Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
A coup d'état is an illegal and often violent seizure of power from a government, typically carried out by military forces or other internal factions within a country.
AP course connection
Topic 1.5: 1.5 Sources of and Changes in Power and Authority