HIST362: Modern Revolutions

While the peasant or lower classes usually spearhead popular mass uprisings from below, small groups of the social elite typically initiate coups d'etat. These are highly organized and may or may not have popular support. For example, chosen military staff may suddenly replace political leaders with a violent revolt during a military coup, such as the coup d'état in Egypt in 1952, where Mohammed Naguib (1901–1984) and Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918–1970) overthrew Egypt's King Farouk (1920–1965). Similarly, the military deposed and incarcerated the democratically-elected Aung San Suu Kyi during a military coup d'etat in Myanmar in 2021 despite mass protests. Rebellions combine aspects of mass uprisings and coups. They are often the first step toward a revolution. They involve large numbers of participants and a high degree of planning and organization. The leaders typically have a clear vision for the future and enlist action from a large percentage of the population. The American Revolution began as a rebellion. So did the Russian Revolution in 1917 and the Chinese Communist Revolution in 1956. Watch this video to learn how revolutions shape the world, compared to a mass uprising, coup d'etat, or rebellion. The presenter explores the definition of revolution and examines how conditions in the 17th century fostered an era of modern revolution. How do political revolutions differ from agricultural and industrial revolutions?