Thrown off the Train

Gandhi, a wealthy Indian lawyer, was traveling on a train in South Africa in 1893. He was sitting in his first class seat when he was asked about his ticket. Gandhi had bought himself a first class ticket, but because he was considered colored they did not care. Although he was Indian he was treated like a black man. When he refused to move his seat the workers kicked him off.

Just Indians were required by law to carry a pass with them at all times in South Africa. As a way of rebellion many Indians including Gandhi attempted to burn their passes in 1908, but the British police came to stop them. Gandhi was committed to Burning the passes. So he had them all collected in a box and continued to burn them while the police beat him with a stick each time he tried to burn another. 

Burning the Passes

In the early 1900's India was very poor, most people lived in ashrams and very few people had money. During this time Gandhi and his wife move into an ashram. An ashram is a poor community where many people and families go to live when they can't afford a place of their own. Everyone living in the ashram is required to work together as a community to build the houses and take care of the chores.

State of India/ Living in an Ashram/ Poverty in India

Day of Fasting and Prayer/ Living in an Ashram/ General Strike/ Amritsar Massacre

Gandhi set up a general strike in 1919. He called it a Day of Fasting and Prayer in order to not get in trouble with the British. On this day, the Indians did not attend work or leave their houses at all . By doing this they showed the British that without the Indians they could not function. 

In the Amritsar Massacre there were 1,516 casualties and 1,650 bullets used. This happened when the Indians tried to all meet in a confined space with only one entrance/exit. The Indians ere not aware of the new law passed, no gathering for protests, so they did it anyways. The British troops came, and left them no way out, so the Indians were running around looking for somewhere to go while they were getting shot and killed.

In 1921, while walking in the street, a few Indians were beaten by police officers. When a group of Indian protesters saw this they attacked the police. The police ran and took cover in a building, but the protesters followed. They were able to break the windows and throw fire in, causing the building to light on fire. This forced the police out of the building where they were killed by the angry protesters. When Gandhi found out about this he went on a hunger strike to try and stop all the violence.

Protesters/ Police Killed/ Gandhi Fast

In 1930 Gandhi lead a walk to the shore of the Indian Sea. While walking Gandhi gained many followers who supported him along with his cause. When they arrived at the shore Gandhi did something amazing, he made his own salt. This is amazing because it shows that India no longer needed Britain or relied on them for things, especially salt. It also proved the British didn't control the biggest industry in the world all alone. 

March to Sea/ Salt Tax/ Raid on Dharasana Salt Works