despite a massive disadvantage in respect of weaponry, have historic precedence on their side.

The thing about a popular uprising is that it would likely garner support from the very organisations that are meant to be the first tool of suppression. That being law enforcement, local militia and paramilitary groups.

I'm not suggesting that this is relevant in the case of lunatic groups like The Tea Party, just highlighting that in the case of continued national oppression it becomes hard for even the most powerful military to keep the lid on civil unrest.