INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT

INDIA AS A COLONY OF GREAT BRITAIN  For most of the Nineteenth Century, India was ruled by the British. India was considered the jewel in the crown of the British Empire. Queen Victoria had been made Empress of India and the British had a major military presence in India. 

BRITISH RULE AND INDIA’S PEOPLE  Under British rule, Indians lacked equal job opportunities. They were not allowed to advance to high positions in government service or to become officers in the army.  In 1885, a number of Indian lawyers and professionals formed the Indian National Congress. Members of the organization belonged to various religions and came from all parts of India.  Purpose: Congress members debated political and economic reforms, the future of India, and ways for Indians to achieve equal status with the British.

MUSLIM LEAGUE  Some Muslims believed the Indian National Congress was a Hindu organization pushing for Hindu rule in India.  In 1906, several Muslim leaders, encouraged by the British, formed the All- India Muslim League. Members of the organization sought to give the Muslims a voice in political affairs. However, most Muslims continued to support the Indian National Congress.

INDIA AND WWI  When World War I broke out in 1914, Britain declared that India was also at war with Germany. Indian troops fought in many parts of the world. In return for support, the British promised more reforms and agreed to let Indians have a greater role in political affairs. Nevertheless, protests against the British continued.

THE BRITISH ROWLATT ACTS  In March 1919, the British passed the Rowlatt Acts to try to control protests in India.  This act gave the British power to send Indians to jail for up to two years without a trial.  In 1919, British authorities opened fire on a large gathering of Indians in the town of Amritsar.  The British justified this act by claiming this protest was illegal.  400 people were killed and 12oo wounded.  This massacre made Indians all over the country furious, and almost overnight they were united in a call for complete independence from Britian.

MOHANDAS GANDHI  Following the slaughter at Amritsar, Gandhi began to urge Indians to refuse to cooperate with British laws they felt were unjust.  He also urged them to be sure they did nothing violent in their protests.  His goal was to show the world the injustice of British colonial rule in India.  Gandhi’s plan was one of what he called civil disobedience (the non-violent refusal to obey an unfair law)  Indians all over India began to follow Gandhi’s lead.  They boycotted British-made goods, refused to attend second-class schools, and refused to pay unfair taxes.

 The British authorities responded to Gandhi’s peaceful protests with violence, Indians were often arrested or beaten.  Gandhi and his followers refused to do the same. The world watched as the British Empire found itself unable to stop the protests and Indian refusal to obey British laws.  In 1935, the British government passed the Government of India Act that gave India some self-government.

WWII  1. When WWII broke out, Great Britain offered India dominion (control or the exercise of control) status in the British Empire if they would help the war effort. This would mean more independence for India, but not complete independence.  Gandhi and the Indian National Congress refused the offer. They would not take sides in Britain’s war with Germany and Japan.  The Muslim League, however, had begun to worry that Indian independence might mean rule by the more numerous Hindus, so they supported the British war effort. Muslims in India hoped to be rewarded after the war ended.  While many Indians did help the British war effort, support for the war became tangled up in India’s desire for independence.

INDEPENDENCE FOR INDIA  At the end of WWII, Great Britain granted India their independence.  Great Britain could no longer afford to support India.  Indian Hindus and Indian Muslims are in a conflict. In order to avoid fighting, The country was split into three sections.  1. Hindu India would be located in the center.  2. East Pakistan (Indian Muslims)  3. West Pakistan (Indian Muslims)  On August 15, 1947, British rule in India came to an end!!

PARTITION OF INDIA Indian Muslims Indian Muslims Hindu Indians

QUESTIONS:  Review the questions.  Write the questions and answers on the study guide sheets.       559.