English and French Revolutions

The Paris Commune: 140th anniversary

Details: Friday, 18 March 2011; Written by Greg Oxley

Today (March 18th) is the 140th anniversary of the start of the Paris Commune of 1871. We mark the event by re-publishing Greg Oxley's account of this important event, first published in 2001. Greg is a supporter of La Riposte, the French Marxist paper.

Shays’ Rebellion and the American Revolution

Details: Saturday, 20 February 2010; Written by John Peterson in the U.S

The American Revolution shook up the entire world. The thirteen British colonies that would become the United States of America, fought and won against the most powerful imperial power on the planet. In the years following the American victory over the British, the hopes of the masses were betrayed. As a result, there were many popular movements and uprisings. But none had as big an impact on the psychology of the ruling class and the future structure of the U.S. government as Shays’ Rebellion of 1786-87, which some have called “The American Revolution’s Final Battle.”

1649:The Last Stand of the Levellers

Details: Wednesday, 28 October 2009; Written by Dudley Edwards

On 17 May 1649, three soldiers were executed on Oliver Cromwell’s orders in Burford churchyard, Oxfordshire, England. They were the leaders of 300 men who belonged to the movement known as the Levellers. They had decided to fight against Cromwell who they considered was betraying the ideals of what the “Civil War”, i.e. the English Revolution, had been about.

1789, Fall of the Bastille

Details: Monday, 13 July 2009; Written by Alan Woods

Here is part one of Alan Wood's article on the history of the French Revolution, first published in1989 to mark the 200th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on July 14th.

220th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille

Details: Monday, 13 July 2009; Written by Alan Woods

14th July 1789. Today is the 220th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille. Celebrated as a national holiday in France, the 14th July marked a decisive first stage in the French revolution. We are therefore republishing a series of articles first written in 1989 to coincide with the 200th anniversary.

1793, Rise and Fall of the Jacobins

Details: Monday, 13 July 2009; Written by Alan Woods

Here is part two of Alan Wood's article on the history of the French Revolution, first published in 1989 to mark the 200th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille

John Milton, republican revolutionary

Details: Tuesday, 09 December 2008; Written by Mick Brooks

Milton’s unflinching devotion to the ‘good old cause’, his total idealism, unwavering commitment to human freedom and hatred of tyranny in all its forms makes him attractive to revolutionaries today. And Milton, as well as being the second greatest poet of the English language, remained a revolutionary by instinct till his dying day. He was born four hundred years ago on December 9th 1608.