NationStates Jolt Archive

Just curious on which one you feel was best. I feel that the best was the Glorious Revolution of 1688. It deposed King James II, who discredited Parliment all together, and was violating the rule of law in that country. The revolution ensured that the rule of law, and thus constitutionalism, would stay right into modern history, and is followed by half, if not more, of the world's sovereign states.
The American Revolution toke this concept further, by creating a nation based on this principle. While it showed that constitutionalism wasn't just an English idea, the trouble was that the revolution was not without precedent.
As for the French Revolution, it had the most significant impact. It threatened the traditional monarchies of the continent, and inspired nationalism and freedom on the continent. The trouble, however, was mostly for France itself. There were the Jacobins during the Revolution, probably the worst period in French history. Then there was Napoleon, who obviously didn't care why the revolution started, so long as he could be in power. Even the kings eventually came back, and a republic wasn't firmly established until years later.
I'd like to know your thoughts on these, or better yet, if there was another revolution you think was the best. I simply picked these three because each had huge consequences.

I would say it was the American Revolution 1776-1783. It founded a functional democratic republic where the people had a say in the government.

If this had not occurred, the much-more significant French Revolution probably would not have occurred either. The French revolutionaries were inspired by the Americans.

The October Revolution ;)

The Industrial Revolution :p

Either the Renaissance or the Industrial Revolution.

I didn't mean an idealogical movement, per se. I meant a revolution where the government was overthrown, and the people at least tried to establish a new one.

I didn't mean an idealogical movement, per se. I meant a revolution where the government was overthrown, and the people at least tried to establish a new one.

The October Revolution :p

The October Revolution :p
Yeah, that was one. Now could I ask why you like it? Thanks.

I meant a revolution where the government was overthrown, and the people at least tried to establish a new one.

OK. Scratch the Industrial. However, if there was any such thing as a central authority in medieval Europe, it was the Roman Catholic Church. Trust me, the Renaissance qualifies.

Aside from that, probably the same one you chose.

OK. Scratch the Industrial. However, if there was any such thing as a central authority in medieval Europe, it was the Roman Catholic Church. Trust me, the Renaissance qualifies.

The Renaissance didn't weaken the Church, nor even the Reformation. The strengthened it, as the church expanded its global outreach. Perhaps the church wasn't the political authority it once was, but it did gain a deeper influence. Besides, political influence didn't weaken until after the Reformation, when monarchs took the oppritunity to tighten to power.

bump

The October Revolution :p

Why? It established one of the most ruthless, terroristic, totalitarian dictatorships in history, one that massacred millions of its own people and helped spread revolution to other countries, bringing countless other tyrants to power and massacring millions more. No offense, but how is that a good thing?

Would the secession of the Southern states count? (I doubt it) But if so, it's got my vote.

The Sexual Revolution! :fluffle:

Why? It established one of the most ruthless, terroristic, totalitarian dictatorships in history, one that massacred millions of its own people and helped spread revolution to other countries, bringing countless other tyrants to power and massacring millions more. No offense, but how is that a good thing?
Still, it almost produced a liberal democracy. The problem was the Lenin's Bolsheviks coerced the deputies in the provisional government to vote his way.
And btw, the souther seccession could be counted as a revolution only if it was successful. If not, than it is simply a revolt. There's a difference.

And btw, the souther seccession could be counted as a revolution only if it was successful. If not, than it is simply a revolt. There's a difference.

Oh, okay. Sorry. Cross that one off, then.

its not named a "revolution" but the reformation of the roman catholic church. It showed that the church was not infallable and that even though you may not believe the same things as another person you have to respect them and that no one is right in any aspect of life

Id say it was the French Revolution, but not the one in 1789!
It was the period between 1792-1794 commonly referred to as the reign of terror. In this period they actually executed the monarch, attempted to introduce universal suffrage (Robespierre was even considering allowing votes for women), and banned slavery.

