Today, as in the past, some "patriot" groups in America long for a return to traditional values and believe it is their duty to stop an intrusive government from whittling away at the freedoms that define the United States. This book looks at the origins and current activities of such groups through an exploration of the dual nature of the patriot in American mythos--the unquestioning lover of the country and its policies versus the man or woman who places the founding principle of limited government above all else.

Focusing on contemporary patriot groups and their impact on U.S....