How was Gandhi’s revolution for independence

unique, in comparison to other revolutions?

My driving question is helped to be answered by my research questions be-

low. The research questions look at different aspects of Gandhi’s revolution

for independence and compare them to other revolutions. The aspects I

am looking at are stages of revolutions which are a broad introduction to

the revolution and what made it unique. The tactics, which address how the

revolution was conveyed at what made it successful. Events that occurred

after, which help to distinguish if the revolution was “revolutionary” in

changing the countries. Major events, which is all about what significant

events occurred, and made Gandhi’s revolution for independence success-

ful and why they occurred, as well as comparison to the other revolution’s

major events. I will be comparing Gandhi’s revolution for independence to-

ward the English Revolution, American Revolution, and the French Revolu-

tion.

What are the specific stages of revolution that Gandhi’s

revolution went through, and how are they different than

other revolutions?

French Revolution

Phase One—Preliminary Stage Symptoms (The Old Order)

• Economically weak – the government has deficits and must tax

• Politically weak – the government is ineffective and cannot enforce pol-

icy; inept ruler

• Intellectuals desert – reformers speak out against the government

Phase Two—First Stage Symptoms (Moderate Regime)

• Financial breakdown

• Role of force – the government cannot repress the rebellion

• Dual Sovereignty – there is a better organized and obeyed government

• Moderates Attain Power – e.g., make a new constitution; fight a war

Phase Four—Recovery Stage Symptoms (Thermidorian Reaction)

• Radicals Repressed; moderates gain amnesty

Indian Revolution

Phase One—Preliminary Stage Symptoms (The Old Order)

• Intellectuals desert – reformers speak out against the government

(Unique)

• Class Antagonism – there is a conflict between the old regime and new

forces (Shared with English)

Phase Two—First Stage Symptoms (Moderate Regime)

• Symbolic actions/Dramatic events – rallying point against the old regime;

government protests increase (Shared with American and English)

• Role of force – the government cannot repress the rebellion (Shared with

the French and American)

Phase Three—Crisis Stage Symptoms (Radical Regime)

• War (civil and foreign) (Shared with the English and American)

Phase Four—Recovery Stage Symptoms (Thermidorian Reaction)

• Radicals Repressed; moderates gain amnesty (Shared with all)

American Revolution

Phase Two—First Stage Symptoms (Moderate Regime)

• Symbolic actions/Dramatic events – rallying point against the old regime;

government protests increase

• Role of force – the government cannot repress the rebellion

• Moderates Attain Power – e.g., make a new constitution; fight a war

Phase Three—Crisis Stage Symptoms (Radical Regime)

• War (civil and foreign)

Phase Four—Recovery Stage Symptoms (Thermidorian Reaction)

• Radicals Repressed; moderates gain amnesty

English Revolution

Phase One—Preliminary Stage Symptoms (The Old Order)

• Class Antagonism – there is a conflict between the old regime and new

forces

Phase Two—First Stage Symptoms (Moderate Regime)

• Symbolic actions/Dramatic events – rallying point against the old regime;

government protests increase

• Moderates Attain Power – e.g., make a new constitution; fight a war

Phase Three—Crisis Stage Symptoms (Radical Regime)

• Radicals Take Control (coup d’etat) – small number of devoted, disci-

plined radicals govern

• War (civil and foreign)

In conclusion, of the 6 stages of revolution the Indian revolution went

through, most are shared with 1 or 2 other revolutions. This means that

these revolutions went through some similar precursors but were very dif-

ferent in outcome and execution.

What tactics and ideals made Gandhi’s revolution for in-

dependence successful, and how are they different than

other revolutions?

Tactics of Gandhi’s Revolution for Independence

The Salt March- Gandhi took mud from a beach and boiled it to make salt,

which was illegal for Indian people at the time, along with over 100,000

other people. Regarded as the first mass demonstration.

Boycotts- Gandhi and his followers boycotted and destroyed foreign im-

ports such as cloth and liquor, which stirred up massive support from towns

and villages affected

Letters- Gandhi would send letters to British officials asking for indepen-

dence and to lower taxes and British spinning, and if they weren’t met,

there would be protest.

