AsiaPolitically Prominent People & Events

Mahatma Ghandi•Born in a privileged

caste in India•Became a devout

Hindu who believed in tolerance, nonviolence and self discipline.

•Went to law school in England and later moved to S. Africa

In S. Africa•He experienced terrible discrimination and

segregation due to his Indian ethnicity•He embraced a campaign of civil

disobedience for 8 years. As a result, many were jailed, flogged or shot.

•Finally, a compromise was reached & Indian marriages were allowed and poll taxes were exempt for Indians in S. Africa.

Back in India

•In 1914 Ghandi went home to India•He was upset by how the people were

oppressed by Great Britain.•He began to encourage people to stand

up to the colonial power through peaceful strikes and protests.

•By 1920, he was the most visible figure championing complete Indian independence from G.B.•He stressed economic independence for India•He boycotted British-made goods and British

legislatures & schools•As a result of his wide appeal and mass

organization, he was jailed

New campaign in 1930•He protested GB’s unfair salt tax

•This tax greatly hurt the poorest people•He led a 250 mile march to the sea to

collect salt (illegal act)

Results

•Ghandi continued to use peaceful means of protest (such as hunger strikes) to help people in India

•He gained so much political influence and respect that GB realized they had to negotiate with him

•GB agreed to alleviate poverty, granted status to the “untouchables” and enshrined rights for women

•Eventually, GB agreed to India’s independence

•India gained formal independence in 1947•However, GB insisted that India be broken into

two countries: Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India.

•Ghandi’s next goal was to build peace and tolerance between the two nations.

•In 1948, Ghandi was assassinated.•Although Ghandi was nominated for the Nobel

Peace Prize 5 times, he was never granted the honor.

•Ghandi has influenced numerous peaceful revolutions in many countries.

•Who are some of figures he has influenced?

http://www.biography.com/people/mahatma-gandhi-9305898/videos/mahatma-gandhi-a-legacy-of-peace-12169795858

Mao Zedong

Mao-earlier days

•Born into a wealthy farmer’s family•Became a devoted Marxist-embraced

communist ideology•Advocated revolutions against traditional

types of gov’t.

China’s Civil War

•In the 1920’s China’s Nationalist Party (KMT) massacred 5000 Communists in Shanghai. This began the civil war between the KMT and CCP (China’s Communist Party).

•Mao led the Autumn Uprising. 90% of his peasant army was killed by KMT.

•In 1928, KMT recognized as official gov’t of China.

•Mao continues to recruit and build forces.

•He eventually is elected to lead a province in China

•He had over 200,000 landlords tortured and murdered

•After this, he was demoted •Followers were forced to flee

the province

Long March•The fleeing of 85,000 Red Army Troops and

loyal followers led to the “Long March”•People walked over 4000 miles in

horrible conditions to reach a safe province.

•ONLY 7000 SURVIVED•Surprisingly, Mao received the status as

leader of CCP

•Civil war is paused during war between China and Japan

•Afterwards, Mao’s army (newly named PLA-People’s Liberation Army) defeats the KMT

•China officially becomes People’s Republic of China in 1949 with Mao as chairman.

•Radical Reforms:•2-5 million landlords were executed•Their land was redistributed to poor

peasants•800,000 killed to suppress possible

revolutions•Wealthy people & suspected capitalists

were targeted and received public humiliation & beatings

5 Year Plan & Great Leap Forward•1953-1958 1st 5 Year Plan: 5 years to

boost agriculture and steel production•1958 2nd 5 year plan: dubbed THE GREAT

LEAP FORWARD-China to become leader of industry•Farmers forced to stop farming and to

concentrate their efforts on smelting iron•As a result, 30-40 MILLION PEOPLE

STARVED TO DEATH from 1958-1960. This was known as the Great Famine.

Mao Falls from Grace

•The CCP is upset with the death toll.

•They take away his power although he still was officially a leader in the party.

•CCP obtains food to feed those who are starving.

Mao’sBack

•In 1966, Mao starts the Cultural Revolution in China.•Creates Young Red Guards who destroy the “4

Olds”: old customs, culture, habits and ideas.•Ancient artwork, texts, temples were burned

and destroyed•Intellectuals were beat to death.•CCP leaders against Mao were killed or exiled•This continued through his eventual death.

Mao’s Legacy

•Founding Father of Modern China•Caused more death than Stalin or

Hitler

Tiananmen Square•1989: University Students started a peaceful

protest at Tiananmen Square (Bejing, China)•The protest was to honor a Communist leader

who championed democratic reform in the party--Hu Yaobang AND to protest corruption in the gov’t AND to demand freedom of speech

•Over 1 million people protested•The gov’t ordered that the demonstration be

squashed because it undermined the gov’t.•The gov’t killed between 250-7000 protesters.

•The gov’t never announced the official death toll so it is still unknown.

•People are still not allowed to openly talk about it in China.

•Most Chinese people under the age of 25 have never heard about this event.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdhVe2MmPbE

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lGyZpbA_tY

Tank Man

25th Anniversary

Liu Xiaobo •Human Rights Activist, Author &

Academic in China•Founder of Charter 08•In 2009 he was jailed for 11 years

for subversion (undermine power of authority)

•Global attention

•He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 while he was imprisoned.

•He is still in prison today.• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MfAjC3y-j0

Ho Chi Min