History

‘I am sick and tired of being sick and tired’

The indomitable political activist Fannie Lou Hamer was one of the most urgent and important voices of the US civil rights movement.

Vietnam War student massacre—50 years on

In May 1970 cops opened fire at black students resisting US imperialism. Socialist Worker looks at the forgotten killings at Jackson State

Lenin and his ideas today

In a time when capitalism is in crisis, the works and life of the revolutionary Vladimir Lenin—born 150 years ago this week—are still crucial, writes Tomáš Tengely-Evans

Cook’s tour drenched in blood

British explorer James Cook arrived on the east coast of Australia 250 years ago. His incursion was part of a horrific imperialist expansion, writes Charlie Kimber

Yalta 1945—how they carved up the globe

Seventy five years ago, a cabal of world leaders crafted a secret plan to divide up Europe. Socialist Worker looks at how workers’ resistance forced their hand

Nicolae Ceausescu—death of brutal dictator was a Christmas gift

Stalinist regimes across Eastern Europe fell in 1989, but Romania was the icing on the Xmas cake says Tomáš Tengely-Evans

BBC misses the real lessons of Hitler’s seizure of power

10 September 2019
The series ignores how bosses handed the Nazis power—and the force that could have stopped them, writes Tomáš Tengely-Evans

The real story of Peterloo

03 August 2019
The Peterloo massacre exposed our rulers’ brutality. But a new history also shows how the workers’ movement was militant and inclusive from its birth, writes Judy Cox

The politics of the D-Day landings

01 June 2019
As the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings sees politicians commemorate the events Tomáš Tengely-Evans looks at the horrific reality of the Second World War

How the way was cleared for capitalism in Scotland

30 May 2019
A new book by Tom Devine offers a fresh interpretation of how capitalism was established in Scotland. He spoke to Charlie Kimber

The rising in 1820 was a challenge to the state

30 April 2019
The Radical War in Scotland two centuries ago saw a mass strike movement, plans for armed rebellion—and then bitter government repression, writes Charlie McKinnon

Tories’ last big split denied them a majority for 30 years

02 April 2019
The Corn Laws in 1846 showed how our rulers can fall out—but still work together against us, writes Sadie Robinson

Rosa Luxemburg - a fighter for revolution

07 January 2019
One hundred years ago this week right wing paramilitaries killed the revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg—on the orders of a reformist, social democratic party.

Exhibition shines a light on the art of the ‘dark ages’

12 November 2018
The artefacts of six hundred years of Anglo-Saxon rule on display at the British Library provide a unique insight into history, writes Camilla Royle

‘Kill all the Gentlemen’—tales of rural revolts

05 May 2018
In his new history of countryside struggles in England, Martin Empson shows how ordinary people have always fought for their rights—and what’s needed for them to win

Reviews round-up: The Land We Live In, The Land We Left Behind exhibition

27 February 2018
Plus British Socialism: The Grand Tour and WOW festival

Martin Luther and peasants' rebellion

07 November 2017
500 years ago a preacher called Martin Luther sparked a movement which loosened the grip of the church on society. Dave Sewell argues this was about more than just theology