REVOLUTION II

REVOLUTON II

Revolution is a compulsory turn around in the life of a society accepted by the masses as a necessary solution to the crises and hardships of the time in question. In this light, people or activities that try to suppress this compulsory change are generally forced into subjection. In other words, a leader cannot enforce his power or authority during a revolution. A discussion on revolution can never be complete without the mention of the Russian Revolution in 1917 that led to the introduction of Communism and the formation of the Soviet Union. This article touches on the Wesleyan Revival which led to the establishment of one of the biggest churches in history. Also, the roots of rebellion in Ghana is investigated in this report with emphasis on the June 4th Revolution of 1979, led by Jerry John Rawlings.

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

The Russian Revolution, just like the French Revolution began with economic crises in Russia after the nation, under its emperor, Tsar Nicholas II invested a lot in World War I. By 1900, the economy of Russia was based on agriculture that was largely undertaken by peasant farmers. With a naturally cold climate, Russia had a growing season of between 4 and 6 months. Also, with an undeveloped railway system, food distribution was poor. When the World War broke up in 1913, the development of the railway systems halted and the best workers and farmers were recruited into the Russian Army. The few factories in Russia were overworked in order to provide finances for the war.

The Royal family of Russia had been oppressing the poor masses for a very long time. The people had no representation in government and all policies came directly from the emperor. It is recorded that the Russian King or Tsar made an announcement to Parliament, The Duma saying; "Let it be known to all that I... shall maintain the principle of autocracy just as firmly and unflinchingly as did my unforgettable dead father", Also, the peasant farmers resented paying heaving taxes to the Royal Government. This led to massive rural-urban drift that caused immense pressure on cities like St. Petersburg.

Militarily, Japan which was deemed as an undeveloped nation at that time defeated Russia in 1905. The Japanese soldiers who fought to death on the battlefield sunk most of Russia’s fleet. In his bid to restore the image and prestige of Russia, the Tsar or Emperor entered the World War I in 1914 with the maximum military strength of the nation. Due to the massive Russian participation, the Russian soldiers were matched everywhere with the Germans who were very strong. The British and Americans always fought behind the Russians.

The Emperor, Tsar Nicholas II had a number of daughters. His only son who was the apparent heir to the throne was haemophiliac and was subject to uncontrolled bleeding. There was a constant fear that Emperor Nicholas II would not have a successor when he died. Rasputin, a spiritualist from Siberia who was wandering in the villages of Russia found his way to St. Petersburg, the then capital of Russia. He was presented to the court of the Empress Alexandra and healed the son of the Emperor. Rasputin then won influence with the Empress and was given so much power.

As the World War I continued, Russia began to win over the Germans in Austria-Hungary but at very high costs. Russia lost over 1.6 million soldiers, 2 million were taken as prisoners of war and another one million were missing. This made a total of almost 5 million soldiers. In 1914, this was the size of the population of many countries! A lot of weaponry was sunk into this campaign as well. Russia changed its focus and began to attack the immediate East of Germany which had a superior military power. This called for the direct control of Emperor Nicholas II and his presence on the battlefield. The Emperor then left Russia in the control of his wife, Alexandra.

Alexandra was ambitious but incompetent. Everything she did was in consultation of Rasputin, the spiritualist from Siberia. Appointments and dismissals of government officials were in the hands of Rasputin who was the only one the Empress listened to. The disbursement of state funds was also in the hands of Rasputin. Suddenly, the nation began to experience food shortage and economic crises.

In February 1917, the crises in Russia became acute. The people in St. Petersburg began to wage war against the Royal family over food shortages in the nation. They protested against the government and the opposition leaders, both liberal and radical began to co-ordinate ideas. The soldiers and police clashed with the protesters on many occasions. Finally, the soldiers in St. Petersburg joined in on the side of the protesters. Tsar Nicholas II abdicated and no one in government was killed.

A new provisional government was formed led by a popular lawyer called Kerensky. As the minister of war in the Provisional government, he used the soldiers to wage war further in the World War. This offensive failed and Kerensky became unpopular.

