1. British India : Traders to Rulers
The Crown Jewel

2. East India Company
1600s British entered Mughal India (Islamic Empire) as traders—economic interest

3. East India Company
EIC struggled at first, but after defeating the French and the decline (weakening) of the Mughal Empire allowed them to become a dominant force in the region.
They shipped over British soldiers and hired and trained native soldiers to protect their interests.
As the EIC grew in strength they started taking hundreds of kingdoms
Alliances
Protectorates
Wars

6. Diversity
Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Farsi (Zoroastrian), Christians, Jews, etc.
India was diverse. 100s of languages and traditions
“Divide and Rule”
Encouraged competition and disunity.

7. Westernization Created roads, created army, police force etc
Created the idea of “India”
Legal codes
Established roads, transportation, and communication
Western education and reforms
“Sati” – Widow Burning
“Thagis” – organized murderers who practiced human sacrifice
Infanticide
Universities

8. SATI

9. British Rule
After the loss of the American colonies, the British took great lengths to respected the native’s culture and traditions of their colonies.
However, as they became more powerful they became more intolerant. Respect was replaced with inequality and mistreatment
Natives became second class citizens and servants to the British rulers.

10. Painful road to Self-Rule
Nationalism in India
Painful road to Self-Rule

12. WWI
Indians participated in WWI – hoping it would lead to greater reforms at home
No significant reforms were made
Indians became increasingly unhappy with their rulers

13. Amritsar Massacre Large peaceful protesters were shot by the British
Killed over 400
Wounded 1100
Women and children
It upset the Indians even more

14. Growing Nationalism Indian National Congress
mostly Hindu middle class with western education
believed in a peaceful protest to gain more power to the Indians (Self-Rule)
Independence of India
Muslim League—Represented interest of the Muslims
Muslims were afraid of Hindu Majority

15. Mohandas K. Gandhi Leader of the Indian National Congress
Iconic nationalist hero of India
He will unite Indians of different religion and classes to defy the British rule.

16. Mohandas K. Gandhi “Mahatma” (Great Soul) Organized Campaigns
Nonviolence
Ahimsa – “Non-harming” of all life
Civil Disobedience
Refusal to obey unjust rule
Boycotting (refusal to buy)
Equal rights : men, women, and caste
Untouchables : lowest class in Hindu society

17. Civil Disobedience Salt was monopolized by the British Salt March
It was illegal to take or sell salt without permission
Salt March
Gandhi and his followers made 240 mile march to the sea. Where he picked up lump of sea salt
Other Indians followed
Gandhi was arrested

19. Consequence Thousands of Indians were imprisoned, beaten, and killed
Showed the world the brutality of British Rule
Indians were gradually given more power