2.1 - india Flashcards
When was the East India Company set up?
1600
What was the aim of the EAC?
To dominate the spice trade and stop the Dutch and french. They did this by setting up their own army bases in India.
Definition of paternalistic attitudes?
Superior attitude shown by the EAC towards the Indians.
What happened in the Indian Mutiny of 1857?
Bc of rumours suggesting the cartilages of ammunition from the British used pigs fat, 400 British men and women were killed by the Indians.
In response, the British killed many Indian villages and the British Raj was set up.
When was the British Raj set up?
1858
What is the policy of ‘divide and rule’ ?
Used by the British which provoked rivalries and bought princes to prevent them from uniting to form a serious opposition.
Definition of paramount power
Britain became the most powerful under the British Raj
Describe the religion and society of India before 1914
- In 1914 there was around 350 million people living in India
- There were three main religious groups: the Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. Under the Mughals, there was constant fighting between Hindus and Muslims.
- 80% of the population were Hindu.
How did society and religion before 1914 contribute to difficult Anglo-Indian relationships?
The British struggled to agree with Hindu’s caste system. British believed in upward mobility and asked people Hindus to work outside their caste.
The British were ignorant to religious needs of the Indians e.g Mutiny of 1857
What is the Indian Civil Service?
Within India, a group of individuals who ensured British rules, laws and regulations were implemented in India.
What is the weakness of the ICS?
Indians were in theory allowed to join.
H/E = entry requirements stated they must have a British university education.
In 1905 = 5% of the ICS was Indian.
What does the Secretary of State do?
Based in Britain, this person was chosen by Queen Victoria and Parliament to have responsibility for British affairs.
What was the role of the Viceroy?
Supreme power in India
Did Britain control India completely, if not why?
No
Bc princes governed 35% of the country. There was 565 princely states. where they had their own laws and languages, but under the protection of the British.
How did the British negatively and economically impact India?
British imports was cheaper than domestic goods. So, Indian products suffered.
For example, in 1879 Lancashire cotton flooded the market and famine happened bc Indian cotton farmers couldn’t sell their products.
How did the British positively and economically impact India?
India received 1/10 of all British overseas investment. over half of this way used for railway development, tea and coffee plantations. Which is good for India because it created jobs and networking.
H/E = evidence from today shows that this didn’t benefit the Indians but the British.
Were all British people privileged and did they support the British Raj?
No, business men and merchants didn’t support the paternalistic attitude shown by the Raj.
There were 110,000 Anglo-Saxons
Give an example where the Indians accepted the Raj
The Raj provided millions of Indians jobs in the form of servants.
People accepted the Raj because of the economic security they gave.
How did the English language effect India?
It became a unifying factor between the dozens of languages being spoken.
The language brought words such as democracy and imperialism.
Who were the Indian National Congress?
Delegates in 1885 = mainly high-class Hindus who spoke English
Lawyers, teachers, journalists, landowners and businessmen.
Did other groups join Congress?
There were two muslims in 1885 and 83/600 in 1888
There were some British delegates as well
What was the impact of Congress?
During this time, they were a discussion form and not a political party.
H/E = they became a powerful voice for Indian nationalism
How was congress divided?
They were divided by the moderates such as Gokhale and the extremists Bal Tilak who wanted to use violence for independence.
When did the Muslim League form?
1906, in Dhaka
Why did the Muslim League form?
The muslims were the minority within India. Therefore, the Hindus would outvote their needs.
How did the Indian Councils Act 1909 come about?
This is the outcome of a series of reforms by Secretary of State (John Morley) and viceroy (Lord Minto)