Independence Movements Independence in India

World War I Heightens Nationalist Activity Prior to World War I, Indians had little interest in self-rule or independence When World War I began, the British promised India reforms that would eventually lead to self- government (provided at least a million Indian soldiers) 1918 – Great Britain had no desire to give India independence (self-rule) – many Indians revolted

World War I Heightens Nationalist Activity 1919 – Great Britain passed the Rowlatt Act – allowed the government to jail protestors without trial for as long as two years (denial of trial by jury) – more violence erupted Amritsar Massacre – British soldiers fired on Hindus and Muslims who had gathered to protest the Rowlatt Act – Indians demanded independence from Great Britain Armistar Massacre

Gandhi’s Principle of Nonviolence Mohandas K. Gandhi – leader of India’s independence movement Promoted use of civil disobedience – the deliberate and public refusal to obey an unjust law Gandhi called on Indians to refuse to do the following – buy British goods, attend government schools, pay British taxes, and vote in elections

Gandhi’s Principle of Nonviolence Encouraged Indians to weave their own cloth and boycott British cloth (a huge source of wealth for the British) Salt Acts – Indians could buy salt from no other source but the government (they also had to pay taxes on salt) Salt March – Gandhi and his followers walked 240 miles to the seacoast to get their own salt

Gandhi’s Principle of Nonviolence Police officers attacked defenseless marchers outside a salt plant (a place where the British government process salt) – world journalists reported the violence against unarmed and nonviolent Indians 1935 – Great Britain passed the Government of India Act (provided for local self-government and limited democratic elections)

Religious Tensions 1947 – India gained independence from Great Britain Sri-Lanka-formerly known as Ceylon gained its independence Religious differences led to the Partition of India – India (Hindus) and Pakistan (Muslims) Pakistan included East and West Pakistan Civil War broke out between East and West Pakistan – East Pakistan became Bangladesh Muslim League

Republic of India World’s largest democracy Federal system with much power given to the states Jawaharal Nehru- a close ally of Gandhi’s supported Western style industrialization 1950 Constitution sought to prohibit caste system discrimination

Republic of India  Indira Gandhi was the first female Prime Minister of India from  During the Cold War, she maintained a close relationship between the USSR and India.  Under her leadership, India developed a nuclear program.

Republic of India  Ethnic and religious differences caused problems in India developing a democracy  New economic development has helped to ease the financial problems of India.