Gandhi and The East India Trading Company Salt

Gandhi and The East India Trading Company Salt Tax

What are we learning? Objective • Students will be able to compare theme of nonviolence in different genres. Demonstration of Learning • Given two, short literary works, students will create a double bubble thinking map in order to demonstrate the similarities and differences in the ways in which nonviolence is depicted.

Gandhi Background • Brainstorm… 1. What do YOU know about Gandhi? 2. Write your responses on your white board.

Gandhi Background • Think-Pair-Share 1. Turn to your neighbor and compare your responses. 2. If there is something that you feel should be added to your board, please add on!

Gandhi Background • Whip Around Share Out… 1. As we share out ideas, please put a check mark next to ideas that you also have on your own board. This way, we will hear a new idea with every response.

Gandhi Background • What we know… Gandhi lived in India.

Gandhi Background • What we know… During Gandhi’s lifetime, India was controlled by the British in England. (Can you imagine if America was actually ruled by China, and we had to follow Chinese laws and follow those traditions? )

Gandhi Background • What we know… Gandhi attended law school in England.

Gandhi Background • What we know… Although Gandhi fell in love with English customs, he realized that his native people in India were suffering under British rule.

Gandhi Background • What we know… Gandhi would devote the rest of his life to working towards India’s liberation (freedom) from British rule.

Gandhi Background • What we know… One way that Britain imposed its rule was through a tax on salt.

Gandhi Background • What we know… This salt tax paid the British people who brought the salt to India. It did not raise revenue (money) for the Indian nation.

Gandhi Background • What we know… Gandhi felt that this was unfair. He said, “Next to air and water, salt is perhaps the greatest necessity of life. It is the only condiment of the poor…”

Gandhi Background • What we know… Gandhi decided to begin a peaceful revolution against this tax in order to make strides towards India’s liberation.

Let’s learn more… • Please read the article entitled, ““Why did Gandhi march 240 miles for salt? ” • During your article notation, pay close attention to themes of nonviolence throughout the document.