Historical Figures and Fairness
This page examines historical figures through the lens of fairness—those who worked to create a more equitable world and those whose actions increased inequality and injustice.
People Who Worked to Make the World More Fair
1. Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)
South African anti-apartheid revolutionary who spent 27 years in prison for fighting racial segregation. After release, he negotiated the end of apartheid and became South Africa's first Black president. History regards him as one of the greatest moral leaders of the 20th century for choosing reconciliation over revenge.
2. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
Led India's nonviolent independence movement against British colonial rule. Pioneered civil disobedience and peaceful resistance tactics that influenced movements worldwide. Regarded as the father of Indian independence and a symbol of nonviolent social change.
3. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)
American civil rights leader who organized peaceful protests against racial segregation. His advocacy led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. Regarded as a moral giant whose "I Have a Dream" speech remains a touchstone for equality movements.
4. Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)
Chaired the UN committee that drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). Advocated for civil rights, women's rights, and refugee assistance. History credits her with establishing the modern human rights framework.
5. Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)
Escaped enslaved person who became America's most influential abolitionist. His writings and speeches provided firsthand testimony of slavery's cruelty and argued for full citizenship for Black Americans. Regarded as one of the most important voices for justice in American history.
6. Harriet Tubman (c.1822-1913)
Escaped slavery and returned to the South approximately 13 times to guide others to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Later served as a Union spy during the Civil War. Regarded as an American hero and symbol of courage against oppression.
7. Cesar Chavez (1927-1993)
Co-founded the United Farm Workers union and organized strikes and boycotts to improve conditions for agricultural laborers. Used nonviolent tactics including fasting to draw attention to worker exploitation. Regarded as a champion of labor rights and Latino civil rights.
8. Sojourner Truth (c.1797-1883)
Escaped slavery and became a powerful advocate for abolition and women's suffrage. Her "Ain't I a Woman?" speech challenged both racial and gender discrimination. Regarded as a pioneer who linked the struggles for racial and gender equality.
9. Desmond Tutu (1931-2021)
South African Anglican bishop who opposed apartheid and later chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Won the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent opposition to racial injustice. Regarded as a moral conscience who promoted restorative justice over retribution.
10. Malala Yousafzai (1997-present)
Pakistani activist shot by the Taliban for advocating girls' education. Became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate and continues advocating for educational access worldwide. Regarded as a symbol of courage and the power of youth activism.
People Who Made the World More Unfair
1. Adolf Hitler (1889-1945)
Nazi Germany's dictator who orchestrated the Holocaust, systematically murdering six million Jews and millions of others. Started World War II, causing approximately 70-85 million deaths. History regards him as the embodiment of human evil and the dangers of fascism.
2. Joseph Stalin (1878-1953)
Soviet dictator whose policies caused the deaths of millions through forced collectivization, political purges, and the Gulag system. His Great Terror eliminated perceived enemies through show trials and mass executions. Regarded as one of history's most brutal tyrants.
3. Leopold II of Belgium (1835-1909)
Personally owned the Congo Free State and exploited it for rubber, causing an estimated 10 million deaths through forced labor, mutilation, and starvation. History now regards his rule as one of the worst examples of colonial brutality, though he was celebrated in his lifetime.
4. Pol Pot (1925-1998)
Cambodian dictator whose Khmer Rouge regime killed approximately 1.5-2 million people (25% of the population) through execution, forced labor, and starvation in pursuit of an agrarian utopia. Regarded as the architect of one of history's worst genocides.
5. Mao Zedong (1893-1976)
Chinese Communist leader whose Great Leap Forward caused a famine killing 15-55 million people. The Cultural Revolution destroyed countless lives and cultural heritage. His legacy remains contested in China but is regarded by many historians as responsible for catastrophic harm.
6. Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904)
Explorer who helped establish Leopold II's brutal Congo regime by making treaties with local leaders who didn't understand they were signing away sovereignty. History has reassessed him from celebrated explorer to enabler of colonial exploitation.
7. Andrew Jackson (1767-1845)
U.S. President who signed the Indian Removal Act, forcing the relocation of Native Americans in the Trail of Tears, causing thousands of deaths. History has increasingly recognized the ethnic cleansing nature of his policies despite his prior celebration.
8. Bull Connor (1897-1973)
Birmingham, Alabama's Commissioner of Public Safety who ordered police dogs and fire hoses used against civil rights protesters, including children. His brutality, captured on television, inadvertently galvanized support for civil rights. Regarded as a symbol of racist oppression.
9. Augusto Pinochet (1915-2006)
Chilean dictator who seized power in a coup and oversaw the torture, disappearance, and murder of thousands of political opponents. History regards him as a brutal dictator, though debates continue about his economic policies.
10. Robert Mugabe (1924-2019)
Zimbabwe's leader who initially brought independence but later oversaw political violence, rigged elections, and economic policies that caused hyperinflation and widespread poverty. His legacy shifted from liberation hero to autocrat who impoverished his nation.
Discussion Questions
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What patterns do you notice among those who increased fairness? What traits or strategies did they share?
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What patterns do you notice among those who decreased fairness? What enabled their harmful actions?
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How does historical judgment of these figures evolve over time? Why might someone be celebrated in their era but condemned later?
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What role did systems and institutions play in either enabling or constraining these individuals?
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How can studying these examples help us identify leverage points for positive change today?