History Main / SparkOfTheRebellion

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' is the epitome of this trope and is the TropeNamer. The first episode is even ''called'' [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsSparkOfRebellion "Spark of Rebellion"]]. True to the trope, the ''Ghost'' crew do everything they can to make life on Lothal better from TheEmpire, but the defining moment was when they liberate Wookiee prisoners from the spice mines of Kessel. Since then, their actions on Lothal would signify the start of a growing rebellion. To further deliver the punch, the season finale is titled [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS1E13FireAcrossTheGalaxy "Fire Across the Galaxy"]][[note]]Which in itself is a reference to ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsCloneWars'', when Yoda describes the Clone Wars conflict as spreading like fire across the galaxy.[[/note]]--as the season ends with the rebel cells beginning to unite and people beginning to turn against the Empire, and it has served as ArcWords for the rest of the Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse.

* In ''Literature/TheHungerGames'', Katniss volunteering in place of her sister to be their district's warrior tribute for a BreadAndCircuses tournament put in place by [[TheEmpire the Capitol]], which was almost unheard of in their district (as [[ButtMonkey District 12]] had only ever won the Hunger Games twice in their 73-year history). While preparing for the event, Katniss does do some things that edge on being barely acceptable in the Capitol, but the most significant thing she does is (appear to) fall in love with fellow District 12 tribute Peeta. Unknowingly, this soap opera-esque love entertains the masses of the Capitol, which causes the gamekeepers to decide to change the rule about how to win the Hunger Games; you can survive with your fellow district tribute. This ultimately comes back to kick them in the teeth, because when those conditions are met and the gamekeepers decide to backspace for dramatic effect, the couple attempts to commit suicide to be TogetherInDeath and prevent there from being a single winner for the games, so since that would upset the audience, the Capitol reluctantly lets the two live. The Capitol bending over just to entertain the masses ends up giving covert rebels throughout Panem a chance to begin their rebellion. It may also be mentioned that there was also a firebird motif with TropeNamer ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', which was released after ''The Hunger Games'' series.

* In ''Literature/TheHungerGames'', Katniss volunteering in place of her sister to be their district's warrior tribute for a BreadAndCircuses tournament put in place by [[TheEmpire the Capitol]], which was the first time anyone from their district had volunteered (as [[ButtMonkey District 12]] had only ever won the Hunger Games twice in the past). While preparing for the event, Katniss does do some things that edge on being barely acceptable in the Capitol, but the most significant thing she does is (appear to) fall in love with fellow District 12 tribute Peeta. Unknowingly, this soap opera-esque love entertains the masses of the Capitol, which causes the gamekeepers to decide to change the rule about how to win the Hunger Games; you can survive with your fellow district tribute. This ultimately comes back to kick them in the teeth, because when those conditions are met and the gamekeepers decide to backspace for dramatic effect, the couple attempts to commit suicide to be TogetherInDeath and prevent there from being a single winner for the games, so since that would upset the audience, the Capitol reluctantly lets the two live. The Capitol bending over just to entertain the masses ends up giving covert rebels throughout Panem a chance to begin their rebellion. It may also be mentioned that there was also a firebird motif with TropeNamer ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', which was released after ''The Hunger Games'' series.

* In ''Literature/TheHungerGames'', Katniss volunteering in place of her sister to be their district's warrior tribute for a BreadAndCircuses tournament put in place by [[TheEmpire the Capitol]], which was the first time anyone from their district had volunteered (as [[ButtMonkey District 12]] had only ever won the Hunger Games twice in the past). While preparing for the event, Katniss does do some things that edge on being barely acceptable in the Capitol, but the most significant thing she does is fall in love with fellow District 12 tribute Peeta. Unknowingly, this soap opera-esque love entertains the masses of the Capitol, which causes the gamekeepers to decide to change the rule about how to win the Hunger Games; you can survive with your fellow district tribute. This ultimately comes back to kick them in the teeth, because when those conditions are met and the gamekeepers decide to backspace for dramatic effect, the couple attempts to commit suicide to be TogetherInDeath and prevent there from being a single winner for the games, so since that would upset the audience, the Capitol reluctantly lets the two live. The Capitol bending over just to entertain the masses ends up giving covert rebels throughout Panem a chance to begin their rebellion. It may also be mentioned that there was also a firebird motif with TropeNamer ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', which was released after ''The Hunger Games'' series.
** Though it's also been argued that Primrose's death is the true spark, as her young age and friendliness results in a non-malicious alliance between Katniss (from District 12) and herself (District 11), with Katniss helping her find peace in death when she gets mortally wounded. [[spoiler:This causes a riot in District 11 (in the film adaptation, it is implied her father was the first to lash out).]]

