Global Studies Packet
Mahatma Gandhi &
Indian Independence
Name ____________________________
Due Date _____________________
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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Mahatma Gandhi Notes
We will complete these notes as a class over the course of the week.
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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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, Nathuram Godse who opposed his
program of tolerance for all creeds and religion assassinated him.
http://www.indianchild.com/mahatma_gandhi.htm
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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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