i’m about to start a 5-7 page research paper for my world history class about any significant historical events, people, ideological movements, etc., that take place anywhere between 1500-now and i’m not 100% sure about what to write. i was kinda interested in maybe writing about the french revolution but i’m sure there’s better stuff out there, i was also considering writing about marxism/class struggle or the russian revolution but idk if it’s a good idea to go full blown tankie LMAO but i might change my mind idk

so yeah just wondering if anyone can think of any fun topics to research and write about for my paper, any personal favorite pieces of history in that time frame, etc?

edit: i don’t have the time to respond to every comment but all these suggestions are amazing i’m definitely going to use one of these, thank you everyone!

  • glimmer_twin [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Haitian rev? It opens up avenues to compare and contrast with the French and maybe even American revs, the French doing their bourgeois revolution then immediately turning round and trying to keep the Haitians as slaves and slapping them with “reparations” for successfully freeing themselves.

    (Edit: bonus of this is nobody can come back at you calling you a dirty commie or mark you down because you call out the US for teaming up with nazis in Central America or whatever. Nobody is gonna say “umm actually the Haitians should’ve stayed as slaves”)

    • Mardoniush [she/her]@hexbear.netEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Napoleon’s treatment of the Hatians was by far his worst take. His friend Augustin Robespierre would be rolling in his grave at the betrayal.

        • Mardoniush [she/her]@hexbear.netEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          Yeah, I’ve been reading Saint-Just, and while he’s no Marxist, he’s more radical than anyone pre-Proudhon and touches on Socialism in places.

          Critical support to Napoleon in Europe, but WTF man, was saving 30% of French GDP worth being a fucking slaver!? At least the Polish mercenaries he sent could see what a National Liberation struggle looked like and immediately switched sides, forcing him to give up. Rare Polish W.

          • Vncredleader [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            Its funny, every French radical is always famously outflanked by someone else, Saint-Just by Hanriot (arguably), Marat, Marat by Hebert, Hebert by Roux, Roux by Marechal and Babeuf. By the end of that you end up with folks REALLY close to marxists. Babeuf being “the first modern communist” according to Marx and Engels.

            And yeah Poles going against type there