Nonviolent Movements Achieve Social Change

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Nonviolent Movements Achieve Social Change Non- violent movements are a way for groups of people to achieve change and create an impact in the society. The labor, African American, and Vietnam anti-war peace movements were significantly successful in abolishing harsh working conditions, gaining civil rights for blacks, and withdrawing from the Vietnam War (Upchurch). Non-violent and violent movements have been used throughout history to evoke change in the society, obtain equality, civil rights, and peace. While violent protest result in the same changes, non-violent methods can ultimately go beyond local violent protest, spread nationally through movements, and protest without requiring violence. These events because of the non-violent protests have forever changed the American society, creating better work, race, and foreign country relations. The success of the labor, African American, and the 1960’s anti-war peace protest prove that nonviolent approach is the most effective means of attaining social change. Violent strikes during the Labor Force Movements in 1865-1919 were ineffective in attaining social change. This movement began due to wage cuts, and the new modern machinery used in factories, replacing workers and creating protest. In 1892, the Homestead strike resulted in a bloody clash between workers and management. Andrew Carnegie, an American industrialist who made a fortune from the steel industry, and Henry Clay Frick, an American industrialist financer, presented the union a review, which included a substantial pay cut (Danver). On June 28, 1892, Frick, without warning, shut down the plate mill and open health department, leaving 800 unemployed. “Over the next few days, Frick laid off one hundred to two-hundred... ... middle of paper ... ...lated the scale of dissent to a truly national level, calling for a march on Washington to protest the bombing. On 17 April 1965, between 15,000 and 25,000 people gathered at the capital. (Barringer) In 1968, widespread opposition within the government started to occur, and in March 25, all democrats and Johnson eventually withdrew from the war (Barringer). This proves how nonviolent protest like the anti-war protest are effective in attaining social change compared to the violent approaches from the Weathermen Undergrounds and Jackson State College. While violent movements may prove to be somewhat effective, ultimately Labor Force, African American, and Peaceful nonviolent protests proved to be the most effective in attaining social change, because they improved working conditions, gained rights for blacks, and influenced military withdraw from the Vietnam War.

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