Definition of Social Revolution
How do we implement change in our society? If we see something we think is wrong, how do we address it? A social revolution is a fundamental change in a society. It involves a shift in power in a society. Revolutions occur when a number of people in a society feel discontent with the current order and agree that change is necessary. When we stop wanting to live the way we're living, or if we stop believing in the legitimacy of our current social or political order, we may turn to revolution.
It's important to note that revolution is different than reform, which seeks to change small parts of an existing system, but ultimately keep it in place. Revolution seeks to overthrow this whole system. Revolution can bring about important social, political, and economic changes. Let's talk about some of the causes of social revolution.
Causes of Social Revolution
There are a number of things that can cause a revolution to occur. For one thing, revolutions might happen when a state is no longer functioning well. In other words, when a government is weak, an opportunity arises for revolutionaries to seize on this.
Class struggle, or conflict between different social classes with different access to resources, is often an important explanation as to why revolutions occur. Think about it this way: if a society is very unequal, it's likely that there are many people in it who are discontent. This can create anger directed at elites, leading to an uprising of the working class.
Shifts in culture can also cause revolutionary change. Sometimes, citizens begin to feel troubled by dominant cultural values or norms, and this can bring about change. One example of this in the United States is the sexual revolution. During this time, we saw issues like birth control and women's sexuality discussed much more openly and with less judgement than previous eras. Now that we know a little bit about what a revolution is, let's talk about some specific revolutions and what they accomplished.
Social Revolution in History
We should note that there are many, many revolutions that have occurred in places throughout the world. But let's focus on a few to get an idea of some of the major revolutions that caused massive change.
One of the most important revolutions is the French Revolution, which was a massive cultural shift in France that took place in the late 1700s. France at this time was ruled by a monarch that was extremely powerful. For the majority of people in France, though, living conditions were terrible. Ordinary people were hungry and suffering and resented what they viewed as the lavish life of the monarchy. The government was in debt and implemented taxation schemes that many people felt were unfair. King Louis XVI spent money with little discretion, leaving the country in a precarious position. Disadvantaged farmers and peasants often paid more taxes than noblemen.
Eventually, ordinary or common people, known as the third estate, began to come together in an effort to gain equal representation. The third estate made up the majority of France's population, but they had very little power in the country. There was also a growing middle class who held a set of ideals that reflected an intellectual shift that was happening in the country. We began to see an emphasis on ideals of equality, liberty, and individual freedom.
The French Revolution grew bloody at times but, ultimately, the monarch was overturned. This led to some important outcomes. First, the French Revolution ended the system of feudalism in France. Basically, feudalism was a system where peasants worked for nobleman in exchange for the ability to live on a plot of land. This revolution also marked a shift to a representative government in France, meaning people were able to elect officials. This also led to a more progressive tax system. The French Revolution was key to establishing a new political culture. However, the decades that followed were not easy. The rule of Napoleon, which would come later, was very brutal and many French citizens would die.
The Russian Revolution, which was the uprising that ousted Russian nobility and created the soviet Union, is another important example of social revolution. In 1917, Russia was under the rule of the Tsar Nicholas II. His rule was ineffective, and many in the country felt very disenfranchised. In particular, a group known as the Bolsheviks spearheaded a revolution against the Tsar. In particular, the Bolsheviks felt that capitalism was extremely unfair.
Not unlike France, many people in Russia were peasants. When the country began industrializing, peasants migrated into cities and worked in terrible conditions in factories. This ultimately led to a communist revolution in Russia that would have lasting effects. Farmlands were redistributed and private property was basically eliminated. But, like in France, there were negative consequences. Vladimir Lenin, the head of the Communist party, used brutal tactics, like forced labor camps, to maintain his rule.
Lesson Summary
A social revolution is a fundamental change to the structure of society. It involves a drastic overhaul of the existing social, political, or economic order. There are number of factors that contribute to revolutions. Often, social injustice, like class struggle (or conflict between different social classes with different access to resources) can inspire citizens to rise up. When societies feel unequal, we might turn to revolution to address inequality. Sometimes, weak states can lead to revolution.
The French Revolution, a massive cultural shift in France that took place in the late 1700s, is one of the most important revolutions in history. It drastically changed the existing political organization in France away from feudalism, which was a system where peasants worked for nobleman in exchange for the ability to live on a plot of land. It also provided an important example of what can happen when the majority of people, like peasants and farmers, or the third estate, rise up. The Russian Revolution, the uprising that ousted Russian nobility and created the Soviet Union, was an important uprising by the working class and peasants. This revolution led to a defeat of the Tsar and led to communist rule in Russia.
Although there were benefits to citizens from these revolutions, there were also consequences. Many, many people died in both revolutions, and the subsequent governments were not always much better. But, it's still important to understand how everyday people can make big social change.
Reference: Study.com
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