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Salt March (1930) -

Led by Mahatma Gandhi, the 240-mile (387-kilometer) Salt March was a direct act of civil disobedience against British salt laws in India. Thousands joined him in making salt at the coast, defying colonial rule. Over 60,000 people were arrested.

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Salt March (1930) -

The movement gained global attention, pressuring Britain to negotiate, ultimately contributing towards India's independence in 1947.

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Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956) -

Sparked by Rosa Parks' arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger, the boycott lasted 381 days. African Americans avoided public buses, crippling the transit system.

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Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956) -

Led by Martin Luther King Jr, the event led to a Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation on public buses unconstitutional, marking a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement.

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March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963) -

Over 250,000 people gathered in Washington, DC, advocating for civil and economic rights for African Americans. The march featured Martin Luther King Jr's iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, which called for racial equality.

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March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963) -

The demonstration played a crucial role in influencing the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed segregation and discrimination.

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Soweto Uprising (1976) -

Students in Soweto peacefully protested the South African government's policy of enforcing Afrikaans as the primary language of education. Police responded with brutal force, killing hundreds, including children.

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Soweto Uprising (1976) -

Though violently suppressed, the protest gained international attention, increasing pressure on the apartheid regime, which eventually ended in the early 1990s with Nelson Mandela's election.

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Velvet Revolution (1989) -

A series of peaceful protests led by students, intellectuals, and dissidents, led to the collapse of communist rule in Czechoslovakia. The movement, named for its nonviolent nature, forced the Communist Party to relinquish power within weeks.

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Velvet Revolution (1989) -

Václav Havel, a playwright and former dissident, became president, ushering in democratic reforms and the nation's eventual peaceful split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.

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Women's Suffrage Procession (1913) -

Thousands of women marched in Washington, DC, demanding voting rights. Organized by Alice Paul and the National American Woman Suffrage Association, the protest faced harassment but brought national attention to the cause.

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Women's Suffrage Procession (1913) -

It helped build momentum for the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote in the US.

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The Singing Revolution (1987-1991) -

In Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, hundreds of thousands peacefully protested Soviet rule by gathering in mass demonstrations, singing patriotic songs banned by the USSR.

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The Singing Revolution (1987-1991) -

This nonviolent resistance, along with human chains and political activism, led to their independence. By 1991, the Baltic nations had regained sovereignty.

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Solidarity Movement (1980s) -

Led by Lech Wałęsa, the Solidarity trade union united millions of Polish workers in strikes against communist rule and poor working conditions. Despite government crackdowns and martial law, the movement persisted, gaining international support. 

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Solidarity Movement (1980s) -

By 1989, the Polish government agreed to democratic elections, leading to the fall of communism in Poland and inspiring similar transitions across Eastern Europe.

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Million Man March (1995) -

Organized by Louis Farrakhan, this peaceful gathering of Black men in Washington, D.C., aimed to promote unity and social justice. While it didn't lead to immediate policy changes, it strengthened Black community organizations and political engagement.

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Million Man March (1995) -

The march remains a symbol of African American empowerment and activism in the fight for racial and economic equality.

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Carnation Revolution (1974) -

The Carnation Revolution was a military coup that ended Portugal's authoritarian Estado Novo regime. On April 25, 1974, civilians joined soldiers in the streets, placing carnations in rifle barrels as a symbol of peace.

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Carnation Revolution (1974) -

The revolution led to democracy, decolonization, and social reforms. Unlike other uprisings, it was marked by nonviolent resistance and overwhelming public support.

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Tiananmen Square Protests (1989) -

Tens of thousands of students and citizens gathered in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, demanding democratic reforms and government accountability.

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Tiananmen Square Protests (1989) -

The Chinese military crushed the protests, killing hundreds, possibly thousands. Despite this, they sparked global debates on human rights and remain a pro-democracy symbol.

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Orange Revolution (2004) -

After allegations of electoral fraud in Ukraine's presidential election, millions of peaceful demonstrators filled Kyiv's Independence Square, demanding a fair vote.

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Orange Revolution (2004) -

Their persistence forced the courts to annul the results, leading to a re-election in which opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko won. The protest was a major victory for democracy and inspired future pro-democracy movements.

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March of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo (1977-present) -

Mothers of the disappeared victims of Argentina's military dictatorship (1976-1983) began weekly marches in Buenos Aires' Plaza de Mayo, demanding information about their children.

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March of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo (1977-present) -

Despite government repression, their activism helped expose human rights abuses and hold officials accountable. The movement continues today, seeking justice for those lost during the dictatorship.

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People Power Revolution (1986) -

Millions of Filipinos took to the streets in a nonviolent uprising against the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Protesters, led by Corazon Aquino and religious leaders, demanded free elections and democracy.

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People Power Revolution (1986) -

The peaceful mass demonstrations forced Marcos to step down, leading to the restoration of democracy and Aquino becoming the country's first female president.

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Umbrella Movement (2014) -

Pro-democracy activists occupied major streets in Hong Kong for 79 days, demanding free elections and greater political autonomy from China. Protesters used umbrellas as symbols of resistance against police tear gas.

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Umbrella Movement (2014) -

Though the movement didn't achieve its immediate goals, it inspired ongoing activism for democratic rights in Hong Kong and beyond.

Sources: (Mental Floss) (BBC) (History) (Global Citizen) 

See also: Revolutions and rebellions that shaped world history

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