What is a revolution?

 In political science, a revolution (Latin: revolutio, "a turnaround") is a fundamental and

relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when
the population revolts against the government, typically due to perceived oppression
(political, social, economic) or political incompetence.
 Revolutions are the great turning points of history. A revolution is a tumultuous and
transformative event that attempts to change a nation, a region or society – and in
some cases even the world.
 Revolutions vary in their motives and their aims. Some, like the American Revolution,
seek to overthrow and replace the political order. Others, like the Russian and Chinese
revolutions, also seek radical social and economic change.
 Most revolutions are driven by people and groups inspired by hope, idealism and
dreams of a better society. These revolutionaries attempt to change or overthrow the
old order while the old order strives to maintain its power. The outcomes are
confrontation, conflict, disruption and division, which can lead to war, violence and
human suffering.
 Revolutions, by their nature, are violent struggles between the old regime and those
who hope to remove it. Many revolutionaries prepare for armed struggle by forming
militias or armies, either to protect themselves or to overthrow the old order.
Meanwhile, the old regime mobilizes to defend its grip on power.
What makes revolutions revolutionary?

 Revolutions are an instrument of change and often an attempt to promote equality and
combat oppression.
 Typically, revolutions take the form of organized movements aimed at effecting change
—economic change, technological change, political change, or social change. The people
who start revolutions have determined the institutions currently in place in society have
failed or no longer serve their intended purpose. Because the objective of revolutions is
to upturn established order, the characteristics that define them reflect the
circumstances of their birth.
 REVOLUTION HAS always been at the heart of Marxism.

A social revolution is one that moves beyond the political. It is a more or less
concentrated period of transformation where a clash of social forces results in the
overthrow of the dominant class and its state by a rising social class--which then uses
newly acquired state power to accelerate the transformation of society's social and
economic relations.

A political revolution can have social impulses.

 A social revolution combines both the political and the social, with political power
being the precondition for making bigger social transformations possible.

 Revolution is neither a sheer act of will nor an inevitable process of transformation that
happens behind people's backs. It is a process that requires the ripening of certain
material and social conditions as a result of previous human activity, as well as the
more or less conscious immediate intervention of social groups and classes who have
been made aware in some way of these deepening social contradictions and seek to
reshape society along new lines.
 In short, revolution is, in Marx's words, "the midwife of every old society pregnant with
a new one."

Consciousness and Concept of Freedom

(How they started the revolt?)

 American Revolution - https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-ideas-of-freedom-and-slavery-

in-relation-to-the-american-revolution/

The American Revolution of 1765-1783 was developed as the demonstration of the

Americans’ desire to become free from the British Empire’s influence and free to choose
the path of the country’s democratic development.

However, the problem is in the point that in spite of the fact that during the American
Revolution the idea of freedom was declared widely, the concept of freedom developed
side by side with the principles of slavery.

The idea of freedom or liberty stated in the Declaration of Independence can be

considered as the founding principle to build the American society as it was proclaimed
by the Founders. From this point, the American Revolution was the organized struggle
for the freedom and liberty which were achieved as a result of many losses.

The Declaration of Independence is the main result of the American Revolution, but
this document cannot be discussed as granting the equality and liberty for blacks
along with the white population of the United States. The Founders’ vision of equality
and its relation to slavery as the social phenomenon was far from modern opinions on
these concepts because black people were not discussed as humans to have the rights
equal with the white people’s rights, but slaves were described only as creatures to rely
on God’s will.
 Moreover, the Founders were not ready to accept the idea of the blacks’ equality to
whites. All the statements associated with the equality and freedom found in the
Declaration of Independence discussed Americans as God’s creatures, but not as equal
white and black persons. That is why the idea of freedom proclaimed by the Founders
did not contradict with the institution of slavery supported in the American society.

(From another article or source)

http://www.freedomcollection.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/U1L4_Complete.pdf
In this lesson, students will explore essential documents to increase their understanding
of the role of the American Revolution (1775–1783) in advancing political freedom in
the modern world. They will examine principles of freedom expressed in the Declaration
of Independence and how those principles were later reflected in the U.S. Constitution
and its Amendments. They will also analyze testimonies from contemporary political
dissidents around the world to gain insight into the universal and enduring appeal of
political freedom and democracy.

The British colonies established in North America in the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries acknowledged British sovereignty but were to a large extent self-governing. At
the conclusion of the French and Indian War (1754–1763), though, the British Crown
and Parliament took steps to exercise more direct and extensive control over the
colonies. Americans especially resented being taxed without being entitled to elect
representatives to the British Parliament. Some acts of violent resistance were in
response to the imposition of taxes on stamped documents and later on tea. Although
the Stamp Act of
1765 was repealed, Americans still opposed the British Parliament’s assertion that the
colonies must obey any laws it passed.

