Modern Revolutions

1. What methods did the group(s) use to express their frustrations and ultimately lead to a revolution?

When the three Baltic nations were released from the Nazis power, they quickly got conquered again, by the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union, a communist country, had taken away the independence of three nations and dictated them unjustly. Of course, these nations were not pleased. In order to express their frustration to the Soviet government, they sung their traditional hymns that were strictly forbidden by the Soviet government due to the lyrics. The songs demanded liberty without any violence. In the first few attempts, there were not enough people participating, but in at the last attempt, some political leaders participated in the event, and in total there were 300,000 people (more than 1/5 of the population) uniting their beliefs in the songs. As another symbol of rebellion, the Estonians brought out their flags of Estonia that had been prohibited for over 50 years. They waved the flags around while singing. The three countries: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, were brought together to make a human shield from the Soviet government’s armed forces sent to stop them. The line of people wounded up to 370 miles, over all three of the Baltic nations. Their methods were always non-violent, and there was no bloodshed even when the Estonians were endangered by the Soviet tanks. 

2. How is your revolution similar and/or different to one of the revolutions previously studied? 

This revolution was non-violent like the People Power in the Philippines. Also, it required singing and a human shield called the Baltic Chain/Way which was very unusual. The people of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania had rebelled in a peaceful way by singing forbidden rock and roll songs which was different because most of the other revolutions consisted of aggression, bribery and lots of killing to get their way. The Soviet tanks and police men that came to stop the protest did not hurt anyone because there were 2 million people, though unarmed, which were more than they could handle. They probably didn’t shoot anyone for fear that all three countries fighting for independence would overthrow their powerful weaponry and fighting would have occurred. This revolution was done very dissimilarly compared to the American and French revolutions. 

3. What was the eventual outcome of the revolution, and did the nation/people become better due to the revolution? 

After the many years of effort, the revolution finally came to an end as a complete success. This Singing Revolution lasted for 4 years. They were freed by the Soviet Union, obtained their independence and are living independently now. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia’s economy are quite high now, and are recognized by the UN as countries with a very high average income. The countries are growing at rapid speed, and the citizens are living very peacefully because of the successful revolution. Therefore, because of this revolution, the three Baltic countries are part of Europe, and the citizens are living quite prosperous lives. Latvia even earned the title as the highest growth grade in 2000. Lithuania is equally doing well, as they have also been recognized by another country with the highest growth rate in 2003. Estonia has the fastest growing economy now; all because of the successful revolution. The revolution changed everyone’s lives, and stirred them into a good direction.  

4. Was the revolution justified? Would other methods have worked? 

This revolution was definitely justified. They were getting rid of communism which prevented them from having much freedom such as voting, free speech and was brutal because the army controlled the country. People were not recognized, badly treated and could be randomly arrested without the help of lawyers. If there was any other technique to gain their independence, it might have involved violence or they could’ve used another way to protest. If they had created rallies, it would have caused much more conflict. The way they dealt with a bad government was very impressive and well thought out.  

5. Briefly state whether or not your revolution follows Crane Brinton’s Stages of Revolution. 

This revolution does not follow Crane Brinton’s Stages of Revolution because the rebels only sung to express their anger and complaints towards the way the three countries were being controlled unfairly. They did not have huge instants besides the Baltic Chain which happened later on. The revolution was like a jumble; messing up the format. For example, none of the symptoms match up with Phase 1: Symptoms, in which it says that the citizens rise up against the government. In our revolution, the citizens do rise up against the government but not in the way they described it.  Also, in phase 2: The Rising Fever, it states that a lot of tension was built up and that a rebellious group formed a new government. None of this has happened in the singing revolution. The singing revolution is also famous for its non-violence which opposes the statements in phase 3: Crises. The last phase though, does fit in with Crane Brinton’s Stages of a Revolution. Freedom and life returned to normal in the three nations; maybe even better than what they anticipated. Therefore, the revolution has not followed most of Crane Brinton’s anatomy. 

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