A Sketch of the Causes, Operations and Results of the San Francisco Vigilance Committee of 1856

About this book

In the tumultuous mid-19th century, San Francisco grappled with lawlessness and social unrest, prompting citizens to take justice into their own hands. "A Sketch of the Causes, Operations and Results of the San Francisco Vigilance Committee of 1856" by Stephen Palfrey Webb delves into this pivotal moment, examining the Committee's formation as a reaction to rampant crime and corruption. Webb meticulously details the Committee’s unyielding commitment to public safety and its controversial methods, including extrajudicial actions that sparked fierce debates on civil liberties. Ideal for historians and civic activists, this account offers a critical lens on the balance between order and justice in a burgeoning society, illuminating the complexities of community governance during a chaotic era.