Media and the Press- Gandhi used public outlets as a way to gain follow-

ers and interest in the revolution.

Religion and Patriotism- Gandhi used religion as a way to gain followers

by leading public prayers and rose flags to gain support of the Indian peo-

ple and the world.

English Revolution- The English revolution’s tactics were based mostly on

battles and possession, rather than fighting for independence through

protests and not cooperating with the government.

American Revolution- The English left the United States when they lost

control of one of the biggest cities, New York, and had already lost Boston.

As well, the American revolution was based mostly upon battling for the

ownership of a city or piece of land rather than protesting.

French Revolution- The French revolution was an economic and govern-

mental power struggle for the “parlement” to try and take Power from Louis

the 16th. The tactics of the revolution was the National Assembly devising

a Constitution that took the king out of power and then soon after killed him.

This is much different than the Indian revolution which took protests and

speeches, which brought followers and soon enough gathered enough sup-

port to give the English no choice but to grant India its independence.

Why was Gandhi’s revolution for independence needed?

Was it for similar reasons to other revolutions?

Segregation- The English government would segregate Indians and other

races into communities in England, and lower public services in those ar-

eas, as well, the standard of living lower in that area despite income. This

resulted in people hoping for independence from the British government to

live where they wanted with who they wanted.

Starvation- Over 40 million people were underfed in India. The lowering in-

come of Britain caused the taxes in India to raise in order to compensate,

thus costing some their livelihood and food.

WWII- The British “took over” the Indian army and sent them into World

War 2 to fight for the Allies. This was done without consultation of the In-

dian government and was a major catalyst for the Indian population to fight

for independence.

French Revolution- The French Revolution was needed because the

monarch (Louis 16th) was overtaxing the people with a variety of fake taxes

to get the country of France out of debt. As well, people were being op-

pressed from the feudal contract was in place at the time.

English Revolution- King Charles I taxed the English people to fund a war

with France and Spain. Soon after, he changed the Church of England to

talk about the English Reformation. The population was not happy with this

and thought that the King was trying to force religion change to Catholi-

cism. Then, the king was trying to impose more taxes on the English but

was denied by the Parliament, and then members of Parliament were

killed. The Parliament then took control of the army and then captured the

King, who was eventually executed. This is a very different reason for revo-

lution that the Indian revolution and is quite similar to the French Revolu-

tion.

American Revolution- The British Colonies in the US were heavily taxed

and had no place in the British government. Soon after, because of this,

rebels started fighting against British soldiers in America. The end result

was many battles, which in the end the American people managed to take

New York and Boston and drive the British influence and claim indepen-

dence. In the American Revolution, the people are overtaxed, which is a

common factor in many revolutions, and had no say in the British govern-

ment. This is very similar to India, who was overtaxed, and had no say in

the what the British government did. But, the Americans fought a bloody

war to gain their independence, which is different than India’s tactics.

What happened after Gandhi’s revolution for indepen-

dence that allowed it to remain successful? Were the other

revolutions similar in cause and result?

After independence was achieved by India, there was civil unrest because

of the power struggle between Muslim and Hindu Indians. The end result of

this conflict was that India was separated into 2 separate states, the Union

of India and Dominion of Pakistan. The result of the separation was the

death of over half a million people dying in the resulting genocide. The peo-

ple who died were casualties of many riots, and violent outbreaks, which go

against the very beliefs of the Indian people’s revolution for independence.

English Revolution- After the monarch was overthrown in 1660, the British

people worked to restore the monarchy system to the British government.

Soon after, King Charles, who had disappeared years earlier, was invited to

take back his Kingship. This is very different to India because India went

right back into conflict, while England found a monarch to govern them.

American Revolution- After the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which

gave America independence, America was divided into separate states and

trading with other countries began. This is very different than what hap-

pened in India, as the US started its journey to being a trader and a colo-

nizer.

