Social Movements to Know for AP Comparative Government

Civil Rights Movement

A period of activism in the United States that sought to end racial discrimination and secure equal rights for African Americans that lasted from year 1946 to 1968.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

A 13-month-long civil rights protest on December 1, 1995 led by Martin Luther King Jr., to challenge racial segregation on public buses and ultimately led to a Supreme Court decision declaring such segregation unconstitutional.

March on Washington

A march in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963, aimed to accelerate the Civil Rights Movement by demanding an end to racial segregation, fair wages, economic justice, voting rights, quality education, and comprehensive civil rights protections.

Selma to Montgomery marches

A historic civil rights protest led by Martin Luther King Jr. on March 21 to 15, 1965 where marchers aimed to walk 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to demand voting rights for African Americans.

Women’s Suffrage Movement

A campaign for women's right to question and secure women's voting rights in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Susan B. Anthony

An American women's rights activist who played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

An American leader in the women's rights movement who is first to formulate an organized demand for woman suffrage in 1848 in the United States.

Anti-Apartheid Movement (South Africa)

A movement that lasted from year 1960 to 1994 that aimed to oppose the apartheid system in South Africa that enforced racial segregation and discrimination.

Nelson Mandela

A prominent figure in the anti-apartheid movement who worked various ways to oppose the racial segregation system in South Africa.

Desmond Tutu

A South African Anglican bishop, theologian, and human rights activist who is known for his participation in the anti-apartheid movement.

 Indian Independence Movement

A series of historic events in the Indian subcontinent that started in 1885 which aimed to end British colonial rule in India, utilizing nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience.

Mahatma Gandhi

Introduced the world to the power of Satyagraha or "truth force," a philosophy of nonviolent resistance where his charisma and simple message resonated with the masses— uniting people from diverse backgrounds, including farmers, laborers, and intellectuals, under a common cause.  

Jawaharlal Nehru

A strong advocate for India on the international stage— envisioning India as a secular, democratic nation and a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Arab Spring

The series of anti-government protests and demonstrations across the Middle East and North Africa that began in 2010. The countries involved were Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Syria.

LGBTQ+ Rights Movement

A campaign that advocates for the rights and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals, focusing on issues like marriage equality and anti-discrimination laws for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.

Stonewall Riots (1969)

A watershed moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, stemmed from police raids on a gay bar in New York City's Greenwich Village.

Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

Netherlands was the first nation to legalize same-sex marriage in Environmental Movement which was followed by over a dozen countries in Western Europe, North America, and South America, along with the nation of South Africa.

Environmental Movement

A social movement that focuses on addressing environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, and conservation and advocates for sustainable practices and policies to protect the planet for future generations.

Earth Day

An annual international event celebrated every April 22 to honor the environmental movement achievements and the continuous need to protect the environment.

Earth Summit 1992 in Rio de Janeiro

Sought to establish a comprehensive framework for addressing global environmental and development challenges. 

Labor Rights Movement

A labor movement that aims to improve working conditions, wages, and rights for workers.

Pullman Strike (1894)

The Strike of the American Railway Union (ARU) against the Pullman factory in Chicago in response to wage cuts.

Flint Sit-Down Strike (1936)

The Strike of General Motors workers in Flint, Michigan to demand recognition of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union and better working conditions.

Anti-Colonial Movements

Series of social movements that aims to end colonial rule and gain independence for colonized nations.

The Haitian Revolution

Began in 1791 with a slave revolt and ended in 1804 with Haiti's independence.

The Philippine Revolution

Took place from the year 1896 to1902 and is considered the first anti-colonial revolution in Asia.

The Algerian War of Independence

A war that took place from 1954 to 1962 and was Algeria's fight for independence from France.

The Indian National Congress

An anti-colonial movement organized along the lines of nationalism.

Pro-Democracy Movement in Eastern Europe

A series of revolutionary waves of liberal democracy movements advocating for democratic reforms and the end of authoritarian regimes, particularly during the late 20th century.

Solidarity movement in Poland

Happened in year 1980s where solidarity emerged as a significant anti-authoritarian movement, employing methods of civil disobedience to advance workers' rights and social justice.

Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia

A general strike involving all citizens of Czechoslovakia demonstrated the widespread desire for political change that happened in year 1989.

Black Lives Matter

A movement that started in 2013 which advocates against systemic racism and violence towards Black individuals, particularly in the United States. It also emphasizes police brutality, racial profiling, and social justice issues.

#MeToo Movement

A social movement and awareness campaign against  sexual harassment and assault, particularly in the workplace.

Tiananmen Square Protest (China)

A pro-democracy movement that called for political reform and greater freedoms which lasted from April 15 to June 4, 1989.

Iranian Revolution

A 1979 revolution that led to the overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy and the establishment of an Islamic Republic.

Ayatollah Khomeini

A prominent Shia cleric emerged as a leading figure of opposition to the Shah's regime.

Mexican Student Movement of 1968

A social and political movement that advocates for political and social reforms, culminating in protests against government repression.

 Tlatelolco Massacre

A massacre that resulted in the deaths of many people on October 2, 1968. The Díaz Ordaz government and troops marched into the Plaza of the Three Cultures, where gunmen in surrounding buildings opened fire on unarmed civilians.