Global Studies Packet
Mahatma Gandhi & Indian Independence
Name ______
Due Date ______
Mahatma Gandhi and Indian Independence
Use pp. 201-204 of World Cultures: A Global Mosaic to complete this activity.
1. To Mohandas Gandhi, India’s struggle for independence had to be won by ______means. Gandhi campaigned to achieve independence through ______means.
2. When Indians increased their demands for independence, Britain responded with harsh new laws limiting freedom of the ______and other ______in India.
3. List four facts about the Amritsar Massacre.
- ______
- ______
- ______
- ______
4. The Amritsar Massacre was a turning point in India’s struggle for independence because it:
- deepened ______of the British
- led to increased ______
- stirred many Indians to call for complete ______from Britain
5. Mark the following statements as true or false.
______Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1944.
______Gandhi united many groups within the nationalist movement.
______Gandhi inspired the common people of India to work for change.
______Gandhi didn’t win the backing of Indians who had benefitted most from British rule.
6. Provide details about Gandhi’s background.
- What was his social class? ______
- What was his religion? ______
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- Where did he study? ______
- What did he study? ______
- Where did he practice law and develop his ideas? ______
7. Define the following.
- Satyagraha- ______
- Civil disobedience- ______
8. Gandhi’s goal of Satyagraha was to “______.” He hoped to make the world aware of British ______by accepting punishment without ______.
9. Match the following using the text.
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______How Gandhi encouraged traditional industries
______Way Gandhi was like devout Hindus
______What Gandhi’s followers called him
______Way Gandhi was like the Buddha
______What Gandhi called untouchables
______Way Gandhi reached out to Muslims
A. Harijan, which means “Children of God”
B. He included them in his campaign to unite all Indians
C. He spun cotton and dresses in poor white garments
D. Mahatma, which means “Great Soul”
E. He rejected some features of the caste system
F. He often fasted and emphasized virtues as morality and self-discipline
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10. Define boycott- ______
11. List three facts about the Salt March.
- ______
- ______
- ______
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12. Mark the following statements as true or false.
______Indians wanted to fight in World War II.
______The Indian National Congress refused to support the war unless Britain promised independence.
______Gandhi and other organized a “Quit India” movement.
______The British killed more than 20,000 Congress members.
13. List two reasons why Britain realized it could no longer keep India.
- ______
- ______
14. Number the events in the order they occurred. #1 = First, #2 = Last
______Divisions grew between the Hindu Congress party and the Muslim League.
______Muslims, led by Ali Jinnah, demanded a separate Muslim nation.
______Hindus and Muslims cooperated in the nationalist movement.
15. List four facts about the division of India.
- ______
- ______
- ______
- ______
16. Provide details about Gandhi’s death.
- How did he die? ______
- How does the book describe his killer? ______
- Why did the killer do it? ______
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Mahatma Gandhi Notes
We will complete these notes as a class.
1. What was Gandhi’s given name?
2. When was he born?
3. What was Gandhi’s religion?
4. Where did Gandhi go to college?
5. What was his profession?
6. Where did Gandhi’s activism start?
7. What event sparked Gandhi’s activism?
8.What was Gandhi’s attitude toward the British Empire at that time?
9.How did Gandhi’s appearance change around the time he returned to India?
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10.What part of Indian society troubled Gandhi upon his return to India?
11.What does “Mahatma” mean?
12.What happened at the city of Amritsar?
13.How did Gandhi’s attitude toward the British Empire change after the events at Amritsar?
14.What was Gandhi’s most famous protest?
15.What was the reasoning behind this protest?
16.What did Gandhi call his methods of protesting?
17.What is the most important part of this method of protesting?
18.What is the ultimate goal of this type of protest?
19.When did India gain its independence?
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20. Why was Gandhi upset about the way India gained its independence?
21. How were the lives of Indians drastically changed as a result of independence?
22.How did Indians react to this change?