In November of 1917 (which was October in the calendar the Russians were using at that time), a Russian influenced by the ideas of Karl Marx, the philosopher who propounded the theory of scientific socialism or modern communism began to organise the working class of Russia. His name was Vladimir Lenin. Lenin finally mobilised the Bolshevik or Red Army. When they came in control, they introduced a Soviet model based on Communism.

In 1918, the Red Terror began and everyone found to be against the principles of a Communist Russia was tagged as a ‘White’. Every ‘White’ was killed irrespective of his roots. Emperor Nicholas II and his family were executed during the heat of the terror to prevent the ‘Whites’ from using him in their rebellion. The church in Russia considered Emperor Nicholas II as a martyr; however, the church was banned by the Reds. Russia withdrew from the 1st World War, leaving a weakened Germany which was easily defeated by the British and Americans, who took all the spoils. After the death

OBSERVATION

The root of the Russian revolution can be traced to the abuse of power used by the Tsar, Nicholas II. A philosophy from the University of Spain states that the world is reliant on four pillars, “The wisdom of the learned, The valour of the brave, The mercy of the great and The prayer of the righteous.” The Tsar got everything right but his reign was excessive and harsh and he failed to think of the people he ruled and therefore placed huge and onerous requirements on them.

Secondly, the emperor trying to prove to the world that Russia was strong brought more problems than prestige. The influence of Rasputin in governing the nation was naïve on the part of the Empress. Things would have been better if she had limited the scope of the spiritualist in governance.

Finally, the promise of a more equal Russia was the backbone of Communism. However, almost a century on, the world has come to know that the law can never make people equal but rather, make us all appear to be equal!

THE JUNE 4TH REVOLUTION IN GHANA

Rebellion in Ghana can be traced into the history of the nation. The framework of Ghana has always been built on equality and the common ownership of properties in the communities. The social set-up of Ghana discourages competition. This is because in almost every Ghanaian community, the chief is chosen from amongst the sons of the female members of the royal family based on the recommendation of the most senior female member of the family and the male elders of the family. when the king comes into office, he is required to stay under the direction of the members of his mother’s family and work in consultation with them. this creates a mentality that everyone has a stake in the wealth of the nation and this leads to rebellion in whenever an appointed chief takes hard line decisions.

Due to liberalism and the right to stand up against the chief, amalgamation of many communities were unsuccessful amongst the tribes of Ghana. The Ashanti Empire was successful because of the Golden Stool. The stool was something every sub-chief of Ashanti swore the ntamkesee or Great Oath to. This oath was believed to have dire consequences when it was broken. Even in spite of this, one Ashanti king was dethroned around 1797 by his elders because he converted to Islam. This was seen as an abomination and as a result of that, he was banished into the bush, where he settled with his wives. However, the strength of Ashanti unity was used to ward off British influence until Ashanti was defeated totally in 1901. this can be traced to the mentality of the locals that all men must be equal! This is the root of socialism that must be erased to enable Ghanaians fit into this era of globalisation.

The June 4th Revolution began in May 1979 when a group of unknown junior officers in the army staged a coup d’etat against the military government of Ghana. The coup was foiled and the assailants were arraigned before a martial court to give their execution an air of formality. In the martial court, the outspoken leader of the coup, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings began to give his reasons for staging the coup. He said amongst other things that he represented the conscience of the Ghana Armed Forces. He said he tried to topple the government because of their abuse of power, corruption and poor treatments of members of the Armed Forces. Though the trial was aired in the media, Rawlings argued very well and the courtroom was chilled. Finally the court was adjourned.

In the night, middle ranked members of the Armed Forces who were in favour of the arguments of Rawlings entered his cell and freed him from custody. A few days later, the junior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces began an uprising against the senior officers who lived in luxury. On June 4th, all the members of the ruling government were taken in custody and later executed. This uprising was favoured by many African nations who also thought their governments were corrupt and deserved a similar fate.

After 100 days in office, many people of the former government were executed in what became known as ‘house cleaning exercise’. Rawlings and other leaders of the military junta handed over power to a democratic government. After a little over a year outside government, Rawlings came back into government and ruled until he handed over to a civilian regime which he led until December 2000. Rawlings survived over 50 coup d’etats between 1982 and 1991.

