Radical History Blog

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.

The story of how the bombing of Gernika helped to spark a global anti-war movement that continues today On 26 April, 1937, it was market day in Gernika. 10,000 people filled the ancient Basque capital, buying and selling, chatting and joking.

In 1955, representatives from across Africa and Asia gathered in Bandung to articulate a vision of world peace and cooperation “Our nations and countries are colonies no more. Now we are free, sovereign and independent.