Concept in Definition ABC

When a group of people takes a rebellious stance against a authority a riot breaks out. In other words, it is an uprising in which a group refuses to fulfill its obligations.

Traditionally the riot takes place in prisons and in the military context

In prisons there are cases of riots when prisoners consider that their situation as inmates is very precarious. It is common for this type of rebellion to be associated with a specific prison context: shortage food, poor hygienic conditions and overcrowding of prisoners. In most cases the riot is presented as a strategy to negotiate with prison authorities. With some frequency, these types of actions are accompanied by violence.

In the military establishment, the responsible commanders may be tempted to impose an ironclad discipline accompanied by drastic measures of punishment. If this happens, a group of soldiers is likely to decide to organize a riot. Obviously, this is an illegal action and contrary to the rules of the army.

The mutineers of HMS Bounty

At the end of the 18th century, the British navy frigate HMS Bounty had been sailing for two years on the ocean Peaceful. The trip had a dual purpose: to find new shipping routes and to secure a shipment of breadfruit plants to feed the people. population of slaves subjected by the Empire British.

The head of the frigate, Captain William Bligh, behaved with disproportionate harshness and cruelty towards his crew. One of the officers, Fletcher Christian, organized a riot with the help of some members of the crew.

The mutineers took command of the frigate and decided that Captain Bligh and a small group of sailors left HMS Bounty in a small boat.

Obviously, the mutineers had to hide somewhere, knowing that the British navy was going to punish them for their act of rebellion. They hid on Pitcairn Island with a group of Tahitians who accompanied them and then dismantled the frigate to leave no clues. The mutineers remained on the island until the British authorities found them.

In 1856 the descendants of the mutineers of HMS Bounty were transferred to Norfolk Island to repopulate it. Today half of the inhabitants of Norfolk Island are descended from the group of crew that organized the famous mutiny.

Photos: Fotolia - enzozo / Zeferli