Sporadic confrontations between British troops and colonists grew into concerted
armed resistance and military engagements during 1775. A Continental Congress,
formed in 1774 with representatives from the twelve colonies, organized and
provisioned a Continental army to oppose British forces in the North and South.
Meeting in Philadelphia in 1776, the Continental Congress declared separation from
England on July 2, and, on July 4, issued the Declaration of Independence.

FROM THE ENGLISH REVOLUTIONS TO THE AMERICAN DECLARATION OF

INDEPENDENCE

In one sense, the revolt of the American colonies extended a British tradition of
dissidence leading to constitutional reform. As far back as 1215, the Magna Carta
 guaranteed certain legal rights pertaining mainly to a landed nobility and restricting the
power of the English king. The Magna Carta thus affirmed a leading principle of the rule
of law: that the authority of government can be limited. Two revolutions in the
seventeenth century contributed to widening the definition of rights, enhancing the
power of Parliament, and diminishing the authority of the monarch even further.

First, in 1628, Parliament issued a Petition of Right that declared the following things
illegal: forced loans in place of taxes, commissions to courts to act by martial law,
imprisonment by arbitrary decree, compulsory quartering of troops, taxes imposed
without consent of Parliament, and refusal of the Crown to execute the law. After
several years of civil war, a triumphant Parliament created a “Commonwealth” in which
sovereignty was supposed to belong to the people acting through elected
representatives. In practice, however, the army, led by Oliver Cromwell, determined the
membership of the House of Commons; the House of Lords was eventually abolished;
and Cromwell as the Commonwealth’s “Protector” enjoyed nearly dictatorial powers.
Over time, the Commonwealth increasingly resembled an oligarchy, or a theocracy
dominated by Puritan elements and military officers.

Second, in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, Parliament sought to supplant the Stuart
dynasty with William, Prince of Orange, and his wife, Mary. It also issued a Bill of Rights
that further limited the monarch’s actions. Some of the rights applied to Parliament,
such as free speech and taxation with Parliament’s consent. Other rights applied to
subjects, such as to petition the monarch, to bear arms, and to elect members of
Parliament. In practice, Roman Catholics were excluded from this enlargement of rights,
and the right to vote extended to only a very small fraction of adult males.

Why was the American Revolution so revolutionary?

 First, guerilla warfare played a major role in the war for independence, replacing the
pitched battle of earlier periods.
 Second, the revolution took place outside the borders of its parent nation, which makes
the American Revolution remarkable compared to something like the French
Revolution.
 But what really made the American Revolution so revolutionary was that it didn't end in
a regime change only, but in the creation of an entirely new nation founded on
democratic principles.

Philippine Revolution
Nations That Colonized the Philippines
1. Spain
 The first ever nation to colonize the Philippines. It started when the archipelago,
specifically Samar and Leyte, was first discovered by Portuguese navigator
Ferdinand Magellan (Fernando Magallanes). Its purposes are:
 To obtain the riches hidden in the land
 To implement the Christian religion
 To gain the honor and power as the first ever country to colonize the archipelago
 This is where the archipelago was named the Philippines, from King Phillip II who
ruled Spain in 1556 up to 1598.
2. America
 The 2nd nation to ever colonize the Philippines were the Americans in the year
1898. Their aim is to govern the country until the right time that it will be freed.
 In 1898, American soldiers appeared in the country, but the American
government started in 1899.
3. Japan
 The Japanese colonization of the country started during World War II. The
colonization started on December 8, 1941 when they dominated Pearl Herbor,
Hawaii, and American bases in Davao, Cavite, Baguio, at Zambales. General
Douglas McArthur declared Manila an “open city” in December 26.
 Japan initiated a Military Government under General Masaharu Homma.
 The Philippine Revolution awakened a proud sense of nationalism among the Filipinos.
In a period of heavy struggle and conflict, Filipinos of different backgrounds united with
a common goal: to resist colonialism. The revolution aimed to resist colonialism and this
aim brought together people from different backgrounds. The revolution started in 1896
and was majorly against Spanish authorities.
 What is the significance of this event in the history of the 1896 Philippine revolution?
Led by Emilio Aguinaldo (1869-1964), the 1896 revolt carried the Filipinos to an
anticipated war with Spain and an unanticipated war with the United States. Historians
suggest that the roots of the Philippine revolution began with building of the Suez Canal
in 1869.
 What are the important changes in the 19th century?
There was much social change in the 19th century. Slavery was abolished in much of
Europe and the Americas. The First and Second Industrial Revolutions (which also
overlap with the 18th and 20th centuries, respectively) led to massive urbanization and
much higher levels of productivity, profit and prosperity.
 What happened in the Philippines during 19th century?
At the closing years of the nineteenth century the Philippine Islands became a territorial
part of the United States. For this “imperialist” domination of another people, the latter
government, being based on the principle of popular sovereignty, had to find a
justification.
  Why did US want Philippines?
Americans who advocated annexation evinced a variety of motivations: desire for
commercial opportunities in Asia, concern that the Filipinos were incapable of self-rule,
and fear that if the United States did not take control of the islands, another power
(such as Germany or Japan) might do so.
 What is the most important American achievement in the Philippines?
One such policy was the introduction of the American system of education, and so
pervasive and far-reaching was its impact and influence on the life and culture of the
Filipino during and after the colonial period that it is generally regarded as the “greatest
contribution” of American colonialism in the Philippines.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
America
The Declaration of Independence asserts that human beings have been “created equal
and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” The basis of rule must be
reason, and the best indication of reason is the ability of those who govern to earn the
consent of those who are governed. Governments are established in order to secure the
“unalienable” rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” to which the colonists
are entitled as human beings.

