12 Historical Heroes Who Had a Dark Side
These 12 historical figures are remembered as heroes, but their legacies also include actions and decisions that raise serious moral questions.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Many well-known leaders, thinkers, and fighters are celebrated for their achievements and influence. However, their lives were not without flaws, and some made choices that harmed others or conflicted with the values they stood for. Understanding both sides gives a fuller picture of who they really were.
1. Mahatma Gandhi
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Gandhi is known for leading India’s nonviolent struggle for independence. He inspired global civil rights movements and opposed British colonial rule. However, his views on race during his early years in South Africa were discriminatory toward Black Africans. He also held controversial opinions about women and caste, which are debated to this day.
2. Thomas Jefferson
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Jefferson authored the U.S. Declaration of Independence and promoted liberty and democracy. He is celebrated as a founding father of the United States. However, he owned over 600 enslaved people and did not free most of them, even after writing that “all men are created equal.” He also had a long-term relationship with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman who could not consent under the law.
3. Winston Churchill
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Churchill is credited with leading Britain through World War II with strength and resolve. His speeches and leadership helped resist Nazi Germany. At the same time, he supported British imperialism and made decisions that contributed to the 1943 Bengal Famine, which killed millions. He often expressed racist and colonialist views in his writings and speeches.
4. Martin Luther
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Martin Luther launched the Protestant Reformation, which challenged the Catholic Church and changed the course of European history. He promoted education and translated the Bible into German. However, later in life, he wrote deeply antisemitic texts that were later used as propaganda in Nazi Germany. His legacy includes both religious reform and religious hatred.
5. Mother Teresa
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Mother Teresa was widely admired for her work with the poor in Kolkata and won the Nobel Peace Prize. She founded the Missionaries of Charity and became a symbol of compassion. Critics have pointed out poor medical conditions in her homes and her acceptance of suffering as spiritual. She also accepted donations from controversial figures without questioning their sources.
6. Abraham Lincoln
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Lincoln led the United States during the Civil War and signed the Emancipation Proclamation. He is praised for preserving the Union and ending slavery. However, he made statements that suggest he did not believe in full racial equality. He also approved mass executions of Native Americans during the Dakota War of 1862.
7. Che Guevara
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Che Guevara became a symbol of resistance and revolution, especially for his role in the Cuban Revolution. His image is widely used to represent anti-imperialism and activism. However, he oversaw executions without fair trials and helped establish authoritarian rule in Cuba. His support for armed struggle and harsh tactics remains controversial.
8. John F. Kennedy
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President Kennedy is remembered for his leadership during the Cuban Missile Crisis and his support for civil rights. His charisma and speeches left a strong impression on the public. Behind the scenes, he approved secret coups and was involved in Cold War power struggles with serious global consequences. He also led a personal life marked by secret affairs and misuse of power.
9. Nelson Mandela
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Mandela fought against apartheid and became the first Black president of South Africa. He is known worldwide as a symbol of peace and reconciliation. Before his imprisonment, he helped lead a militant wing of the African National Congress that carried out bombings and armed attacks. Though later committed to peace, his early tactics included violence.
10. Julius Caesar
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Caesar expanded the Roman Empire and reformed the Roman government. He is admired for his military genius and political leadership. At the same time, he gained power through the civil war and destroyed the Roman Republic. He also enslaved and killed large numbers of people during his campaigns in Gaul.
11. Theodore Roosevelt
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Roosevelt is praised for breaking up corporate monopolies, building national parks, and strengthening U.S. leadership. He modernized American society in many ways. He also believed in racial superiority and supported violent imperial expansion, especially in the Philippines. His foreign policy was aggressive and often dismissed the rights of other nations.
12. Simon Bolívar
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Bolívar led the fight for independence in several South American countries and is called “The Liberator.” He dreamed of a united Latin America free from colonial rule. However, after achieving independence, he ruled with near-dictatorial power and dissolved democratic assemblies. He often suppressed dissent and believed that Latin Americans needed strong control, not full democracy.