Revolution: GCSE History Definition

What is a revolution?

In GCSE History, a revolution is a very sudden change in a society. There are many factors which can cause this change. The most common of these are political motivations.

A political revolution is when the government is overthrown and replaced with a new government. A type of political revolution is a ‘popular revolution.’ This is when the people, who are unhappy with their living conditions or the political system, come together to remove the government. An example of a popular revolution is the English Revolution, which began in 1641. King Charles I was overthrown and executed by the people, represented by Parliament, after a period of war.  Britain’s new government was a republic, which is a government without a monarch. The above example also shows that political revolutions are often violent.

Political revolutions do not need popular support to succeed. Many revolutions have started with only the support of the Army. An example of this was the October Revolution in Russia in 1917. The Bolsheviks lacked popular support but did have the support of the army, alongside their own paramilitary force called the Red Army. A period of civil war followed, showing that the people resisted this takeover of power.

Revolutions do not have to be political. An example of this is the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. This was when the world changed from focussing on agriculture to industry. This caused the development of factories and industrial towns. This shows that all revolutions are rapid change that has a significant impact on society.

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