1. Notes The British in India

2. The British expand their empire to include India.
The British East India Company, known for tea, became interested in India because of its exotic trade goods.
- By mid-1850’s, Britain controlled 3/5th of India

3. What were the British Imperialistic Motives in India?
1. Economic:
India was a source of raw materials & served as a new market
Britain helped to modernize India by:
building roads, railroads & telegraph lines.
developing industry
Pushing the growth of cash crops; such as cotton

4. What were the British Imperialistic Motives in India?
2. Political:
British held top jobs in government (indirect rule)
Forced Sepoy’s (Indian soldiers) to serve in British military
3. Religion & Ideological
Spread Christianity
Improved medical care & education
British felt they were making improvements to Indian life

5. Native Indians resist British imperialism.
Sepoy Rebellion – (1858)
Sepoy’s rebel against British changes that violated their Hindu religion & massacre a British village
Result: British Parliament takes direct rule and military control of India

6. Indians resist British imperialism
2. Indian National Congress: (1885)
The goal of the Congress was to bring self-rule back to India.
Members included: educated Indian professionals & businessmen.
As a result of British education, Indians used ideas like democracy & equality against the British.
Indians also wanted these values for themselves.

7. Movement toward Indian Independence
On December 29, 1929 Jawaharlal Nehru drafted the Indian declaration of independence, which stated:
"We believe that it is the inalienable right of the Indian people, as of any other people, to have freedom and to enjoy the fruits of their toil and have the necessities of life, so that they may have full opportunities of growth. We believe also that if any government deprives a people of these rights and oppresses them the people have a further right to alter it or abolish it. The British government in India has not only deprived the Indian people of their freedom but has based itself on the exploitation of the masses, and has ruined India economically, politically, culturally and spiritually. We believe therefore, that India must sever the British connection and attain Purna Swaraj or complete independence."[35]

8. The Leader of the Indian Nationalism Movement was Mohandas Gandhi
1920’s – Embracing the ideas of democracy and equality, Gandhi led a movement encouraging Indian independence.
He used Civil Disobedience – the refusal to obey unjust laws through non-violent means with the goal of bringing about change.
An example was the Salt March in March, 1930
Gandhi protested the British monopoly on salt.
His protest led to Gandhi’s arrest but it brought
national attention to India’s fight for independence.

9. Indian Independence came in 1947.
(After WWII!)
Gandhi with Lord Mountbatten & his wife.
Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy in India.

10. A Modern Connection: What is the connection between Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Describe what is similar about the two pictures.
Why do you think using civil disobedience worked so well for Gandhi and later Martin Luther King Jr.?
What, if any, are the similarities between these two leaders?

11. Civil Rights in Alabama
4:50 min