Benefits of the Movie:     The only constant is change. This documentary graphically demonstrates that as war has become more violent, people have adapted by developing a new political force of immense power: nonviolent action by masses of people. This film shows the origins of the movement with Gandhi in South Africa and India. It describes five other examples of nonviolent mass action at work. Nonviolent mass action continues to be a major source of political and social change throughout the world. TeachWithMovies.com believes that no student will have a good grasp of modern world or U.S. history without an understanding of nonviolent mass action, its history, and its uses.

A Force More Powerful is a documentary that provides its own historical background. Our independent research has confirmed many of the historical facts presented by the movie. This Learning Guide will provide additional background on the situations featured in the film and more examples of important political and social changes created by nonviolent mass action.

The story of the Nashville sit-ins and Reverend James Lawson is particularly relevant to U.S. students. ... Another important benefit of the film is that at least two of the major actors were relatively young when they served as leaders of nonviolent mass action. James Lawson was 30 years old and Mkhuseli Jack was 27.