Gandhi, King and Mandela: What Made Non-Violence Work?

Gandhi would later be successful in his protest. Here citizens show their power against the government and are the main role players the the civil disobedience game. Even though the true involvement of the government and citizens is different at times in their games they still work hand and hand to each other to keep the amount of power

Violation of laws was the first ingredient in making non-violence work because it showed how the people who were victimized by the laws really felt about the laws. Gandhi had to rebel against the laws when he wanted the Salt Laws to change; he wrote a letter saying “ if my letter makes no appeal to your heart, on the eleventh day of this month I shall proceed….. To disregard the Salt Laws.”(Doc.1) While, Dr.King violated laws when he sat at a lunch counter, he claimed his purpose for doing it was “to bring the whole issue of racial injustice under the scrutiny of the conscience of Atlanta.”(Doc. 2) Lastly, Mandela broke some laws as well when he told his supporters “that volunteering (for the Defiance of Unjust Laws campaign) was a difficult

Throughout modern history, Britain’s exponential growth inevitably affected the future of many nations in the contemporary world- in particular, the culturally intertwined state of India. Even in the initial stages of colonisation, India was forcefully occupied by the British East India Company; however, it was not until 1858 that a dictatorship was officially announced and the nation was forced to regard England as 'the true homeland'. Amidst societal unease and a growing discontent with the British rulers by the poor peasants, India's emancipation seemed inevitable in order for the nation to truly progress. In effect, a revolutionary leader spawned; Mohandas Gandhi. His great philosophical mind held innovative ideas which were instrumental in the achievement of Indian Independence- with his thoughtful ideologies and beliefs paving the way for oppressed Indians to ultimately unite against British imperialism. Consequently, this resulted in the monumental Satyagraha campaign that triumphed successfully against the British authorities.

After getting arrested and maybe a death sentence Nelson would still not let his people down. He tells the judge that he “was prepared to die secure in the knowledge that [his] death would be an inspiration to the cause for which [he] was giving [his] life” (Doc. L). He was going to lead the people as an inspiration dead or alive for freedom. Mandela wasn’t the only person who knew how to make their name heard the world around for being a decent leader Gandhi was too. Gandhi wanted to fast and make the world equal again. He has protested, but occasionally you couldn’t actually tell if it was a protest. He would lead people on to fast and pray for him to mock the opposing side. Gandhi says “this idea came to [him] last night in a dream that we should call on the country to observe a general hartal” (Doc. A). Gandhi is always coming up with respectable ideas for the people and ways to obtain free rights. MLK also had a say in this just halfway around the world. King was all for giving a person a voice and leading them to ways to end segregation. After getting arrested for boycotting, one hundred African-Americans went to jail; some of the people were transformed. After this he started to walk “with this feeling of solitude around me, I walked with firm steps towards the rear end of the jail” (Doc. K).

In the 1960s, many of the colonial nations of Africa were gaining independence. The ANC was encouraged and campaigned for democracy in South Africa. They were mild campaigns at first, but as the government became more hostile, so did ANC protests. In November 1961, a military branch of the party was organized with Mandela as its head. It authorized the limited use of arms and sabotage against the government, which got the government’s attention—and its anger! Mandela went into hiding in 1964, he was captured, tried, and sentenced to life imprisonment. It was a sad day for black South Africa.

Harassed, beaten, jailed. Three great leaders fought for their rights through thick and thin, without physically hurting the opposition; these men were Gandhi, Mandela, and King. Here they each faced the problem of inequality and achieved their goal peacefully moreover without harm to their oppressors. They drew attention to their respective plights and converted others to help their cause. Nonviolence implies that the participants will protest without the use of harm to their opponents notwithstanding of what harm falls upon them; they will not even raise a hand to protect themselves from said harm. Nonviolence works because King, Gandhi, and Mandela applied economic pressure, performed civil disobedience, and appealed to conscience; which

There is a lot of discussion about if passive resistance and nonviolent protests are the best way to bring about social change. The people who agree with this idea, such as Gandhi himself or Martin Luther King Jr., they were able to push their agendas with these methods and still be successful. Although it took some time for what they wanted to happen, they still came in time with patience. For example, when South African law required Indians to carry identity documents and to be fingerprinted, Gandhi encouraged Indians to openly disobey the act by picketing major government offices and burning identification papers, even though he faced jail time for this act, but he still persisted this for 8 years. Another example is when Gandhi refused

