Historian Greg Jackson said the United States has a long history of political turmoil characterized by insurrections and partisan conflict [1].

This perspective suggests that current political instabilities are not unprecedented but are part of a recurring cycle of instability within the American system. Understanding these patterns provides a framework for analyzing how constitutional norms are challenged and defended over time.

According to Jackson, the U.S. has experienced repeated episodes of instability from its founding era to the present [1]. These disruptions include direct challenges to the Constitution and deep-seated partisan divisions that have destabilized the governing process [2].

Jackson said there is a pattern where political actors disregard established norms to achieve power. This disregard for the law and the Constitution has manifested in various forms of insurrection and civil unrest throughout the centuries [1].

While the specific triggers for turmoil change across different eras, the underlying drivers remain consistent. Deep partisan divisions often lead to a breakdown in cooperation, creating an environment where political violence becomes a tool for influence [2].

Recent political rhetoric continues this trend of instability. Former President Donald Trump said "the FBI has been in turmoil" [3]. This statement reflects the ongoing tension between executive leadership and the federal agencies tasked with upholding the law.

Jackson said these recurring conflicts are not anomalies. Instead, they represent a fundamental tension within the American experiment regarding the balance of power and the rule of law [1].

“The United States has a long history of political turmoil, including insurrections and partisan conflict.”

By framing current political unrest as a historical pattern rather than a modern anomaly, Jackson suggests that the U.S. constitutional system is periodically tested by internal conflict. This analysis implies that the stability of the republic depends less on the absence of turmoil and more on the ability of the system to survive these recurring periods of partisan volatility.