A Revolution Coming Near You!
Why all the Revolting?
Political revolutions have occurred throughout all of history and all around the world. Usually these revolutions take place because of the causes their government had put upon the citizens. Sometimes the government isn't giving their people what they deserve so, the citizens think it's times for a change. Or the people are tired of their government being put first compared to themselves, for example, the leader could be using the citizens for the use of their own benefit, maybe by increasing taxes. Nevermore, the benefits and costs of a political revolution will surely change the fate of any person even if the changes are good.
American Revolution (1775-1783)
The American Revolution began when the thirteen colonies decided to revolt against their British Parliament, which all started because of the taxing of the colonists. These acts lead up to riots of groups of colonists went to Britain to fight for their freedom. This resistance of the colonists lead to violence with the British, when many colonists were killed in wars. This all lead up to the begin of the revolution in 1775. Even though the colonists had already drafted their Declaration of Independence from Britain, the war still carried on until 1783, which was when the colonists won their independence away from British.
French Revolution (1789-1799)
The French Revolution started because of many reasons, one, the French suffered under and absolute monarchy, which was between the king, nobles, and anyone who owned their own land properties. Economically, their government was crumbling from being on the brink of bankruptcy and loss of a recent bad harvest, the French people knew their lives weren't being put first. Their social system was set up by three classes of estates, the first being the highest on the social ranking. However, the third estate was the class which everything, such as the highest amount of taxes and less land, put upon them, as ninety-eight percent of their population were living in this class.
Iranian Revolution (1978-1979)
This revolution began with a democracy, however, as the lines of the rich and the poor grew between each other, the citizens had had enough. Iran was ruled by leader Shah Reza Pahlavi, everyone adored him because he had the power and wealth that shaped their government. However, as people became to caught onto the power and control of Shah, there were riots breaking out as people were protesting against him. These outbursts resulted in the crumbling economy, after he knew that everyone was against him, Shah took an "extended vacation", where he was set to never return to Iran. Although before leaving, he appointed the prime minister to rule in his absence, which was when Ayatollah, the former leader, returned from his absence in exile. The prime minister was then kicked out of office, and Ayatollah won the following election in which he made an Islamic republic.
A Deeper Look into Revolution...
American Revolution
For eight years, the colonists of the thirteen colonies which was apart of the British property had fought against their parliament for their sense of independence. The tensions between the Parliament and their people all began a decade before the revolutionary actually started in 1775. Acts for taxation against the colonists, such as the Stamp Act, Townshend Tariffs, and the Tea Act, were the causes that influenced the colonists decisions to protest for their rights. This all occurred because the colonists, who were located in an entire different land, did not have representation in the British Parliament. "Colonial resistance led to violence in 1770, when British soldiers opened fire on a mob of colonists, killing five men in what was known as the Boston Massacre." Although these events were just one of many as the violent outbursts between the two groups continued.
This was the time when the colonists decided to take matters into their own hands and declared what was rightfully theirs. In September of 1774, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, where they discussed writing their own document to declare their independence against the British and everything they wanted to include for their own self government. The men decided to meet again in the next year of 1775, however, what they didn't know is that the Revolutionary war would have already begun.
So, Do the Benefits of the Political Revolution REALLY Outweigh the Costs?
Benefits:
- Providing a sense of organization in a society and not just letting everyone roaming free.
- Having protection for the citizens by making laws that better the community for them, which could improve their well being.
- Citizens are able to speak their minds, putting ideas to the government which could influence laws that they believe would be better for the people.
- Government officials could just be using the citizens to earn wealth, or improving their own rankings in the community.
- There could be an overpowering system where the citizens are fearing the government.
- If there is an outburst of violent occurrences, people could lose their lives.