1. Civil Rights Movement (United States)

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

Duration: 1946 to 1968

• Aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.

• Resulted in significant legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Key Events

1. Montgomery Bus Boycott

   • A 13-month-long civil rights protest.

   • Ignited by Rosa Parks's arrest on December 1, 1955.

   • A mass movement 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.

2. March on Washington

   • Happened on August 28, 1963.

   • It is where a quarter of a million people gathered in Washington, D.C., for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

   • 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.

3. Selma to Montgomery marches

   • Took place from March 21 to 25, year 1965.

   • A historic civil rights protest led by Martin Luther King Jr.

   • The marchers aimed to walk 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to demand voting rights for African Americans.

     • Despite facing violent opposition from local authorities, the marchers persevered and ultimately played a crucial role in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

2. Women’s Suffrage Movement

A campaign for women's right to vote in elections.

• Made to question and secure women's voting rights in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

• Achieved a major victory with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 in the United States.

Key Figures

1. Susan B. Anthony

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

   • Participated in serving committees, became convention speaker, created women’s associations, and campaigned for women’s property rights.

2. Elizabeth Cady Stanton

   • An American leader in the women's rights movement.

   • First to formulate an organized demand for woman suffrage in 1848 in the United States.

3. Anti-Apartheid Movement (South Africa)

Also known as Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), AAM Archives Committee, and Boycott Movement.

Duration: 1960 - 1994

• A movement aimed to oppose the apartheid system in South Africa that enforced racial segregation and discrimination.

• A British organization who worked with African liberation movements and groups to end apartheid.

• Ended apartheid in the early 1990s and the establishment of a multiracial democracy in 1994.

Key Figures

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

   • Significant Contributions

     • Established a Black Law Practice

     • Campaigned against past laws

     • Drafted the Freedom Charter

     • Led the ANC to victory

     • Established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

     • Introduced initiatives to improve living standards

     • Worked to end poverty and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.

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

   • Significant Contributions

     • Criticizing apartheid

     • Supporting boycotts

     • Encouraging reconciliation

     • Chairing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

     • Conflict Mediation

     • Pressuring the government

     • Formulating demands for a democratic and just society without racial divisions

4. Indian Independence Movement

A series of historic events in the Indian subcontinent.

• Started in 1885.

• Aimed to end British colonial rule in India, utilizing nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience.

• The movement was a catalyst for social and cultural change, revitalizing Indian society and inspiring other colonized nations to challenge imperial rule.

• Led to India gaining independence in 1947, leading to the partition of India and Pakistan.

Key Leaders and their Contribution

1. Mahatma Gandhi

   • Philosophy of Non-Violence: Introduced the world to the power of Satyagraha or "truth force," a philosophy of nonviolent resistance.

   • Mass Mobilization: Gandhi's charisma and simple message resonated with the masses— uniting people from diverse backgrounds, including farmers, laborers, and intellectuals, under a common cause.

   • Moral Authority: His unwavering commitment to truth, non-violence, and social justice earned him immense respect, both in India and abroad.

2. Jawaharlal Nehru

   • Political Strategist: Played a crucial role in shaping the Indian National Congress's political agenda.

   • International Diplomacy: Nehru was a strong advocate for India on the international stage— envisioning India as a secular, democratic nation and a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement.

   • Modernization of India: Laid the foundation for India's post-independence development, focusing on sectors like education, technology, and infrastructure.

5. Arab Spring

The series of anti-government protests and demonstrations across the Middle East and North Africa that began in 2010.

• First revolutions and protests gradually ended in 2012.

• Countries Involved: Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Syria.

• Led to varied outcomes from regime change to ongoing civil wars such as;

  • Overthrow of Dictators

  • Democratic Aspirations

  • Civil Wars and Conflicts

  • Authoritarian Backlash

  • Humanitarian Crises

  • Recovering Economy

6. LGBTQ+ Rights Movement

A campaign for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.

• Advocates for the rights and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals, focusing on issues like marriage equality and anti-discrimination laws.

• Continuously progress to address ongoing discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals globally.

• Key events include the Stonewall Riots in 1969 and the legalization of same-sex marriage in various countries.

Key Events

1. 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.

   • The term 'Stonewall' has since become synonymous with LGBTQ+ activism/struggle for gay rights.

2. Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

   • Netherlands was the first nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2000.

   • It is followed by over a dozen countries in Western Europe, North America, and South America, along with the nation of South Africa.

7. Environmental Movement

A social movement aiming to protect the natural world from harmful human activities and promote sustainability.

• It focuses on addressing environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, and conservation.

• Advocates for sustainable practices and policies to protect the planet for future generations.

Key Events

1. Earth Day

   • An annual international event celebrated every April 22.

   • Honors the environmental movement achievements and the continuous need to protect the environment.

