Insurrection is an organized and usually violent act of revolt or rebellion against an established government or governing authority of a nation-state or other political entity by a group of its citizens or subjects. It can also refer to any act of engaging in such a revolt. An insurrection may facilitate or bring about a revolution, which is a radical change in the form of government or political system of a state, and it may be initiated or provoked by an act of sedition, which is an incitement to revolt or rebellion. In the United States, insurrection against the authority of the federal government is a crime under 18 U.S. Code ยง2383.
According to Merriam-Webster, insurrection is defined as an act or instance of revolting against civil authority or an established government. It can be violent or non-violent. The term "insurrection" has been used throughout history to describe uprisings against authority, including the famous insurrection of the slaves in ancient Rome under Spartacus.
The word "insurrection" has been used recently to describe the events of January 6, 2021, when a group of people stormed the U.S. Capitol building in an attempt to overturn the results of the presidential election. The storming of the Capitol was a violent act of insurrection against the U.S. government.
