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Gandhi Nonviolent Resistance

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The act of civil disobedience is a prominent contribution to the America we are familiar with today. Throughout history, influential leaders have utilized their right of freedom of speech to further impact society. By choosing to disobey, many leaders have been able to systematically change society and have remained relevant today. Peaceful resistance to law positively impacts a free society by demonstrating the power behind a strong, assertive voice, fighting for progress against an unjustly formed government. Henry Thoreau took a strong stance against the government when it came to two controversial topics: slavery and America's role in the Mexican- American war. His written account, Resistance to Civil Government, provided insight into …show more content…
He believed in opposing government without violence and praised those who did so, as stated in On Nonviolent Resistance. Gandhi himself showed society how to properly protest and resist government from his participation in the Salt March. The British Salt Act imposed a heavy tax on salt which was an essential mineral to Indians, and resulted in the poor being greatly affected. His resistance consisted of breaking the British law by making salt from seawater and peacefully marching with fellow believers in the "satyagraha." Even though Gandhi was arrested, the aftermath of the Salt March proves that disobedience is indeed effectual. After his release, he was able to overturn the act and grant India their independence. Gandhi accepted the consequences of resisting government, but doing it peacefully, proved the long term effects greatly impacted society in a positive …show more content…
When it was announced that the Dakota Access Pipeline was approved for construction, there was a vast amount of disapproval. The pipeline would be crossing over a Native American reservation along with the risk of contaminating the water. Smaller protests began in mid- 2016, but as the year went on, the numbers were swelling to thousands. Though it was recently announced that the pipeline would go through, the individuals who protested displayed a prime example of civil disobedience. Many protesters. accepted the consequences of being arrested and threatened with tear gas, but remained true to their beliefs. With the recent presidential election, it's an understatement to say that many people disapprove of who took office. Not long after Donald Trump was elected, thousands of people took the streets to protest against him. Masses of people stormed the streets of major cities including Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago, etc., to express their disapproval. One of the most recent marches we've seen is the Women's March that took place a day after his inauguration. Both men and women protested for women's rights, intersectional feminism, and other popular social issues. The perseverance of these modern day protesters mirrors the social leaders we read about in textbooks. Though there hasn't been a resolution to some of these problems, the anticipation for change is still

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