Student Essay on Revolutions

Revolutions

Summary:   Revolution can often be described as the overthrow of one government and its replacement with another. It happens when people aren't satisfied with their government and they want their government to change. In the late 20th century, there have been movements all over the world to ensure basic human rights and social,economic and political equality for all people, however sometimes progress is difficult.

A Revolution can often be described as the overthrow of one government and its replacement with another. It happens when people aren't satisfied with their government and they want their government to change. In the late 20th century, there have been movements all over the world to ensure basic human rights and social,economic and political equality for all people, however sometimes progress is difficult. In this essay I will focus on two revolutions, that took place and the actions people took to bring those revolutions to a success.

For years, South Africans lived under apartheid which was an unjust and racist system that discriminated on race and abused human rights.Their goal was to make sure whites had complete economic and social power.In 1913, laws were passed. It said that 90 percent of the country belonged to whites. It also restricted the best payed jobs in mines to whites only. Furthermore, Blacks were evicted from the best lands and given to the whites. They were forced to live in crowded researves. In addition, blacks could no longer vote. Apartheid became official policy in 1948. Eventually the apartheid system came to its downfall. First there were conflicts within the country, many blacks resisted and formed a campaign. During th 1960's Nelson Mandela was sentence to life in prison for his leadership in the campaign. Secondly, foreign pressures,especially from the United States and Britan hurt and practically disabled the South African economy.People all over the world boycotted african goods. Also, african christian churches demanded equal rights for blacks. Finally, the National Party government realised that they could no longer keep apartheid . On 2 February 1990, the President during this time, F.W. de Klerk, gave a famous speech to Parliament. As a result, it led to the release of Nelson Mandaela as well as the fall of apartheid. In April 1994, the very first democratic elections took place in Africa,and Nelson Mandela became president.

Since 1978,Den Xioping had led a series of economic and political reforms in china. This eventually led to the acceptance of a market economy and some political freedom. After the death of den Xioping, Mao Zedong soon had control over the country however he did not agree with den Xioping's policies therefore, he reformed them. By early 1989,these economic and political reforms had led a group of people who were not satisfied with the new government.The group consisted of students and intellectuals,who were upset at the social and political controls of the government. Therefore, a massive demonstration for democratic reform, begun on Tiananmen Square by Chinese students in April 1989. On May 4th approximately 100,000 students as well as workers marched peacefully in Tiananmen Sqaure, demanding democratic reforms and equality. Dispite the martial law, passed on may 20th, the demonstrations continued. As a result, on June 4th the government authorized the use of military force, with troops and tanks, killing thousands of students. This tradgic event stunned everyone and changed the world's view of China. The blood shed in Tiananmen Square brought us today more than ever in accomplishing a free and deomcratic China. The communist system is now abandoned and refused everywhere.

In conclusion,a Revolution can often be described as the overthrow of one government and its replacement with another. It happens when people aren't satisfied with their government and they want their government to change. In the late 20th century, there have been movements all over the world to ensure basic human rights and social,economic and political equality for all people, however sometimes progress is difficult. The masccre in Tiananmen square proved dat the power of the people is much stronger than the government because due to that bloody event, the communist system is now abandoned and refused everywhere. In addition, the end of apartheid in Africa finally brought democracy and freedom to a country that had long suffered from the hands of a foreigner. Someone once said,"blood waters the tree of freedom."