Radical History Blog

On this day in 1919, the towering socialist Rosa Luxemburg was murdered by the German Far Right. The life of an outspoken progressive has rarely been a safe one.

The power of a speech is very often overlooked. Indeed, rhetorical skill and oratorical eloquence are often seen as instruments of deception rather than sources of inspiration.

On Clement Attlee’s birthday, let’s remember how he helped to rebuild the Labour Party from bitter defeat in 1931 to stunning victory in 1945. A source of hope in our times.

On this day in 1890, a working-class kid called Karl Artelt was born near Magdeburg, Germany. Thirty years later he led the naval mutiny which brought down Kaiser Wilhelm and ended the First World War.

The day after Christmas 1936 hundreds of American volunteers set sail for Spain, joining the international fight to save the country from fascism.

It's International Tea Day! Obviously we're going to talk about the Radical History of Tea. More and more histories are being written about food. (Curdella Forbes), (William Rubel), (Sophie and Michael Coe). The list goes on and on.

Fiorello Henry La Guardia was born today in 1882. While best-known for the airport named after him, his greatest legacy was a decade of progressive leadership as New York’s Mayor during the 1930s and ‘40s.

Christina Rossetti, the masterful 19th century poet, was born today in 1830. While far from a radical herself, her written work has inspired feminists for generations.

64 years ago today, Rosa Parks transformed the Civil Rights Movement by refusing to give up her seat on a bus. There are parallels in the global protests of 2019. Alabama, 1955.

In November 1775, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband, John, that the Thirteen Colonies must split with Britain for good. King George’s refusal to recognise American liberties meant that independence was the only answer.