* In ''Literature/TheHungerGames'', Katniss volunteering in place of her sister to be their district's warrior tribute for a BreadAndCircuses tournament put in place by [[TheEmpire the Capitol]], which was the first time anyone from their district had volunteered (as [[ButtMonkey District 12]] only won the Hunger Games once in the past). While preparing for the event, Katniss does do some things that edge on being barely acceptable in the Capitol, but the most significant thing she does is fall in love with fellow District 12 tribute Peeta. Unknowingly, this soap opera-esque love entertains the masses of the Capitol, which causes the gamekeepers to decide to change the rule about how to win the Hunger Games; you can survive with your fellow district tribute. This ultimately comes back to kick them in the teeth, because when those conditions are met and the gamekeepers decide to backspace for dramatic effect, the couple attempts to commit suicide to be TogetherInDeath and prevent there from being a single winner for the games, so since that would upset the audience, the Capitol reluctantly lets the two live. The Capitol bending over just to entertain the masses ends up giving covert rebels throughout Panem a chance to begin their rebellion. It may also be mentioned that there was also a firebird motif with TropeNamer ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', which was released after ''The Hunger Games'' series.

* A very minor example. In an episode of ''Series/TheWonderYears'', the entire school is poised to stage a walk-out to protest something, but the principal warns them that this would go on their permanent records. At the crucial juncture, Kevin walks out of the classroom to go to the bathroom without asking permission. Others think he is staging a walk-out and get up leave. Others see them and follow. When Kevin comes out of the bathroom, he discovers that the entire student body has walked out and he is being credited with instigating it. And, as the narration notes, it went on all of their permanent records.

* In ''Film/TheLastJedi'', after the events of ''Film/TheForceAwakens'' had effectively demolished the New Republic thanks to the First Order, the Resistance--a military formed by Leia but wasn't authorized by the New Republic--is all that's left to continue fighting the good fight. Poe Dameron says at one point that "We [the Resistance] are the spark that will light the fire that will burn the First Order down!" This is also a CallBack to TropeNamer ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', as described later in this page.

* In ''Film/TheLastJedi'', after the events of ''Film/TheForceAwakens'' had effectively demolished the New Republic thanks to the First Order, the Resistance--a military formed by Leia but wasn't authorized by the New Republic--is all that's left to continue fighting the good fight. Poe Dameron says at one point that "We [the Resistance] are the spark that will light the fire that will destroy the First Order.". This is also a CallBack to TropeNamer ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', as described later in this page.

When a relatively minor act of defying the authority (such as a DefiantStoneThrow) or a similarly minor act of oppression by said authority (e.g. accidentally [[DontCreateAMartyr shooting a future martyr]]) serves as a catalyst for a massive rebellion against it. Sometimes, the two options are rolled into one (defiance followed by crackdown), in which case the ur-rebel may experience a DyingMomentOfAwesome. If they survive, on the other hand, they have a good chance of becoming a RebelLeader.

->''"When the Empire's operations are targeted on an ongoing basis, it could signify more than the theft of a few crates; it could signify the spark of rebellion. Next time they make a move, we'll be waiting for them -- to snuff out that spark before it catches fire."''

* In Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert's... ''contested'' series of ''Literature/Dune'' prequels, the robot Erasmus triggers a massive uprising against the machine-run, human-enslaving Synchronized Empire by dropping a baby off a building (his motivation is a particularly twisted and useless version of ForScience).
* In between the second and third boos of the ''Literature/RedRising'' trilogy, Sevro releasing footage of Darrow's carving and posthumously ([[UncertainDoom or so he thinks]]) outing his friend as TheMole sparks a mass uprising against the Golds.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' is the epitome of this trope, and may well be the TropeNamer. The first episode is even ''called'' [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsSparkOfRebellion "Spark of Rebellion"]]. True to the trope, the ''Ghost'' crew do everything they can to make life on Lothal better from TheEmpire, but the defining moment was when they liberate Wookiee prisoners from the spice mines of Kessel. Since then, their actions on Lothal would signify the start of a growing rebellion.

* A very minor example. In an episode of ''Series/TheWonderYears'', the entire school is poised to stage a walk-out to protest something, but the principal warns them that this would go on their permanent records. At the crucial juncture, Kevin walks out of the classroom to go to the bathroom without asking permission. Others think he is staging a walk-out and get up leave. Others see them and follow. hen Kevin comes out of the bathroom, he discovers that the entire student body has walked out and he is being credited with instigating it. And, as the narration notes, it went on all of their permanent records.

* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'', the Reachmen, the primitive in [[FurBikini dress]] and [[RockBeatsLaser technology]] [[BarbarianTribe tribal]] inhabitants of the Reach in western Skyrim, have been [[OccupiersOutOfOurCountry resisting any and all groups]] who attempt to claim the Reach dating all the way back to the ''First'' Tamriellic Empire thousands of years ago. During the 3rd Era Septim Empire and into the early 4th Era, they begrudgingly accepted [[HornyVikings Nord]] rule rather than risk the wrath of the Empire. When the [[VestigialEmpire crumbling Empire]] was preoccupied with the [[GreatOffscreenWar Great War]], the Reachmen rose up and captured the city of Markarth. Though the Nords would drive them out, they reformed as the [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters Forsworn]] and hold strong in the countryside of the Reach with their numbers swelling.

** A more specific example occurs later in the third book, when the rebellion is on its last legs Darrow's rousing speech and public return from his presumed death renews everyone's hope and revitalizes the revolution.

