Download Document Study: Mao Zedong and Gandhi

Document Study: Mao Zedong and Gandhi
PART 1: MAO ZEDONG QUOTES
A revolution is commonly understood to be an event which seeks to overthrow one political order in society and replace it with
another. In China, Mao Zedong (1893-1976) wanted to overthrow the rule of the Guomindang (or “Nationalists”) and establish a new
communist political order under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party that he headed. As demonstrated by the following
quotations, Mao believed that violence and support from the masses were necessary for the achievement of a communist revolution
against imperialism.
A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so
refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution is an
insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another.
The revolutionary war is a war of the masses; it can be waged only by mobilizing the masses and relying on them.
War is the highest form of struggle for resolving contradictions, when they have developed to a certain stage, between
classes, nations, states, or political groups, and it has existed ever since the emergence of private property and of
classes.
Every Communist must grasp the truth, "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."
Our Principle is that the Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to command the Party.
We the Chinese nation have the spirit to fight the enemy to the last drop of our blood, the determination to
recover our lost territory by our own efforts, and the ability to stand on our own feet in the family of nations.
Communists should be the most farsighted, the most self-sacrificing, the most resolute, and the least
prejudiced in sizing up situations, and should rely on the majority of the masses and win their support.
Weapons are an important factor in war, but not the decisive factor; it is people, not things that are decisive.
The contest of strength is not only a contest of military and economic power, but also a contest of human
power and morale. People necessarily wield military and economic power.
History shows that wars are divided into two kinds, just and unjust. All wars that are progressive are just, and
all wars that impede progress are unjust. We Communists oppose all unjust wars that impede progress, but
we do not oppose progressive, we actively participate in them.
The seizure of power by armed force, the settlement of the issue by war, is the central task and the highest
form of revolution. This Marxist-Leninist principle of revolution holds well universally, for China and for all
other countries.
Without armed struggle neither the people nor the Communist Party would have any standing at all in China
and it would be impossible for the revolution to triumph. In these years … without armed struggle the
Communist Party would assuredly not be what it is today. Comrades throughout the Party must never forget
this experience for which we have paid in blood.
Thousands upon thousands of martyrs have heroically laid down their lives for the people; let us hold their
banner high and march ahead along the path crimson with their blood!
Be resolute, fear no sacrifice and surmount every difficulty to win victory.
The enemy will not perish of himself. Neither will the Chinese reactionaries nor the aggressive forces of imperialism in
China step down from the stage of history of their own accord.
Find FOUR quotes that you believe best illustrate Mao’s view that violence and the support of the masses are necessary
to promote revolutionary change and explain the relevance of the quote to supporting that point of view.
QUOTES
EXPLANATION IN YOUR OWN WORDS
PART 2: GANDHI PRIMARY SOURCE
Directions: Read the primary source below. Annotate the passage on the right – this includes underlining, making
clarifying notes, and asking questions in order to demonstrate your greater understanding of the piece.
Mohandas Gandhi’s Speech to the Indian National In this space: summarize main ideas, ask questions,
connect to content you have already learned, write
Congress - 1942
There are people who have hatred in their hearts for
your opinion etc.
the British. I have heard of people saying that they are
disgusted with them. The common people's mind does
not differentiate between a Britisher and the
imperialist form of their government. To them both
are the same…
I know full well that the British will have to give us
our freedom when we have made sufficient sacrifices
and proven our strength. We must remove the hatred
for the British from our hearts. At least, in my heart
there is no such hatred. As a matter of fact, I am a
greater friend of the British now than I ever was.…
At the time when I am about to launch the biggest
action in my life, there can be no hatred for the British
in my heart. The thought that, because they are in
difficulties, I should give them a push is totally absent
from my mind. It has never been there. It may be that,
in a moment of anger, they might do things that might
provoke you. Nevertheless, you should not resort to
violence; that would put non-violence to shame. …
Non-violence is a matchless weapon, which can help
everyone. I know we have not done much by way of
non-violence and therefore, if such changes come
about, I will take it that it is the result of our labors
during the last twenty-two years and that God has
helped us to achieve it.
When I raised the slogan "Quit India" [a call for
Indians to nonviolently resist the British, and for the
British to leave India] the people in India, who were
then feeling despondent, felt that I had placed before
them a new thing. If you want real freedom, you will
have to come together, and such a coming together
will create true democracy—the like of which has not
so far been witnessed or attempted.…
…My democracy means that everyone is his own
master. I have read sufficient history, and I have not
seen such an experiment on such a large scale for the
establishment of democracy by non-violence. Once
you understand these things you will forget the
differences between the Hindus and Moslems.
…I want you to adopt non-violence as a matter of
policy. With me it is a creed, but so far as you are
concerned I want you to accept it as policy. As
disciplined soldiers you must accept it in total, and
stick to it when you join the struggle.
Source:
http://www.phschool.com/atschool/primary_sources/a
ll-india_congress_speech.html
PART 3: Using the Documents to Prep for Debate
For the document from YOUR assigned historical figure:
1. How does this document better help you understand your role or your focus? What specific
ideas/quotes issues can you use in your debate outline?
For the document from YOUR OPPONENTS’ historical figure (if you are Mao, then for Gandhi and
vice versa):
1. How does this document help you understand YOUR OPPONENT?
2. Find a specific quote or idea to disagree with in your Counterargument paragraph and in your debate.
What reasons will your character give to disagree with this quote/idea?