Pol 100, Quiz 3, Introduction to Politics & Government

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Who was Thomas Clarkson, and what did he do? What is it an example of?

He was one of the first, most important leaders of the anti slavery movement. 

He was an influential English abolitionist(a person who favors the abolition (removal) of a practice or institution) who campaigned tirelessly against the transatlantic slave trade.

He entered a latin essay competition that asks “is it lawful to make slaves of other against their will?’. As he research he uncovered that the horrors of slavery were true and this was the moment that kick started his work in the anti slavery movement.

To try and end the violence of slavery a small group of anti slavery advocates started to put out newspaper ads, small petitions, gathering evidence, boycotting slave produced sugar (made by slaves).

Britains anti slavery campaign lasted 20 years and lead to the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act of 1807. This act made it illegal to buy or transport enslaved people but in 1833 Britain passed the Slavery Abolition Act which ended slavery itself freeing slaves!

It’s an example of contentious politics (when people use conflict or protest to push for political or social change)

What was the Maidan Uprising (Ukrainian uprising)

Euromaidan comes from combining ‘Euro’ (Europe) and ‘Maidan’ (Ukrainian for ‘square’) [specifically referring to Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), the main central square in Kyiv, Ukraine (capital of Ukraine)]

In November 2013, President Victor Yanukovych announced Ukraine would not sign the European Union-Ukraine Association Agreement, instead strengthening ties with Russia.

This angered many Ukrainians that are pro democracy

• They saw this move as corruption(abuse of entrusted power for private gain) and Russian Influence.

Led to peaceful protesting in Maidan Square but became violent and the police used violence against demonstrators killing over 100 protesters.

Parliament removed Yanukovych and a new interim government (temporary government put in place after one government collapses)

Crimea (peninsula in black sea) was taken away from Ukraine’s control and became part of Russia, from Russia’s perspective BUT internationally it’s still considered Ukrainian territory illegally occupied by Russia.

• This led to the Donbas war (2014 to now) where Russia wants to control parts of Ukraine, and Ukraine is defending itself to stay an independent, democratic country.

What does Thomas Clarkson’s work as an anti-slavery advocate and the Maidan Uprising have in common?

They are both examples of contentious politics (people outside government demanding change)

Describe Contentious Politics and the history behind it.

• Contentious politics is when ordinary people don’t use political methods like voting

• Charles Tilly was the person who came up with the concept of contentious politics after analyzing big political conflicts like civil wars, revolutions, protests, suicide bombings etc. He found a common pattern which was contentious politics.

  • He saw there was always a person or group (ex thomas clarkson) making demands on those in power (eg. slaveholders and government)

  • He noticed people act outside the normal political systems when those systems failed to respond to their needs then the action followed certain traits

    • 1. They involved collective action (people organizing together)

    • 2. They are public and visible(Protests, strikes, riots) These are tools of the marginalized.

    • 3.They challenge authority (government, elites etc) they do this because of institutional deficiencies (political system failing to address something)

    • 4.They build coalitions(alliance) to help increase legitimacy and increase power/pressure on those in power/ in charge of change.

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