* In between the second and third boos of the ''Literature/RedRising'' trilogy, Sevro releasing footage of Darrow's carving and posthumously ([[UncertainDoom or so he thinks]) outing his friend as TheMole sparks a mass uprising against the Golds.

* ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'': Hopper has the colony paying him tribute every year, threatening to wipe them out if the fail to provide an offering, and Flik tries standing up for them twice. The first time Hopper stares him down, but the second, after Flik's been worked over by [[TheBrute Thumper]], he gets back up and delivers a blistering ReasonYouSuckSpeech to Hopper, pointing out that the colony does everything to provide for itself ''and'' the grasshoppers. Shortly after, Hopper realizes all the ants, who by his own admission outnumber his gang a hundred to one, are about to charge him. The scene ends with the ants charging and driving the grasshoppers off.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' is ''built'' on this trope, and may well be the TropeNamer. The first episode is even ''called'' [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsSparkOfRebellion "Spark of Rebellion"]]. True to the trope, the ''Ghost'' crew do everything they can to make life on Lothal better from TheEmpire, but the defining moment was when they liberate Wookiee prisoners from the spice mines of Kessel. Since then, their actions on Lothal would signify the start of a growing rebellion.

-->-- '''Agent Kallus''', ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels''

* In ''Manga/SpiritCircle'', Fone tried to interrupt a sacrificial ritual to save his lover, who is chosen to be the sacrifice. He failed and died, but his efforts sparked a rebellion against the tribe priests and elders. The irony, the rebel won and decided to make him their new god...and sacrificed the priests in his name.

* In the Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert's... ''contested'' series of ''Literature/Dune'' prequels, the robot Erasmus triggers a massive uprising against the machine-run, human-enslaving Synchronized Empire by dropping a baby off a building (his motivation is a particularly twisted and useless version of ForScience).

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' is ''built'' on this trope and may well be the TropeNamer. The first episode is even ''called'' [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsSparkOfRebellion "Spark of Rebellion"]]. True to the trope, the ''Ghost'' crew do everything they can to make life on Lothal better from TheEmpire, but the defining moment was when they liberate Wookiee prisoners from the spice mines of Kessel. Since then, their actions on Lothal would signify the start of a growing rebellion.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' is ''built'' on this trope. The first episode is even ''called'' [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsSparkOfRebellion "Spark of Rebellion"]]. True to the trope, the ''Ghost'' crew do everything they can to make life on Lothal better from TheEmpire, but the defining moment was when they liberate Wookiee prisoners from the spice mines of Kessel. Since then, their actions on Lothal would signify the start of a growing rebellion.

* Amy Mitchell from ''Film/BadMoms'' reaches her breaking point with being a Stepford Wife, and rebels against QueenBee Gwendolyn and her HiveMind clique. Kika and Carla join Amy in sabotaging this CrapsaccharineWorld, ultimately sundering the clique and loosing FreeRangeChildren.

* The ''Series/{{Castle}}'' episode "[[Recap/CastleS4E15Pandora Pandora]]" has Dr. Nelson Blakely, a specialist in "linchpin theory", or looking for small actions that can induce large events. He claims responsibility for a lone act of civil disobedience that led to UsefulNotes/TheArabSpring. [[HistoryMarchesOn (The episode aired before the Arab Spring went pear-shaped.)]]

* Tiny kitten Edmund from Creator/DonBluth's ''WesternAnimation/RockADoodle'' dares to blare the name Chanticleer in front of the Grand Duke, and gets swatted down hard for it. Edmund's close friend Patou takes up the chant, followed by the multitude of small creatures oppressed by the Duke. Despite TheVillain's efforts to silence them, their chanting awakens Chanticleer's memory of his purpose in life, triggering a HeroicSecondWind that sunders the Duke.
* ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'': Hopper has the colony paying him tribute every year, threatening to wipe them out if the fail to provide an offering, and Flik tries standing up for them twice. The first time Hopper stares him down, but the second, after Flik's been worked over by [[TheBrute Thumper]], he gets back up and delivers a blistering ReasonYouSuckSpeech to Hopper, pointing out that the colony does everything to provide for itself ''and'' the grasshoppers. Shortly after, Hopper realizes all the ants, who by his own admission outnumber his gang a hundred to one, are about to charge him. The scene ends with the ants charging and driving the grasshoppers off.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' is ''built'' on this trope, heck the pilot movie was titled as such. True to the trope, the ''Ghost'' crew do everything they can to make life on Lothal better from TheEmpire, but the defining moment was when they liberate Wookie prisoners from spice mines of Kessel. Since then, their actions on Lothal would signify the start of a growing rebellion.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': In one episode, Katara wants to save the earthbenders from the Fire Nation's remote island prison, but finds trouble due to the lack of something for them to bend, so she has Aang blowing up a lot of coals from the island's furnace, through the vents, to a hole on the prison field. But it's not until one of the earthbenders throw one coal to the alerted prison warden that the big riot starts. In the end the earthbenders managed to escape with the Gaang.

[[folder:Comic Book]]
* ''ComicBook/VForVendetta'': At the end of the movie, a girl is shot for graffiting the Anarchy symbol on a wall, causing the neighborhood to revolt, which spreads to the rest of the country.
[[/folder]]