American Redoubt

A map that shows the boundaries of the American Redoubt

The American Redoubt[1] is a political migration movement first proposed in 2011 by survivalist novelist and blogger James Wesley Rawles[2][3] which designates Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming along with eastern parts of Oregon and Washington, as a safe haven for conservative Christians.[1][2] Rawles chose this area due to its low population density and lack of natural hazards.[4]

It is difficult to measure how many people have been influenced by the proposal to move to these states; The Week estimated that anywhere from "hundreds" to "a few thousand" people may have come,[5] although some may have moved for reasons of general cultural affinity rather than being directly influenced by Rawles's proposal.

In December 2019, Rawles published a list of "key leaders and promoters of the American Redoubt movement", including Montana pastor Chuck Baldwin, former Washington State Representative Matt Shea, and North Idaho Representative Heather Scott.[6]

  1. ^ a b Rawles, James (2011). "The American Redoubt – Move to the Mountain States". Survivalblog. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Murphy, Kim (February 8, 2008). "The American Redoubt, where survivalists plan to survive". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  3. ^ Lenz, Ryan (November 15, 2011). "A Gathering of Eagles: Extremists Look to Montana". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  4. ^ Young, Matt (April 3, 2017). "American Redoubt: James Wesley Rawles on the end of the world". news.com.au. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  5. ^ "The pioneering paranoia of America's preppers". The Week. October 9, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Walters, Daniel (February 6, 2020). "North Idaho Rep. Heather Scott reaps the glory — and the consequences — of being one of Matt Shea's biggest allies - Local News - Spokane - News, Politics, Music, Calendar, Events in Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and the Inland Northwest". Inlander - Local News - Spokane - News, Politics, Music, Calendar, Events in Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and the Inland Northwest. Retrieved January 25, 2023. Last December, Rawles put both Scott and Shea on his list of "key leaders and promoters of the American Redoubt movement."... The Redoubt movement has its own alternative media network, filled with some of Scott's most ardent supporters like Redoubt News blogger Shari Dovale — "Patriot Journalist" on her business card — and pseudonymous Radio Free Redoubt radio host John Jacob Schmidt... Yet, it's not hard to see why some people conflate the Redoubt movement with Idaho's ugly past. Montana pastor Chuck Baldwin — the first on Rawles' list of Redoubt movement promoters — celebrates the Confederacy and preaches anti-Semitic 9/11 conspiracy theories.