Revolutions from History

Read through the background information provided about many examples

of revolutions that have taken place throughout history. Some of them are
still happening today!

You can identify the who, what, when, and where, by exploring the tables
below. Then, it will be your job to conduct research to find out about the
why and how of whichever revolution you choose.

Political Revolution:
Who/Where? When? What?

Haitian Revolution 1794-1804 Native people rise up against the European

(Haiti) colonizers who enslaved them.

French Revolution 1789-1799 Citizens overthrow the King of France and

(France) replace him with a controversial military
leader named Napoleon Bonaparte.

Russian Revolution 1917 The dictatorship of Russia (Tsar) and his

(Russia/U.S.S.R.) family are executed and the system of
government is changed to a newly designed
system called Communism.

Cuban Revolution 1956-1959 The dictatorship of Cuba is overthrown by a

(Cuba) group of citizen soldiers who eventually
replace the previous system of government
with Communism.

Iranian Revolution 1978-1979 The dictatorship of Iran is overthrown by

(Iran) citizens who want to replace the previous
system of government with a theocracy
(religious law) based on the beliefs of Islam.

Nicaraguan Revolution 1979 The dictatorship of Nicaragua is

(Nicaragua) overthrown. Afterward two rival groups
(the Sandinistas and the Contras) go to war
over how to replace the previous
government.
Cultural Revolution/Movement:
Who/Where? When? What?

Abolition Movement 1830-1870 U.S. citizens who oppose the practice of

(United States) slavery fight to legally end it.

Suffrage Movement 1848-1920 U.S. citizens who believe women should

(United States) have the right to vote fight for an
amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Labor Movement 1886-1930 Laborers across the U.S. work together

(United States) to fight for fair wages, safer working
conditions, and fair schedules. Labor
unions are formed for the first time.

Hawaiian Rebellion 1887-1895 Before it became a U.S. state, a militia

(Nation of Hawaii) group forces the King of Hawaii to sign
a new Constitution that weakens his
power and sets the stage for
colonization of the islands.

Boxer Rebellion 1900 A group of Chinese citizens fight to

(China) remove all European and American
influence from their country.

Cultural Revolution 1955-1970 The youth of these nations take an

(U.S.A./Great Britain)
active role in making political and
social change for the first time,
including anti-war protests, civil rights
demonstrations, and education reform.
At the same time, they promote “free
love,” experimentation with
mind-altering substances, and Rock &
Roll attitude.
Civil Rights Movement 1954-1968 People who oppose the practice of
(United States) segregation in the United States work
together to promote legal equality for
all races and end racial injustices.

Anti-Apartheid Movement 1959-1994 Citizens of South Africa work to end

(South Africa) the legal practice of racial segregation
known as “Apartheid” which causes
severe disadvantages for people of
color.

Arab Spring Movement 2010-present Citizens of many countries throughout

(Middle East) the Middle East (including Egypt,
Libya, Syria, and Yemen) protest
against governments and policies that
create severe economic inequality and
oppression. Pressure is put on the
leaders of those governments to step
down and be replaced.

Black Lives Matter Movement 2013-present
(United States)
U.S. citizens work together to protest
on-going civil rights violations toward
people of color, especially instances of
discrimination and violence committed
by police officers.