Since the dawn of mankind, there has been a struggle for power that has engulfed our race in a never ending conflict. Whether it has been a war or an internal conflict, our race has often chosen violence and death over peaceful resolutions. However, this is definitely not the case for some of the most important figures in the history of our race. Mahatmas Ghandi, the key figure of Indian independence from the United Kingdom, implored his people and followers to refrain from ever committing acts of violence in the name of life and liberty. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Civil Rights crusader from the 1960s, fought for the civil rights of all African Americans without ever imposing violence on any of his opponents. Of course civil disobedience

A key factor in the success of the Civil Rights Movement was the idea of using non-violent resistance. Non-violent resistance is the method of accomplishing one's goal by protest, civil disobedience, economic or political non-cooperation, satyagraha, and other practices that do not involve any violence. Civil Rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.’s non-violent resistance was inspired by the guidance of the Indian Leader Mahatma Gandhi. Throughout the 1930s and 40s, Mahatma Gandhi led India's independence from the British rule by communicating to them softly, stirring speeches, and many non-violent protests. He is one of the 20th century's most important figures and continues to be admired in India as a father of the society. King says that

While when discussing the history of the world’s power forces, violence makes for stimulating discussion, other tactics were put to good use, one of these alternatives being non-violence. With the guidance of three worldwide heroes - Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela - with contagious optimism and high spirits, it became apparent just how much of a difference could be made carried out through non-violent terms. Mankind was introduced to another way to resolve major problems just as effectively, if not more, than violence could.

A chapter in history can start by the acts of one powerful, passionate, and intelligent human being. Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. are great examples of individuals that turned the tide of history. Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were similar in many ways; they both believe that non-violent methods were more effective and efficient, they both believed in equality, giving people second chances and forgiveness. Though they had many similarities there was one key difference that differentiated the two, their religion. “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind.

In a real sense, Mahatma Gandhi embodied in his life certain universal principles that are inherent in the moral structure of the universe. These principles are as inescapable as the law of gravitation”. Thus, the relevance of nonviolent resistance in violent situations weakens the aggressor and emboldens the oppressed. This was highlighted in Gandhi’s nonviolent independent movement and King’s peaceful civil right movements in the United States. The bottom line is that, the British possessed enormous military, economic and political power to trash any local resistance in Indian decisively and quickly. Victory for the British in the India subcontinent during the independence struggle would be certain, taking the asymmetrical relations between the British and Gandhi’s civil resistance movements. The same circumstances apply to Martin Luther King’s nonviolent civil movements. As Gandhi’s programs made perorations within the English policies in India, so do United States policies towards its black population also expose them to international public

Broken windows, car alarms, smoke in the air, the frantic screams of those who are attacked by the raids of police officers are what come with the world of violent protest. Violent protest to a variety of people may lead to a conclusion, but not for all of them. With nonviolent protest our words are used as our weapons. We speak with the freedom of the first amendment, the right to civil disobedience and the satisfaction that we solved our issues in a justifiable manner. All around the globe we crave the immediate satisfaction of emotional rebellion regardless of the impact, which is why nonviolent protest is more effective than violent protest.

Throughout history there has been struggles between those being oppressed and the oppressors. Some of these struggles have been bloody, gruesome and violent while on the other hand some have been nonviolent and peaceful. Various methods have been used in order to make a stand against those that are in power. Mainly when a group of individuals come together violently or nonviolently they are able to create change and get their message across. Using nonviolent actions much can be achieved such as changes in government policies, challenge injustice, and can weaken a dictatorship. While the struggles of nonviolence differ around time, era, and groups the works an example of Mahatma Gandhi delivers different methods of nonviolence. In the novel

Aroused by the massacre of Amritsar in 1919, Gandhi devoted his life to gaining India’s independence from Great Britain. As the dominant figure used his persuasive philosophy of non-violent confrontation, he inspired political activists with many persuasions throughout the world (Andrews 23). Not only was Mahatma Gandhi a great peacemaker, but also his work to achieve freedom and equality for all people was greatly acknowledged. Gandhi’s unconventional style of leadership gained him the love of a country and eventually enabled him to lead the independence movement in India.