Final answer:
Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation movement to promote Indian self-rule and resist British domination through nonviolent means. The movement united the country by involving all sections of society and reducing internal divisions. Gandhi's strategy of nonviolence also had significant international influence, impacting civil rights movements globally.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Mahatma Gandhi Launched the Non-Cooperation Movement
Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation movement in the early 1920s to resist British rule and advocate for Indian self-rule. The movement called for a boycott of British goods and institutions, urging Indians to rely on home-grown products and local institutions. The essential premise was to undermine the British economy in India and showcase Indian self-reliance and nonviolent resistance against British laws perceived as unjust.
Unity Through Non-Cooperation
This movement united the country by fostering a broad-based participation across diverse sections of society. Gandhi's adherence to nonviolence attracted a mass following, and he became the leader of the Indian National Congress in 1921, transforming it into a party of the masses. The call for a unified approach against the British included all religions and castes, which helped diminish internal divisions and bolstered a pan-Indian identity.
Influence and Outcome
The Non-Cooperation movement set the foundation for subsequent campaigns and ultimately the Indian independence movement. It fostered nationalistic feelings among Indians and called attention to the harshness of British colonial rule. Mahatma Gandhi's leadership and philosophy of nonviolent resistance had profound impacts both in India and internationally, influencing civil rights movements around the world, including the African-American struggle for civil rights in the United States.