Both Mahatmas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. were influenced by Henry David Thoreau's essay, "Civil Disobedience." Have students research and read, using the Internet, the first part of Thoreau's essay. Then have students write an essay analyzing how Thoreau's writing influenced Gandhi and King. Have them include in their essay the following:1. What is the focal point of "Civil Disobedience?"2. Did Gandhi and King agree with everything in Thoreau's essay?3. How did Thoreau's philosophies influence Gandhi and King?4. How did Gandhi influence King? This lesson plan was created to accompany the Alabama African American History Calendar Project.