Gandhi's Nonviolence Dbq

Throughout the history of mankind human beings have created many conflicts among one another and because of this we have experienced various types of war. It is human nature to quarrel but that does not mean it has to end in blood. Overcoming a suppressor does not require rioting or bombings, there is a way that involves peace instead of violence, and it can make an even larger impact. This was the approach Mahatma Gandhi took when he lead the backlash against the Europeans which controlled India in the mid 1900s. The reasons Gandhi's nonviolence movement worked was because Gandhi was level headed and respectful to the Europeans, all while holding firm to his peaceful tactics.
In the March of 1930, Gandhi wrote to an English governor, named Lord Irwin, that was currently residing in India. Gandhi wrote to inform the governor that he would be leading his followers to the sea and they would break the Salt

Tax, a law the English emplaced which greatly affected the poor. Within this letter Gandhi writes, “Before embarking on Civil Disobedience and taking the risk I have dreaded to take all these years.” (Document A, Paragraph One) Which displays the respect Gandhi has for the English, he does not want to disobey them- he even says he dreads it- but he doesn’t feel as though their laws are fair. As well as in the popular political cartoon (Document D) drawn by The London Graphic Illustrator, which portrays the English as a lion sitting directly in Gandhi’s lap while he is sprinkling salt on the lion's tail. The cartoon is meant to reflect Gandhi and the English’s relationship, sprinkling salt on the English to signify he is trying to ‘catch them’ or stop them for enforcing these laws, though neither party looks hostile towards each other.
Gandhi was a level headed, down to earth and civil man. Throughout the hypothetical ‘fight’ between his followers and the Europeans, he was never once stunned by his pride. Gandhi remained sure to his determination and the idea what he was working for was bigger than him, the nonviolence movement was not for personal gain concerning Gandhi himself, but for the citizens across all of India as a whole. This selflessness was demonstrated as he was thrown into jail over and over again- spending a total of 2,338 days in prison. (Document C, Note) “I had just heard (that my fellow Indian protestors) had been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor, and had been fined a heavy amount…. If these men had committed an offense, I had committed a greater offense and I therefore asked the Magistrate to impose upon me the heaviest penalty.” (Document C, Paragraph One) His loyalty to his cause and disregard to how it would affect himself was a key factor to the success of his movement because had he been selfish, it would’ve became a corrupt and violent movement instead.
Gandhi held true to his peaceful tactics, which greatly helped his nonviolence movement continue to move swiftly and efficiently in attempting to provoke change within India.

“My ambition is no less than to convert British people through nonviolence and thus make them see the wrong they have done to India.” (Document A, Paragraph Two) Gandhi clearly said he did not want to hurt the Europeans, he believed the Europeans forcing ways of life on the Indians was unjust, but he did not want to respond with any negative emotions. This peaceful approach remained a tactic within the movement because as Gandhi held firm to it, his loyal followers mimicked that as well. Gandhi’s words to Lord Irwin, “I do not intend to hurt a single Englishman.” (Document A, Paragraph One), were proven to be truthful ones when six years later the march at Dharasana occurred. While police begin to beat his followers with steel clubs, Gandhi’s peaceful remained cemented within them all. “Not one of the marchers even raised an arm to fend off the blows.” (Document B, Paragraph

Two)
Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolence movement was extremely successful, in fact it was the reason India gained independence. Gandhi and his followers could have taken the bloody and vengeful route, because sure, it would’ve produced change, but maybe not the type they were hoping for. The fact of the matter is that the peaceful movement worked. It worked because Gandhi held true to his peaceful beliefs throughout all the struggles he was faced with, and he remained a level headed man who held the Europeans in a respectful light. Gandhi was able to accomplish a great change that the nation desperately needed.