23.How did Gandhi help end the trouble?
24.When did Gandhi die?
25.How did Gandhi die?
26.Why is Mahatma Gandhi important to India?
27.Why is he important to the world?
28.What famous American was influenced by Gandhi?
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Textbook Questions
Three Nations from One Colony (p. 440)
1. What company controlled British trade in India?
2. Who were the sepoys?
3. After what event did the British government make India an official British colony?
4. What party did Indians form to seek independence from Britain?
5. Who was the head of that party?
6. What did he preach?
7. What other party was seeking Indian independence from Britain?
8. Other than independence, what did this party want?
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9. When did Britain give up India as a colony?
10. What new countries were formed? What religions dominated each of the countries?
11. How did the people respond to the division of India? Provide statistics.
12. What nation was formerly known as East Pakistan?
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Biography of Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, India. He became one of the most respected spiritual and political leaders of the 1900's. Gandhi helped free the Indian people from British rule through nonviolent resistance, and is honored by Indians as the father of the Indian Nation.
The Indian people called Gandhi 'Mahatma', meaning Great Soul. At the age of 13 Gandhi married Kasturba, a girl the same age. Their parents arranged the marriage. The Gandhis had four children. Gandhi studied law in London and returned to India in 1891 to practice. In 1893 he took on a one-year contract to do legal work in South Africa.
At the time the British controlled South Africa. When he attempted to claim his rights as a British subject he was abused, and soon saw that all Indians suffered similar treatment. Gandhi stayed in South Africa for 21 years working to secure rights for Indian people.
He developed a method of action based upon the principles of courage, nonviolence and truth called Satyagraha. He believed that the way people behave is more important than what they achieve. Satyagraha promoted nonviolence and civil disobedience as the most appropriate methods for obtaining political and social goals. In 1915 Gandhi returned to India. Within 15 years he became the leader of the Indian nationalist movement.
Using the principles of Satyagraha he led the campaign for Indian independence from Britain. Gandhi was arrested many times by the British for his activities in South Africa and India. He believed it was honorable to go to jail for a just cause. Altogether he spent seven years in prison for his political activities.
More than once Gandhi used fasting to impress upon others the need to be nonviolent. India was granted independence in 1947, and partitioned into India and Pakistan. Rioting between Hindus and Muslims followed. Gandhi had been an advocate for a united India where Hindus and Muslims lived together in peace.
On January 13, 1948, at the age of 78, he began a fast with the purpose of stopping the bloodshed. After 5 days the opposing leaders pledged to stop the fighting and Gandhi broke his fast. Twelve days later a Hindu fanatic, NathuramGodse who opposed his program of tolerance for all creeds and religion assassinated him.
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Biography of Mahatma Gandhi
1. For what is Gandhi most remembered?
2. What does ‘Mahatma’ mean?
3. Who was Gandhi’s wife? How many children did they have?
4. What and where did Gandhi study?
5. How long did Gandhi stay in South Africa?
6. What did Gandhi call his system of protesting?
7. What was the most important part of this system?
8. How many years did Gandhi spend in prison?
9. What did Gandhi often do to impress upon people the importance of nonviolence?
10. How did Gandhi stop the violence that occurred after India was partitioned?
11. Who assassinated Gandhi?
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Mahatma Gandhi Study Guide
Each Friday, we will have a quiz on the week’s packet. The most important things to know are on this study guide.
1.Mahatma Gandhi and Indian Independence
- Describe the:
- Amritsar Massacre
- Salt March
2.Mahatma Gandhi Notes
- Identify:
- Gandhi’s religion
- Gandhi’s schooling
- Gandhi’s profession
- where Gandhi’s activism started
- meaning of Gandhi’s nickname
- how Gandhi ended violence after independence
- Gandhi’s assassin
- American influenced by Gandhi
- Describe:
- how Gandhi’s clothing and attitude toward the British empire changed
- the partition of India
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