How have people, individuals, or groups who have not had formal institutional power (i.e. because of their religion, gender, class, or economic or social status) shaped events in two major periods of European history (defined above)? How significant is their informal power? What accounts for its relative strength or weakness?
The informal power of people without formal institutional power can be very significant. They can use their numbers, their voice, and their determination to make a difference. Their power is often strongest when they are united and when they are willing to take risks.
The relative strength or weakness of the informal power of people without formal institutional power depends on a number of factors, including:
The informal power of people without formal institutional power has played a significant role in shaping events in European history. It has been used to achieve political reform, social change, and even revolution. When people are united and determined, they can use their informal power to make a real difference.
Here are some specific examples of how people without formal institutional power have shaped events in European history:
The Chartist Movement: The Chartist Movement was a working-class movement in the United Kingdom that campaigned for political reform. The Chartists demanded universal suffrage, equal electoral districts, and annual parliaments. The movement was successful in achieving some of its goals, but it ultimately failed to achieve its full demands.
The Suffragette Movement: The Suffragette Movement was a women’s movement in the United Kingdom that campaigned for the right to vote for women. The movement used a variety of tactics, including protests, demonstrations, and hunger strikes. The movement was successful in achieving its goal of women’s suffrage in 1928.
The Civil Rights Movement: The Civil Rights Movement was a social movement in the United States that fought for racial equality. The movement used a variety of tactics, including protests, boycotts, and sit-ins. The movement was successful in achieving some of its goals, such as the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
These are just a few examples of how people without formal institutional power have shaped events in European history. Their informal power has been used to achieve political reform, social change, and even revolution. When people are united and determined, they can use their informal power to make a real difference.