Mandela And Gandhi Dbq

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Imagine a group of powerful leaders, rising up against their governments. These three people suffered through brutal beatings, years in imprisonment, and death for standing up against racism and freedom. Even through all of this these key figures resisted the urge to use violence. The question is how did non-violent protests lead to the success of achieving freedom and racial equality? By using different methods of non-violent three leaders Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela successfully ended racism and segregation. Gandhi tried to change the caste system by becoming an “untouchable” and this slowly freed India from Britain. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for ending racial segregation in the United States. Finally, …show more content…
In Document 1, Gandhi writes a letter to an English governor and Gandhi asserts that, “ Even the salt [ the peasant] must use to live is so taxed as to make the burden fall heaviest on him.” This statement implies the racism and inequality the British put on Gandhi’s people. Thus, in order to retaliate against the British Gandhi would protest constantly, and peacefully, to stop and spread awareness about the harmful acts of the British. Likewise, in Document 7, Gandhi found out that his supporters were, “sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor…” This illustrates the influence that Gandhi put through his work and therefore spreading his ways and succeeding. Additionally, this demonstrates nonviolence movements brings people closer together, while violent protests drive people apart indicating that non-violence movements are more successful. As one can see, through influence and sacrifice Gandhi succeeded in his nonviolent …show more content…
In Document 9, Mandela states, “Our message was that no sacrifice was too great in the struggle for freedom.” This quote suggests that the forces of willpower, peace, determination, and even love are always greater than violence which only brings evil, hate, and death. Additionally, these forces together will bring out the best points across to the government and make the statement “actions speak louder than words” ring true. Non-violence is an action that is more effective than a violent movement that consists of yelling and death. Likewise, in a political cartoon a quote is shown where Mandela asserts that, “It was during those long, lonely (prison) years that my hunger for the freedom of my own people became a hunger of all people, black and white” (Document 12). This quote demonstrates how non-violent movements brought everyone closer and stronger which led to an overwhelming force to the British. Therefore, the British also responded peacefully, because of the positive influence of non-violent protests, and they listened to Mandela instead of killing them. As one can see, the unity that Nelson Mandela created by non-violence helped strengthen everyone and let Mandela receive the freedom for South

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