French Revolution- After the French gained independence in 1799,

Napoleon, a general in the army, led the armies into the taking of Egypt,

Austria and other countries. Napoleon was changing France’s government

to a dictatorship in which he had the power. He also changed the laws of all

these countries to one set of laws where all people are equal. This is the

opposite of what happened in India because India had separated into 2

states will Napoleon and France was attempting to take these countries for

France and make them adhere to his laws.

What are some events that occurred during Gandhi’s revo-

lution for independence that helped it to succeed? Is there

a pattern of events between the revolutions?

The Salt March, March 12th, 1930- This was the beginning of the non co-

operation movement which was a series of events when the Indian people

stood up to the British laws such as boycotting foreign items, liquor, and

sometimes food. It also brought global interest and more Indian people

joined the revolution. Gandhi marched 240 miles in order to boil mud to

make salt. At the time, making salt was illegal in India for anybody not

British.

The Quit India Movement- The Quit India Movement was a protest that dur-

ing which, in a speech, Gandhi called for Britain and all of the British forces

to vacate India to allow independence. The movement was a failure and

the many of the leaders were imprisoned, including Gandhi. After the lost of

the leaders, there were many more unorganized protests which evolved

into thousands of arrests. A major protest in the movement was when over

500 people attempted to go to a police station to hoist the flag of India and

were successful.

Most of India’s main events or timeline of its revolution was based upon

protests to the English government. The English, French, and American

revolutions main events are battle which would later determine if indepen-

dence would be achieved. Also, the English and French revolutions in-

cluded removing monarchs from power with a opposing government and

later trying them for tax crimes and eventually executing them. There isn't a

pattern between the Indian Revolution compared to others, there isn't a pat-

tern because all events in a revolution are unique and can have different

outcomes.

How did Gandhi’s motives, ideals, and actions affect the

Indian revolution for independence? Were leaders in the

other revolutions like this?

Gandhi would go on tours around all of India to see the struggles that all

the people were going through. His intelligence and knowledge of the

British government and politics were all weapons he used against the

British to spread his revolution. Despite being imprisoned many times and

having people at his riots killed by British soldiers, he remained calm and

let the world see the British soldiers killing and seriously injuring many non-

violent protestors. As well, Gandhi lead many prayers and non- cooperation

movements that helped inspire independence in the people of India.

French Revolution- The french revolution was lead by Napoleon Bonaparte,

who was a power hungry dictator, who took other countries by force and

imposed his laws on them. He is quite different from Gandhi, who lead by

example and inspired changed.

American Revolution- The American revolution was lead by a group of men

who lead their armies into many battles. There was no absolute leader of

the revolution until after the fact, when George Washington was selected

as the President of the United States to lead his country to growth and

prosperity. Gandhi lead his revolution through until the end as the identifi-

able leader that inspired the people of India to protest for change, and to

fight for their rights. The idea of protesting for change in the leaders was

the same, but the execution and exact amount of leaders is different.

English Revolution- Oliver Cromwell was the Commander of the English

Rebellion in the Civil War. He pushed to get King Charles out of power and

was the main reason for the power. He was a strict leader over the English

people. He often had curfews, closed bars/ inns, and believed everybody

had to live by the Bible. Despite banning these things, Cromwell often en-

joyed them to himself. Gandhi and Cromwell are different and similar. They

both advocate religion, and strictness. Cromwell supported a life of strict-

ness while Gandhi supported a strictness of diet, prayer, and protests.

My Driving Question- How was Gandhi’s revolution for independence

unique, in comparison to other revolutions?

Gandhi’s revolution was unique in many different ways. Compared to other

revolutions, it had many new tactics. The motive for this revolution was sim-

ilar to some revolutions like the American and French revolutions. They

were similar because they both had motive to rebel because of taxes. The

way the leaders affected the revolution are quite different. While Gandhi led

the Indian revolution by example, Napoleon and Cromwell were both lead-

ers that ruled by exercising power over the people. Gandhi affected the In-

dian Revolution by leading by example, and by using media and peaceful

protests as a way to get his message across. The events that occurred dur-

ing Gandhi’s Revolution for Independence were similar in motive and

sometimes cause, but were different in execution and protests.