• Che Guevara is one of the most recognizable freedom fighters.che guevara billboard image by Natasha Owen from Fotolia.com
  
  Freedom fighters attempt to change the established political or social order of a country or region. While those supporting their actions may believe them to be fighting for freedom, those who resist them may consider them to be terrorists. Media organisations such as the BBC recognize the dilemma and consciously avoid referring to individuals in terms of either freedom fighters or terrorists. Freedom fighters differ from mercenaries in that their actions are not motivated by financial gain.
  
  

Ernesto Guevara

• Ernesto Guevara, more commonly known as Che Guevara, helped orchestrate the removal of Cuba's General Fulgencio Batista and the installation of Fidel Castro as President. Guevara was born on June 14, 1928 in Rosario in Argentina and died on Oct. 8, 1967 in Bolivia. Guevara had four younger brothers and sisters. He attended the University of Buenos Aires between 1947 and 1953 and married Hilda Gadea Acosta in 1955 and Aledia March in 1959.
  
  

Nelson Mandela

• Prior to his becoming President of South Africa in 1994, Nelson Mandela was leader of the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC) which fought against apartheid in the country. Mandela was born on June 18, 1918 in Mvezo, a small village in the district of Umtata. He was married three times, to Evelyn Ntoko Mase, Winne Madikizela-Mandela, and Graca Machel. Mandela was arrested on Aug. 5, 1962 for his activities against the apartheid government and spent the following 27 years in prison.
  
  

José Doroteo Arango Arámbula

• José Doroteo Arango Arámbula, more commonly known known as Pancho Villa, was a prominent leader in the Mexican revolution. His attack on the town of Columbus, New Mexico on March 9, 1916 was the first on American soil since 1812. Villa was born in June 5, 1878 and died on July 20, 1923 when he was gunned down in his car while driving in Parral.
  
  

Makhpiyaluta

• Makhpiyaluta, more commonly known as Red Cloud, was chief of the Oglala Sioux tribe. He led a successful conflict against the United States Army between 1866 and 1868 over control of the Powder River Country. He was born on a tributary of Nebraska's North Platte river in 1822 and died at the Pine Ridge Agency in South Dakota on Dec. 10, 1909.