OBSERVATION

The Ghanaian mentality of seeking equality tends to be positive but it tends to become a weakness when it is taken too far. Equality is a weapon when it seeks to push one to someone who is on top but it becomes a snare when it seeks to reduce someone who is already on top to the level one is below. The average Ghanaian mind needs to be echoed with this philosophy.

THE WESLEYAN REVIVAL

The Methodist movement began in 18th Century Britain and through vigorous missionary activities; it spread throughout Britain and USA. In 2006, the Methodists claimed a membership of 75 million, making it the third largest Christian organisation in the USA after the Roman Catholics and Baptists and the second largest in the world in numbers.

John Wesley and his brother, Charles began the movement as a small Bible study group and they were nicknamed Methodists by their colleagues at Oxford University between 1729 and 1735. They were accustomed to communicate every week, to fast regularly and to abstain from most forms of amusement and luxury. They also frequently visited poor and sick persons and prisoners in the prison.

Wesley attracted immense crowds virtually from the outset of his evangelical career. His success also was due, in part, to the fact that contemporary England was ready for a revivalist movement; the Anglican Church was seemingly unable to offer the kind of personal faith that people craved. Thus Wesley's emphasis on inner religion and his assurance that each person was accepted as a child of God had a tremendous popular appeal.

On May 1, 1739, Wesley and a group of his followers, meeting in a shop on West Street, London, formed the first Methodist society. Two similar organizations were established in Bristol the same month. Late in 1739 the London society began to meet in a building called the Foundry, which served as the headquarters of Methodism for many years.

With the growth of the Methodist movement, the need for tighter organisation became acute. In 1742 the societies were divided into classes, with a leader for each class. These class meetings contributed greatly to the success of the movement, but equally important were their leaders, many of whom Wesley designated lay preachers. Wesley called the first conference of Methodist leaders in 1744, and conferences were held annually thereafter.

The early Methodists reacted against perceived apathy in the Church of England, became open-air preachers and established Methodist societies wherever they went. They were notorious for their enthusiastic sermons and often accused of fanaticism. In those days, members of the established church feared that new doctrines promulgated by the Methodists, such as the necessity to salvation of a New Birth, of Justification by Faith, and of the constant and sustained action of the Holy Spirit upon the believer's soul, would produce ill effects upon weak minds. Theophilus Evans, an early critic of the movement, even wrote that it was "the natural Tendency of their Behaviour, in Voice and Gesture and horrid Expressions, to make People mad." In one of his prints, William Hogarth likewise attacked Methodists as "enthusiasts" full of "Credulity, Superstition and Fanaticism." But the Methodists resisted the many attacks against their movement

Wesley was deeply concerned with the intellectual, economic, and physical well-being of the masses. He was also a prolific writer on a wide variety of historical and religious subjects. His books were sold cheaply, so that even the poor could afford to buy them; thus he did much to improve the reading habits of the general public. He aided debtors and those trying to establish businesses and founded medical dispensaries. He opposed slavery and was interested in social reform movements of all kinds. His influence on the English common people was such that Methodism has been credited with averting a revolution in England during the 19th century.

Wesley is credited with over 6,000 hymns. He took dangerous missionary expeditions, particlary in America where his ship was once wrecked after an unsuccessful missionary work. However, after his death, the missionaries who came after him were relatively successful and they won massive congregations in USA and all over the world. Currently, the strongest Methodist churches are found in South Korea where there are more branches than in any other part of the world.

OBSERVATION

Wesley identified his calling and gave in to it directly. His ministry flourished because it appears that God had planned to move into the rest of the world through Europe, particularly Britain. Currently, West Africa and South Korea appear to be the grounds God has chosen to expand His Kingdom from. The Africans appear to be stronger physically and with the proper missionary activity, many West African churches are likely to undertake a reformation similar to that of Wesley and win the world for Jesus Christ! Just as Theophilus Evans and William Hogarth undermined Wesley, his results proved his points to the world. So it is important for people chosen and called into ministry by God to move on in this direction and God will vindicate them in the years to come!

Authenticated by:

Wikipedia Encyclopedia
Microsoft Encarta

Visit our website on www.preacherswithoutborders.faithweb.com