   • People can participate in Earth Day through:

     • Picking up litter

     • Reducing carbon footprint/donating

     • Volunteering to plant trees

     • Joining ecological initiatives

     • Joining protest

     • Starting a collection drive for recyclable items

     • Organizing a screening of an environmentally themed movie

2. Earth Summit 1992 in Rio de Janeiro

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

   • By uniting nations and fostering international cooperation, the summit aimed to guide sustainable development policies and practices into the 21st century.

8. Labor Rights Movement

A labor movement that began with the rise of capitalism and the Industrial Revolution, when workers became wage-earners without the means of production.

• Aims to improve working conditions, wages, and rights for workers.

• Led to significant labor legislation, including the Fair Labor Standards Act.

• Key events include the formation of labor unions and strikes, such as the Pullman Strike and the Flint Sit-Down Strike.

Key Events

1. Pullman Strike (1894)

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

   • The strike failed, but the ARU then led a nationwide boycott of trains carrying Pullman cars.

   • The strike and boycott shut down much of the country's rail traffic and was a turning point for US labor law.

2. Flint Sit-Down Strike (1936)

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

   • The strike lasted 44 days and was one of the first major victories for unionization in the United States.

   • The strike is considered the birth of the modern labor movement.

9. Anti-Colonial Movements

These are a series of social movements that resist, oppose, and dismantle colonial systems, ideologies, and regimes.

• Movements that aims to end colonial rule and gain independence for colonized nations.

• Led to decolonization of numerous countries and the establishment of new nations.

Key Examples

1. The Haitian Revolution: began in 1791 with a slave revolt and ended in 1804 with Haiti's independence.

2. The Philippine Revolution: took place from the year 1896 to1902 and is considered the first anti-colonial revolution in Asia.

3. The Algerian War of Independence: war took place from 1954 to 1962 and was Algeria's fight for independence from France.

4. The Indian National Congress: an anti-colonial movement organized along the lines of nationalism.

10. Pro-Democracy Movement in Eastern Europe

Also known as the Revolutions of 1989 or the Fall of Communism, was a series of revolutionary waves of liberal democracy movements.

• Movements advocating for democratic reforms and the end of authoritarian regimes, particularly during the late 20th century.

• Led to the collapse of communist governments and the establishment of democratic systems in the region.

Key Events

1. Solidarity movement in Poland

   • Happened in year 1980s

   • Solidarity emerged as a significant anti-authoritarian movement, employing methods of civil disobedience to advance workers' rights and social justice.

   • The Polish government sought to suppress the movement through the imposition of martial law and political repression.

2. Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia

   • Happened in year 1989

   • A general strike involving all citizens of Czechoslovakia demonstrated the widespread desire for political change.

   • In response to this, and the collapse of other Warsaw Pact governments, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia announced its intention to relinquish power and dismantle the one-party state."

11. Black Lives Matter

An international activist movement which originates in the African-American community.

• Started in 2013.

• A movement that advocates against systemic racism and violence towards Black individuals, particularly in the United States.

• Emphasizes police brutality, racial profiling, and social justice issues.

• Gained prominence after a series of high-profile police killings of Black Americans like Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and George Floyd.

• The first appearance of the phrase "Black Lives Matter" is made through a social media hashtag by an activist and her friends named Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi— in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of African-American teen Trayvon Martin.

12. #MeToo Movement

A social movement and awareness campaign against sexual abuse, sexual harassment and rape culture.

• Originated in 2017, encouraging individuals to share their experiences.

• A movement against sexual harassment and assault, particularly in the workplace.

• An organization who is dedicated to create pathways for healing, justice, action and leadership.

• Aims to raise awareness and promote accountability for perpetrators of sexual violence.

13. Tiananmen Square Protest (China)

Also known as the June Fourth Incident in China, is a student-led demonstration held in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China.

• It lasted from 15 April to 4 June 1989.

• A pro-democracy movement that called for political reform and greater freedoms.

• Led to a violent end with a government crackdown, resulting in numerous deaths and arrests.

Key Event: Large-scale protests in Tiananmen Square, which caught international attention.

14. Iranian Revolution

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

• Resulted in significant changes to Iranian society, governance, and international relations.

Key Figure

Ayatollah Khomeini

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

• Exiled to Iraq in 1964 for criticizing the Shah's policies.

• From exile, Khomeini continued to denounce the Shah and inspire the Iranian people.

15. Mexican Student Movement of 1968

A social and political movement that began after a violent police intervention in a fight between rival student groups in Mexico City.

• A movement advocating for political and social reforms, culminating in protests against government repression.

• The movement's main demands were:

  • Release of political prisoners

  • Removal of police officers

  • Respect for the Constitution

  • Civil rights

• Highlighted issues of authoritarianism and the demand for democratic rights in Mexico.

Key Event

Tlatelolco Massacre

• Happened 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.

• The massacre resulted in the deaths of many people, though the exact number is unknown.