Radical History Blog

The poet whose words inspired Marx, Gandhi, Thoreau and countless others... Percy Bysshe Shelley died on this day in 1822. He wasn’t yet thirty years old, but since his death Shelley has become known as one of England’s greatest poets.

When a greedy steel magnate tried to tear up workers' rights, Pennsylvania steelworkers fought back “We are asking one another as we pass the time of day Why working men resort to arms to get their proper pay…”In early July in 1892, Pennsylvania steelworkers went to war.

In 1797, Royal Navy sailors launched a mutiny on the Thames In May 1797, a republic floated down the River Thames. Its provinces were ships, and its citizens were sailors. And these weren’t just any sailors. They were Royal Navy mutineers.

The radical who wanted to spread the French Revolution across the globe... “The rights of man are the same everywhere.” The wasn’t just about France. It declared universal rights, and denounced the authority of kings everywhere.

Why was one of the eighteenth century's greatest poets erased from the history of British literature?“...

The activist and thinker who redefined Marxism in Latin America “Who knows when the time of living gently will return.” - Mariátegui José Carlos Mariátegui is one of the great figures of radical history in Latin America.

In June 1817, hundreds of rebels gathered in rural Derbyshire and marched on London "Every man his skill must try He must turn out and not deny; No bloody soldier must he dread, He must turn out and fight for bread.

In May 1961, Civil Rights activists put their lives on the line for freedom and equality When took her seat at the front of the bus in Montgomery, Alabama, she helped to inspire the struggle for black freedom in the South.

On this day in 1934, workers across Minneapolis went on strike for union recognition In May 1934, it was class struggle in the Midwest. The led to poverty across America. Workers would have to organise to survive.

Born on 4th May in 1925, Ruth First was assassinated for her struggle against the apartheid system in South Africa On 17 August 1982, Ruth First was working as a university research director in Mozambique.