The U.S. Constitution, which was framed in Philadelphia in 1787 and ratified by the
States in 1788 and 1789, established the legal means for perpetually securing these and
related rights. Activities found in this lesson will help students think through the
connections between the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Most notably, the Constitution provides that representation in one chamber of the
national legislature must be in proportion to the populations of the states. This
provision gives practical force to the equality proposition of the Declaration, as does the
constitutional requirement that all legislation that entails raising revenue must originate
in that branch. Thus, the national government has a democratic foundation.

The Constitution also guarantees to each state a “Republican” government. This is the
only instance in which the document identifies a proper form of government with one of
the forms traditionally associated with liberty.
Philippines

 The Philippines gained independence on July 4,1946, due to the signing of the Treaty
of Manila with the United States, who had annexed the Philippines as a territory in
1898. While at first the U.S. intended for the Philippines to be a colonial property,
 conflicts in the Philippines caused the U.S. to become more inclined toward Philippine
independence.

Philippine independence had been sought since the mid-19th century. During the 1898
Spanish-American war, Emilio Aguinaldo led a band of rebels to oust the Spanish rulers.
Though Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence, the island nation was formally
annexed by the United States in the peace treaty that ended that war.

At first, the United States wanted to maintain the Philippines as a colonial territory, but
the fractious Filipinos rebelled, drifting from a conventional war to a guerrilla conflict in
which they had the advantage. In 1900, the U.S. established the “policy of attraction,” a
campaign intended to win hearts and minds by allowing the Philippines a large degree
of self-government.

America’s 1916 Jones Act promised eventual Philippine independence, and in 1935, the
island nation became an independent commonwealth. The Japanese attacks during
World War II interrupted the move toward independence, which was finally granted
after the war. Even after Philippine independence, the United States extended a special
relationship to them, providing extensive military and financial assistance while
maintaining multiple military bases on Philippine territory.
 What are the two main purposes of the Declaration of Independence?
Its goals were to rally the troops, win foreign allies, and to announce the creation of a
new country. The introductory sentence states the Declaration’s main purpose, to
explain the colonists’ right to revolution.
 What are the main ideas in the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration of Independence included these three major ideas: People have certain
Inalienable Rights including Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness. All Men are created
equal. Individuals have a civic duty to defend these rights for themselves and others.
 When did the Philippines finally achieve full independence?
In 1935, the Commonwealth of the Philippines was established with U.S. approval, and
Manuel Quezon was elected the country’s first president. On July 4, 1946, full
independence was granted to the Republic of the Philippines by the United States.
 When is the real date of Philippine independence?
Independence Day (Filipino: Araw ng Kasarinlán; also known as Araw ng Kalayaan, “Day
of Freedom”) is an annual national holiday in the Philippines observed on June 12,
commemorating the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain in 1898.
 How did Philippines gain independence?
In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces
and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the
Republic of the Philippines attained its independence.”
  Was the Philippine revolution successful?
Philippine Revolution, (1896–98), Filipino independence struggle that, after more than
300 years of Spanish colonial rule, exposed the weakness of Spanish administration but
failed to evict Spaniards from the islands.
 What were the common causes of the failure of Philippine Revolution?
To sum it up, the Revolution failed because it was badly led, because its leader won his
post by reprehensible rather than meritorious acts, because instead of supporting the
men most useful to the people, he made them useless out of jealousy.

https://alphahistory.com/vcehistory/what-is-a-revolution/
https://history.howstuffworks.com/revolutionary-war/american-revolution-revolutionary.htm
https://studiousguy.com/philippine-revolution-essay-important-notes/#:~:text=The
%20Philippine%20Revolution%20awakened%20a%20proud%20sense%20of,in%201896%20and
%20was%20majorly%20against%20Spanish%20authorities.
https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-ideas-of-freedom-and-slavery-in-relation-to-the-american-
revolution/
https://wise-answer.com/what-is-the-importance-of-the-declaration-of-philippine-
independence-for-the-philippines/
https://www.reference.com/history-geography/did-philippines-gain-independence-
7a4c133409dc955a
https://nsnsearch.com/qna/what-is-the-significance-of-philippine-revolution/
https://socialistworker.org/2015/05/12/what-makes-a-revolution