise been compensated had the founder of Civilians News been an African American...
Border Security and Social Empathy
Then there's our lack of border security which remains a major point of contention within America, today. Whereby, today in America, unlike the European Union, which often charges for citizenship or has strict social and residency requirements, the US is conversely hesitant to enforce any of it's own laws concerning birth right citizenship. In places like Oxnard, California, the demographic shifts are stark, yet, the policy debate remains stagnant. We are seeing a, "social guilt," essentially being utilized to drive housing and welfare programs that many feel are being taken advantage of. Oxnard, California is one of the most beautiful city's in America and it's almost entirely populated by... 1 group of people.
Dueling Economies and the Welfare Debate
City's like LA and NYC are currently facing financial crises, today, not in some distant history but right now... exacerbated by debate's over social spending which spill over from as far as the Middle Eastern philosophy regarding, "welfare spending." While some culture's and religion's abroad strictly forbid welfare spending, the US and Europe continue to lean on it! This is also undoubtedly causing friction on the streets. Meanwhile, on Wall Street, personal data is bought and sold, while on the internet platform's like; GoFundMe, FB and Instagram profit billions of dollars from the social interaction's of teenager's without compensating a large portion of the creator's who drive that value. Furthermore, much of this, "social value," online... is simultaneously exploited by Wall Street in the form of, "bank records." However, might I also take a moment to note... that on Instagram, unlike Wall Street, you can see who's jerking off to your data.
The Racial Terror of the 1950s
Lastly, we must look at the 1950's.
Key Incidents and Statistics
1. The Cicero Race Riot (1951)
In July 1951, a mob of several thousand white residents in Cicero, Illinois, attacked an apartment building to prevent a Black family (the Clarks) from moving in.
Deaths: 0 (though many were injured and the National Guard was deployed).
Context: This was one of the largest displays of mob violence in the decade, resulting in the destruction of the apartment building.
2. The Trumbull Park Homes Riots (1953 to 1954)
Protracted violence occurred in Chicago when Black families moved into a previously all-white public housing project.
Deaths: 0 (direct riot fatalities).
Context: Constant harassment and sporadic mob violence lasted for months which required a massive Police presence.
3. Clinton High School Bombing / Mob Violence (1956)
Following the integration of Clinton High School in Tennessee, white mobs rioted.
Deaths: 0.
Context: While no one died in the immediate riots, the school was later destroyed by dynamite in 1958.
Conclusion
In conclusion... w live in a time of elaborate frustration and shifting values... but history reminds us that we have survived much deeper fissures. The question for our generation is a decision upon whether or not we can find a way back to our sense of, "objectivity," or if we will continue to let these dueling economy's and social ideology's pull us apart... check by check.
-William Larsen, Founder CiviliansNews.com