Seeds of Fire: A People’s Chronology

Recalling events that happened on this day in history.
Memories of struggle, resistance and persistence.

Compiled by Ulli Diemer

August 18, 1823
Uprising of tens of thousands of slaves in the British colony of Demerara (in what is now Guyana). The rebellion is defeated, with more than 100 slaves killed and other executed afterwards. However, the events cause anger and revulsion in Britain and help push public sentiment for the abolition of slavery. Related Topics: Guyana – Slave Revolts – Slavery
August 18, 1949
Finland: 1500 striking lumberjacks fight a pitched battle against police and troops. Related Topics: Finland – Strikebreaking – Strikes
August 18, 1962
Five people are arrested attempting to disrupt the launching of the Polaris submarine in Groton, Connecticut, USA. Related Topics: Anti-War Movement
August 18, 1991
Eight senior Soviet officials, opposed to the sweeping reforms of recent years, stage a coup against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. He is detained, and troops are sent to Moscow, Leningrad, and the Baltics. But the conspirators fail to arrest the President of the Russian Republic, Boris Yeltsin, who rallies the opposition and defeats the coup. Related Topics: Coups – Soviet Union