Mohandas K. Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. express their respect for Henry David Thoreau in an except of their writing from “Passive Resisters” and “A Centenary Gathering for Henry David Thoreau.” In their writings, there is also a relevance towards transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is a philosophy that our knowledge of reality is based on our own understanding rather than scientific evidence. Thoreau was a transcendentalist himself. Thoreau and his ideology influenced Gandhi and King in their own movements. Gandhi lead a nonviolent noncooperation campaign to gain independence for India from Great Britain. King lead a nonviolent movement to bring equality to African Americans in the United States of America. Both of Gandhi and King’s
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The excerpt from Gandhi’s writing expresses his respect and understanding of Thoreau’s philosophies. Like Thoreau, Gandhi believed that the government was not using their power to do what needed to be done, and that the government was corrupt. He started a movement to try and solve the issue. This movement stemmed from Thoreau’s civil disobedience, because he led a civil disobedience campaign, starting after the Transvaal government passed a decree about its Indian population. His passive resistance is a nonviolent noncooperative movement to solve the issue of discrimination in South America and to gain India’s independence from Great Britain. Gandhi turned this movement for independence into an organization that leads boycotts of British influence in India; manufacturers, institutions, legislatures and schools. In Gandhi’s writing he talks about how Thoreau, “went to gaol (jail) for the sake of his principles and suffering humanity” (Gandhi). This is ironic because Gandhi eventually ends up in jail fighting for what he believed in. Gandhi seeked a change in society and started a movement to create the …show more content…
is a extremely well known figure in American history, especially for having a dream to change the world. King played a very be role in the American civil rights movement. His ideas to change America transcend farther than the surface because he did not want to just change America, but the world, to shine light onto the problem of racism and discrimination. King’s ideas are related to transcendentalism because he was able to draw a conclusion of America’s reality and relate that to the problems going on around the world. His ideology came from a higher understanding of the situation rather than society provided evidence. Martin Luther King Jr. knew that African American’s were being treated poorly and being discriminated because of their skin color. After Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat to a white passenger on the bus, activists coordinated a bus boycott and chose Martin Luther King Jr. as their leader and official spokesperson. King, being heavily influenced by Gandhi and Thoreau, entered national spotlight and began his organization for a nonviolent
The excerpt from Gandhi’s writing expresses his respect and understanding of Thoreau’s philosophies. Like Thoreau, Gandhi believed that the government was not using their power to do what needed to be done, and that the government was corrupt. He started a movement to try and solve the issue. This movement stemmed from Thoreau’s civil disobedience, because he led a civil disobedience campaign, starting after the Transvaal government passed a decree about its Indian population. His passive resistance is a nonviolent noncooperative movement to solve the issue of discrimination in South America and to gain India’s independence from Great Britain. Gandhi turned this movement for independence into an organization that leads boycotts of British influence in India; manufacturers, institutions, legislatures and schools. In Gandhi’s writing he talks about how Thoreau, “went to gaol (jail) for the sake of his principles and suffering humanity” (Gandhi). This is ironic because Gandhi eventually ends up in jail fighting for what he believed in. Gandhi seeked a change in society and started a movement to create the …show more content…
is a extremely well known figure in American history, especially for having a dream to change the world. King played a very be role in the American civil rights movement. His ideas to change America transcend farther than the surface because he did not want to just change America, but the world, to shine light onto the problem of racism and discrimination. King’s ideas are related to transcendentalism because he was able to draw a conclusion of America’s reality and relate that to the problems going on around the world. His ideology came from a higher understanding of the situation rather than society provided evidence. Martin Luther King Jr. knew that African American’s were being treated poorly and being discriminated because of their skin color. After Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat to a white passenger on the bus, activists coordinated a bus boycott and chose Martin Luther King Jr. as their leader and official spokesperson. King, being heavily influenced by Gandhi and Thoreau, entered national spotlight and began his organization for a nonviolent