Colourful Revolutions Trivia Quiz

Answer: Myanmar

The Saffron Revolution resulted in the political reforms and change of government in Myanmar during August-October 2007. The term was used to describe the political and economic unrest in the country. The protest resulted in the only supplier of fuel (the military government) removing subsidies on fuel which increased diesel and petrol prices to rise by over 100% and natural gas for buses over 500%. The outcome of the revolution/protest was political reforms and the election of a new government.

The name came about by the saffron-coloured robes worn by the Buddhist monks who were at the forefront of the protests.

Answer: Iran

The term Green Revolution the was used to describe the election protests during 2009-2010 in Iran. The colour green was adopted for the presidential
candidate Mir-Hossien Mousavi. He was not successful against the incumbent President and protests stated as there were allegations of vote rigging and manipulation.

Answer: Kuwait

In March 2005, there were demonstrations in support of women's suffrage in Kuwait. The demonstrators used blue-coloured signs and in May 2005 the government agreed to allow women to vote in the 2007 elections.

Answer: Ukraine

Orange-clad demonstrators protested at the corrupt voting in the 2004 Ukrainian presidential elections in November. A re-vote was ordered by Ukraine's Supreme Court for December 26, 2004. The new elections were monitored by national and international observers and Viktor Yushchenko turned the tables on Viktor Yanukovych.

When Yushchenko was inaugurated as President on January 23, 2005, the Orange Revolution was ended.

Answer: Philippines

The Yellow Revolution only lasted for 3 days in February 1986 when yellow-clad demonstrators, aided by the Armed Forces ousted President Ferdinand Marcos. Corazón Aquino was installed as the eleventh President of the Republic. Her husband, Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr, had been assassinated in 1983 under the Marcos regime.

Answer: Portugal

On April 25, 1974 there was a military coup in Portugal that overthrew the Estado Novo regime that had been installed since 1933. On this day carnations were placed in the muzzles of rifles and also pinned onto the uniforms of army personnel. Each year April 25 is a national holiday in Portugal and is known as "Freedom Day".

Answer: Czechoslovakia

The term "Velvet Revolution" was coined by Rita Klimová, who was an academic who had been a dissident of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia during the 1960s and 1970s. The Velvet Revolution demonstrations in November-December 1989 toppled the entire leadership of the Communist Party. Demonstrations in Prague involved over 500,000 people and on November 27, all citizens of the country organised a two-hour general strike. Václav Havel was elected President of Czechoslovakia on December 29, 1989.

Answer: Iraq

The name the "Purple Revolution" refers to the coming of democracy following the 2005 Iraqi legislative elections. The index finger of voters was stained purple in order to avoid manipulation and corruption in the voting system. The election took place in January 2005.

Answer: Macedonia

The Colorful Revolution received its name because demonstrators threw various colours of paint balls at government buildings in Skopje, the capital city of Macedonia. These demonstrations took place between April 12 - July 20, 2016 against the President Gjorge Ivanov.

The protests were against the president who had stopped an investigation against numerous politicians who were involved in a wiretapping scandal.

Answer: Georgia

The Rose Revolution in Georgia came about after the November 2, 2003 national elections. The revolution was from November 3-23, 2003. Demonstrators stormed the parliament buildings with red roses in their hands in protest the results on the elections.

These demonstrations culminated an end to the Soviet era of leadership in Georgia. Eduard Shevardnadze was replaced as president by Mikeil Saakashvili after the March 2004 elections and turned the country to a more pro-Western approach. Though, tensions with Russia still exist to this day.