People cowered because they had the backing of the state. If they didn't people would have just shot and killed them and that would have been the end of things. But look at how the state treated anyone who resisted the rioting, like Rittenhouse or the McCloskeys.
TentElephant is right. In order to win a revolution or civil war or whatnot, you need the backing of at least a decent proportion of the elites, or foreign support, or both. The American Revolution succeeded because the revolution had the support of the elites and the French government. The CSA had the support of Southern elites, but did not have enough foreign support, which is why it failed.
A bunch of average Joes trying to foment a revolution are just going to be crushed.
People cowered because they had the backing of the state. If they didn't people would have just shot and killed them and that would have been the end of things. But look at how the state treated anyone who resisted the rioting, like Rittenhouse or the McCloskeys.
TentElephant is right. In order to win a revolution or civil war or whatnot, you need the backing of at least a decent proportion of the elites, or foreign support, or both. The American Revolution succeeded because the revolution had the support of the elites and the French government. The CSA had the support of Southern elites, but did not have enough foreign support, which is why it failed.
A bunch of average Joes trying to foment a revolution are just going to be crushed.