"The right to revolt has sources deep in our history"

William O. Douglas, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, served from 1939 to 1975 and was known for his strong liberal views and advocacy for private rights. When he specified, "The right to revolt has sources deep in our history", he was likely referencing the deep-rooted custom of tough authority that is embedded in the cultural and political fabric of the United States and more comprehensive Western idea.

This quote reflects the philosophical and historical foundations that have actually shaped modern democratic societies. One of the primary sources of this concept is the Enlightenment, during which thinkers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau articulated theories of social contract and popular sovereignty. They posited that federal governments obtain their authenticity from the approval of the governed which residents deserve to overthrow a government that ends up being oppressive and abusive of its power.

In the context of American history, this concept was explicitly specified in the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote about individuals's right to "alter or to eliminate" any type of government that ends up being destructive to their fundamental rights, a belief that validated the American Revolution versus British colonial rule. This idea of revolutionary legitimacy and resistance versus oppression was continued through different movements in American history, consisting of the abolitionist movement, women's suffrage, and the civil rights movement. Each of these motions, in its way, was a form of revolt versus developed injustices.

Douglas' declaration can also be seen as a recommendation of the continuous and necessary role of civil disobedience and advocacy in social progress. The "right to revolt" is not just about violent uprising but encompasses a wide range of actions that challenge authority to cause modification, highlighting the duty of each generation to challenge oppressions. This historical context highlights the idea that society is continuously progressing, and periodic resistance is part of a healthy democracy intending to promote justice and equality.