Revolutionary Movements in the 20th Century

This chapter presents an in-depth thematic and comparative unit on revolutionary movements in the 20th century. This unit introduces students to a number of different parts of the world and the focus on revolutionary movements presents the people of these areas as historical actors rather than as pawns dominated by imperialist forces. A number of important historical themes and essential questions can be examined in a thematic and comparative unit on revolutionary movements in the 20th century. A comparative examination of revolutionary wars shows that they tend to have their own historical logic. The devastating impact of World War I led first to the collapse of the Czarist monarchy and then to the overthrow of a weak reform government. The Bolshevik or Communist Revolution that overturned this government brought to power a small vanguard party committed to communist ideals, including internationalism and worker control over economic and political decisions.