Causes Of Rebellion In The Modern Era

A rebellion is open resistance against a body that this is not necessarily violent. Therefore rebellion is a constant in history. Indeed it can be committed by an individual or a group, meaning there are more instances of a rebellion than meets the eye. Yet there has been dispute regarding the causes of rebellion throughout history. The modern era has been perceived by some, like Darnton, to be unique in causation because of the greater dissemination of ideas. Moreover the feudal system of the middle ages was gone and had been replaced by capitalism in most areas. So how could these rebellions be the same? However, this assumption is questioned here. Four key causations will be identified (survival, attaining more power, ideology and morals)

It is a factor however, that has become more prominent in the modern era. This is not to exclude it from the medieval era though, as it was still evident. The Peasants’ Revolt itself would never have occurred if there was no ideology among some of the peasants who disagreed with the King’s actions in accordance with the Magna Carta. Sir Robert Hales’ beheading reveals this, as he was heavily involved in the unjust actions. Additionally the Zealots of Thessalonica held a belief that they were better equipped to govern their own city than Constantinople. Per contra there was greater means for these ideologies to be disseminated amongst the masses in the modern period. When the printing press was invented by Gutenburg in 1440, greater amounts of information could be distributed. Moreover the literacy rate increased. Ergo songs could be sung, newspapers could be read out and notes could be made regarding the King’s corruption in eighteenth century France. Enlightened thoughts were also increasingly held by people like Maximilian Robespierre, who would define the future of France. Andress is therefore justified to claim that the French people were politicised on the eve of the French Revolution. Equally this was the case for many of the participants against Charles I in the English Civil War, for they had heard about the atrocities committed by the Irish Catholics against Protestants in Charles’ name. Subsequently it is clear that ideology has played a significant role in modern rebellions, for it justifies action and an increase in personal power on many occasions. Indeed ideology has even driven some individuals to carry out rebellions in hopeless circumstances, proven by Lazzaretti and his millenarian followers. McPhee’s notion that ideologies remained after the French Revolution, is partially true. However these were created before the French Revolution. Indeed Darnton correctly labels