Social Action: Day 1--What's the Recipe for Revolution?

We started our Social Action Study today!  My colleagues and I are happy to be writing this brand new study, and the first day was lovely.  The focus question of our study is, "How do people make change?"  We began by looking at the American Revolution (talk about change!) and thinking about what the "Recipe for Revolution" is--What do all revolutions have?  What are the constants in revolutions?  The variables?  We'll linger here for a few days, then it's on to the Constitution.  Later, we'll see how our definition of revolution stacks up against the other "revolutions"--women's suffrage and civil rights--that we'll be studying.  These are the notes from today's conversation: 


What do you know about the word “revolution?” 

• Speed--it’s a relatively fast change.

• revolt, to break away from something 

• (r)evolution—“Evolution” is in the word “revolution.”

• primates changed into humans, patriots/colonists changed into Americans

• change and an improvement (changing into something good)

Big picture, why did the American Revolution happen?

• Colonists were feeling overpowered by England 

• taxes and acts like the Quartering Act

• Colonists stopped believing in Monarchy (king inherits his job vs. being voted in)

• No right to choose government; wanted to vote, to have representation in government

“A big group of people wanted change in their government because they didn’t have rights, and they didn’t have representation in their government, and monarchy wasn’t fair – they just chose the person who was next in line. They wanted to vote for their government.”

• Monarchy changed into Democracy.

Zoom out from the specifics of the American Revolution. What are the ingredients for any revolution?

• A reason – something is wrong and you’re angry.

1. People behind you – share your words, spread the word
2. You try and talk about it reasonably – the other side says “I don’t care” – they don’t listen.
3. You get madder!
4. More people care about the reason you’re angry.
5. More bad things happen.

1-5 repeat until:

Protesting/talking works OR
Fight

So what’s our definition of “revolution?”

Revolution is a big, unique change involving lots of people. It’s a change that makes people feel differently inside and out. Disagreement and tension are often involved.