Born March 5, 1871
Zamosc, Poland
Died January 15, 1919
Berlin, Germany

Revolutionary political leader, writer, and orator

Rosa Luxemburg was born at a time when monarchs ruled in Russia and Europe, and the majority of people lived in poverty. It was also a time of a growing movement of resistance to those rulers. Opposition activists generally embraced some form of socialism. Under a socialist system, power and resources would be wrested from the control of the ruler and the wealthy individuals who supported the ruler, and placed in the hands of the community as a whole.

Luxemburg became involved with socialist causes while a student and later established herself as a leading voice among turn-of-the-century European radicals. Her opposition to nationalism (pride in, and allegiance to, one’s nation) and authoritarianism (the control of the will of the people by a leader or a group of leaders) put...