Revolution

Revolution, forcible, pervasive, and often violent change of a social or political order by a sizable segment of a country's population. Revolution is the most extreme political option of a dissenting group, a course taken generally when more moderate and legal attempts to achieve recognition or reform have failed. Even when fomented by a political minority, revolutions usually reflect a general climate of discontent. Whether occurring spontaneously, which is rare, or through careful planning, revolutions depend for their success on crucial timing, the fostering of popular support, and the nucleus of a new governmental organization. In modern history, perhaps the most important revolution, in terms of its contagious effect on other nations, was the American Revolution, although some historians would define it as a war of independence rather than a revolution. A war of independence is an armed struggle by one nation against an alien colonial power; it need not lead to revolutionary changes but only to an indigenous government in a sovereign state.

Modern societies owe much to past uprisings against repressive governments, stagnant or restrictive economic conditions, and rigid class divisions. On the other hand, revolutions have often replaced one evil with another, as through harsh recriminations, self-serving leadership, or betrayal of the people; these excesses sometimes lead to opposing counterrevolutions. A sudden challenge to a given social order can in itself be beneficial in awakening and testing a society.

A revolution is distinguished from a coup d'etat, which is a sudden seizure of state power by a small faction or element of the government; a coup does not necessarily cause profound, far-reaching change in the social system. Distinction should also be made between a revolution and revolt or a rebellion, which may be either a failed attempt at revolution, a violent expression of grievances with limited purpose, or merely a change in allegiance. The term revolution is more broadly applied to any significant historical transformation.

For discussions of particular national revolutions, see American Revolution; English Revolution; French Revolution; Russian Revolution.