While vigilantism is not a phenomenon unique to America, American vigilantism is uniquely tied to the American identity such that it has become integral in understanding both American history and American pop culture. By first establishing what is meant when said vigilante, a clear distinction will be made between the criminal and the vigilante. The history of vigilantism will be explored in the context of public perception and common motivations, both of which evolve as the nation’s policing force and values evolve. Historical and modern, fictional and factional accounts will be given and discussed in terms of motivations and how motivations shape the public’s opinion of them. Finally, the impact and consequences of vigilantism on American