Although the French Monarchy was eventually re-instated, the consequences of this revolution reached much farther than just France. One could argue that it led to the following things:

1, The revolution of Toissant L'overture in Haiti (The first succesful slave rebellion and the second Nation in the Americas to gain independance)

2, The banning of the Slave Trade in the British Empire in 1808, which led to nations all over the world banning slavery.

3, Inspiration for Simon Bolivar and the independence movements in South America.

4, The ideals of Universal Suffrage, which is now what defines modern democracies (The American Revolution of 1776 only gave the vote to rich land owners, many of whom were also slave owners).

5, The end of Feudal Europe. From this point on, it was only a matter of time before the Monarchies of Russia, Spain, Germany, Britain, Greece, etc. would lose their authority.

I would have to cast my vote for the peaceful overthrow of communism in Poland.

1. After 50 years of a burgeoning Cold War and the threat of nuclear war, the yoke of communism was cast off, and in a country so close to Moscow.

2. It was a peaceful revolution, not violent. It was the endurance of the human will and spirit.

It was a watershed event in human history.

Lots of people are voting American, without giving a reason. Is that just a patriotic instinct kicking in?

I'd say The Reformation, or the Glorious Revolution (I voted glorious because reformation wasn't an option). Both overthrew the concept of a god-given right to rule, and established the people as the sovereigns of a nation. It was an ideological shift, and had lasting implications, influencing all the other revolutions to come.

Dainuojanti revoliucija (singing Revolution) in Lithuania 1988-1991... when people overthrown soviet "communists". for Lithuania (population 3,5 mln) it is big win vs. mighty soviet union, Lithuanians was fighting for freedom, without any support from USA or other "anticommunist". We had support only from other Baltic states Latvia (pop. 2,5mln) and Estonia(pop. 1,5mln). 14 people died and over 2000 was wounded, but national unity won over russian aggression.

The ultimate revolution is yet to come.

We saw communism bite the dust. Now while waiting for capitalism to do the same we may spend some energy musing about what should come after, if anything.

Viva la revolution!

**puts on Ché clothes**

**runs around in the street, trying to convince people joining my rebels**

Edit:

The French!

Why do they have to be Political revolutions?
Surely Scientific ones have just been as (if not more) important.
My three would be:
Copernicus - He forever changed the place of humans in the cosmos with his Heliocentric theory - no longer could we legitimately think our significance greater than other animals.

Newton - A towering giant of an intellect. His theories and laws shaped and defined Scientific thinking and advancement, contuing even through 'til today.
I paticularily liked how he stated in the preface of Principia that he would "give the explication of the System of the World", and then proceeded to do just that. Such breath-taking arrogance from anyone else - from Newton it was a simple truth.

Darwin - His Origin of the Species forever changed the way we view ourselves and our relationship with other animals.

These three all revolutionised our thinking and ultimately our society. Incidently all three had a massive effect on religion.

On another note, I would suggest that the Guttenberg printing press was the most revolutionary invention over the last millenium, followed closely by the motor engine and the telephone. The press allowed easy and quick dissemination of ideas across the globe; The motor engine allowed access to the world and the telephone allowed information to travel the world almost instanteously.

I would have to cast my vote for the peaceful overthrow of communism in Poland.
It was a watershed event in human history.

Yep, it certainly had far-reaching effects on the rest of the world - more so than the American, French or the Renaissance :rolleyes:

The National Socailist Revolution.

Still, it almost produced a liberal democracy. The problem was the Lenin's Bolsheviks coerced the deputies in the provisional government to vote his way.
And btw, the souther seccession could be counted as a revolution only if it was successful. If not, than it is simply a revolt. There's a difference.

Sorry, not quite true mate.

Feburary revolution, 1917 produced that (established the 'provisional government' under Prince Levov and later Kerensky- top guy by the looks of it).

October "revolution" (which roachbusters was talking about) established Lenin and co effectively in power. However, it was hardly 'power' at all for a while, it took a LONG time for them to be in complete control of Russia.

I say "revolution" but I really mean coup. Lenin and Co hijacked a true popular uprising against a ridiculous oligarchy, and effectively ignored the 40 or so million votes which had only given them 24% of the Constituent Assembly.