Is it right to abolish or alter a nation's government?

Answer 1

Yes, American citizens can abolish their entire government. It's stated in the United Stated Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed,"

Answer 2

This is a question worth asking; and in fact, changes in governments or changes in laws and policies have sometimes happened as a result of such questions. Many people in history would say it is definitely right to change a government, especially if it is tyrannical or brutal. And while some politicians like to throw around terms like "tyrannical" against their opponents, your question is asking about genuine tyranny, not political rhetoric. When actual dictators are violently oppressing and punishing the citizens, those citizens might decide to rise up. The United States itself was created out of altering or abolishing a government-- the colonists abolished the colonial rule of England. Colonists believed the British King was denying them their rights and they felt it was necessary to fight for independence.

Another example was the Civil War, where southerners fought against the north: slavery was one of the factors, with the south wanting to maintain it, while the north generally wanted to abolish it. After the south lost and the slaves were emancipated, laws such as who could vote were also changed-- black men got the right to vote, and then much later, women were given the franchise because public sentiment had changed; the Constitution was amended to reflect these changes, which occurred after years of demonstrations, marches, and protests on the part of those who supported voting rights.

More recently, the need for drastic change was seen during the "Arab Spring," when several longtime dictators in the Middle East were overthrown. These revolts occurred because the public decided it was right and proper to take a strong stand against what they believed to be a brutal regime. And in countries where brutality and injustice persist, abolishing the government, or making a major change to its leadership, may become necessary.

But sadly, it is not easy for citizens to rise up challenge a brutal dictator, or alter the course of a corrupt government. Sometimes, it does happen, but there are still countries in the world where injustice persists yet the government remains in power, keeping its citizens poor and uneducated, unable to gather enough power to force a change. And the question of whether (and sometimes when) it is right to alter or abolish a nation's government continues to be asked; when citizens of a country see no other way to bring change to their lives, they sometimes find a way to unite and demand it.