American Redoubt facts for kids
The American Redoubt is an idea for people to move to certain states. It was first suggested in 2011 by a writer named James Wesley Rawles. He thought that Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, plus parts of eastern Oregon and eastern Washington, could be a safe place. This area is meant for conservative Christians. Rawles picked this region because it does not have many people and has few natural hazards.
It is hard to know how many people have moved because of this idea. One estimate said it could be from "hundreds" to "a few thousand." Some people might have moved for similar reasons, even if they were not directly influenced by Rawles.
In 2019, Rawles shared a list of important people in the American Redoubt movement. This list included Montana pastor Chuck Baldwin and former Washington State Representative Matt Shea. It also named North Idaho Representative Heather Scott.
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What the American Redoubt Is About
A reporter named Kim Murphy explained a main reason for this movement. She said it is a chosen place to go when the American economy faces big problems. People think of it as a retreat if banks fail or if the government declares martial law. They also consider it if the power grid stops working. The same article called Rawles the "guru" or main leader of this movement. Rawles states that he is against racism and supports Israel. He has compared this movement to how the Puritans moved long ago. He believes people will "vote with their feet," meaning they will move to show what they believe.
How the Movement Has Grown
By 2016, some people started to compare those in the American Redoubt to survivalists. The difference is that Redoubters actively support certain political candidates. They are seen as strong supporters of the Tea Party.
It has been said that people moving to western states like Idaho and Montana want to be free from the federal government. While they say they are not racist, they have chosen areas with very few racial minorities.
In 2016, The Economist magazine wrote about the movement. It said that "thousands of families" had moved to the American Redoubt. The article noted that the movement was "quietly gaining steam." The election of Donald Trump in 2016 also encouraged the movement. In 2017, the Inlander newspaper said that people who prepare for emergencies see more political disagreements in big cities. They also see a bigger gap between country and city areas. They feel that reactions to Donald Trump's presidency have made this gap wider. This makes them feel that the day they have been preparing for is coming sooner.
A newspaper article from 2016 also noted that it is hard to know the exact number of people who have moved. However, new residents and real estate agents said it was hundreds or even a few thousand. These people have moved across five states. They live in a beautiful area with plenty of water and good soil. This area is far from city crime and has few natural disasters. Most people there are conservative and Christian. They believe in living and letting others live. Local governments have few rules and gun laws are friendly.
Political Impact
It is believed that politics in northern Idaho have become more conservative. This is due to conservative Christian "preppers" moving from more populated states. In 2014, two very conservative state lawmakers were elected there. These were Representatives Heather Scott and Sage Dixon. In 2016, state senator Shawn Keough faced a tough election challenge. She was a moderate Republican from a very conservative part of Idaho. However, she still won the main election.
Where to Learn More
There are a few main places to find information about the American Redoubt movement.
- James Rawles's blog, SurvivalBlog.com, shares news about the Redoubt. It also has guides on how to be prepared for emergencies.
- John Jacob Schmidt's blog, Radio Free Redoubt, and his radio show, The John Jacob Schmidt Show, offer news and opinions. These often focus on the American Redoubt.
- The Charles Carroll Society and its podcast, led by Alex Barron, discuss politics related to the American Redoubt. They also talk about the many traditional Catholics in the area.
- The online news site, Redoubt News, publishes news and opinions. These are important to Christian conservative culture in the American Redoubt.
See Also
In Spanish: Reducto Americano para niños
- Adelsverein
- Christian nationalism
- Christian Patriot movement
- Free State Project
- Lincoln (proposed Northwestern state)
- List of active separatist movements in North America
- List of U.S. state partition proposals
- National redoubt
- Northwest Territorial Imperative
