8. India 1919-47 Flashcards
1
Q
Why did support for the INC grow after WW1?
A
- Many Indians felt Britain owed them something for India’s contribution (independence)
- The Russian Revolution in 1917 - showed that it was possible to overthrow the British
- The collapse of the Ottoman Empire - overthrown by Muslims - showed Indian nationalists that their goal was possible
- The creation of new European states - angered Indians as Britain was willing to create new states in Europe but wouldn’t grant India independence as they ‘weren’t fit to rule’ their own affairs
- The Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921 - Britain conceding to nationalism - direct action of the British, rather than Russians or Ottomans
- Gandhi (leader of INC) recruited masses to his campaign - the INC gained support from the riots
- Britain had ignored the idea of self-rule in the Government of India Act 1919 - angered many Indians
2
Q
What was the Government of India Act 1919?
A
- Introduced a system of double government
- Marked the first introduction of democracy into the British governance of India
- Introduced by Edwin Montagu (SOS) and Lord Chelmsford (Viceroy)
- Separated responsibilities between the provincial governors and elected Indian ministers - Indians didn’t really have any power because finances were controlled by the provincial governors
- Provincial governors controlled: law and order; police; land tax and irrigation
- Indian ministers controlled: education; public health; agriculture; forests and fisheries
3
Q
How did the Government of India Act 1919 change India?
A
- The Viceroy retained control of major areas e.g. defence and foreign affairs - his councils remained a purely appointed body but it had to defend its actions before a legislative council
- The legislative council was split into: a lower house (the legislative assembly) and an upper house (the Council of State)
- Provincial councils run by Indian ministers took responsibility for local government, health, education and agriculture
- The Viceroy could legislate by decree for 6 months in an emergency
- The British regarded the reforms as a compromise to critics of British rule in the INC
- The British hoped the reforms would weaken popular support for the INC
- The reforms were viewed as the first step towards self-government
- It was seen as a key turning point because independence was denied meaning demands grew but it was also the first introduction of democracy
4
Q
What was the Rowlatt Act?
A
- A law passed by the British colonial government in India in 1919
- Gave the authorities the power to arrest and detain political activists without trial
- The act was widely opposed by Indians, who saw it as a violation of their civil rights and an attack on their political freedoms
- The opposition of the Rowlatt Act led to widespread protests and strikes, and was a key factor in the growth of the Indian independence movement
5
Q
What was the Amritsar massacre of 1919?
A
- British troops opened fire on a peaceful gathering of Indian protesters who were protesting against British colonial rule
- The British government claimed that 379 were killed and 1200 wounded but the INC claimed 1000 were killed and 1500+ injured
- The event had a significant impact on the Indian independence movement and is an example of British colonial brutality
6
Q
What were the Round Table Conferences in 1930 and 1931?
A
- They were held in London to discuss the future of India and its relationship with Britain
- Gandhi represented the Congress at the second conference
- Britain rejected self-governing status for India because of doubts about the competence of non-white leaders and people as well as concern for India’s strategic and economic importance to Britain
- No agreement was reached
7
Q
What was the Simon Commission?
A
- The Simon Commission was a group of British politicians who were sent to India in 1927 to review the terms of the Government of India Act of 1919 and recommend changes
- The Simon Commission recommended:
- A federal system of government to be created across India, incorporating both provinces and the princely states
- The provinces be given more power
- Defence, international security and foreign affairs should remain in the hands of the British Viceroy - ensured overall British control
8
Q
What was the Government of India Act of 1935?
A
- Major constitutional reform that established provincial autonomy in India and expanded the role of Indians in central government
9
Q
How did the Government of India Act 1935 change India?
A
- It made the provinces completely self-governing - more control over their own affairs
- It expanded the role of Indians in the central government
- It introduced a federal system of government - divided the power between the central government and the provinces
- Elected Indian parliament - 1/3 appointed by the princes and the rest elected; 1/3 of elected seats were reserved for Muslims
HOWEVER… - The Viceroy still had the right to dismiss laws and suspend the constitution
- Britain maintained control over key areas such as defence, foreign affairs and finance
10
Q
Why did Indians oppose the Government of India Act 1935?
A
- The INC opposed it because it fell short of the independence of the white dominions and because they wanted to completely free of British rule
- Princely states rejected federal India because they wanted to retain their independence from the rest of India
- It was criticised in India for not going far enough
- It was criticised in Britain for going too far
11
Q
What was the Quit India campaign?
A
- The movement was a civil disobedience campaign launched by Gandhi and the INC in 1942
- The movement demanded an end to British rule in India
- The campaign called for non-violent resistance and mass protests
- The campaign was met with harsh crackdown by British authorities
- Many Indian leaders were arrested
- The movement was ultimately unsuccessful in achieving its goals
- However it displayed Indian attitudes towards British rule
12
Q
What was the Partition of India?
A
- India received its independence in 1947
- It was the division of British India into two separate counties, India and Pakistan, in 1947
- The partition was based on religious lines - the predominantly Muslim areas of India became the new state of Pakistan
- The partition resulted in widespread violence and displacement - millions of people forced to flee their homes and migrate to the other side of the border
- 400,000 died during the conflict that had led to the partition
- Shows how the British were quick to get out - didn’t provide time for India to prepare
13
Q
Who was Mohandas Gandhi?
A
- Political and spiritual leader who played a key role in India’s struggle for independence from British rule
- His leadership and ideas inspired millions of people around the world
- Leader of the INC and led numerous campaigns of non-violent resistance - Salt March and Quit India Movement
- His national campaigns for full independence began after the 1919 Amritsar massacre
14
Q
What were Gandhi’s beliefs?
A
- Favoured peaceful resistance to British rule (satyagraha) e.g. strikes, boycotts, protests and peaceful disobedience
- Wanted a united India with tolerance of equal rights for Hindus and Muslims
- Rejected divisions among Hindus based on the caste system
- He wanted an independent India built on spiritual and social traditions - wanted a predominantly agricultural and rural society - rejected the urbanisation and industrialisation of the west
- He believed religion was fundamental to the conduct of human affairs
15
Q
How important was the role of Gandhi in gaining Indian independence? (Important)
A
- Gandhi was prepared to talk with the British to share his vision on an independent India
- Gandhi helped organise the civil disobedience campaign which led to India being ungovernable
- Gandhi was involved with the peasants of India - rallying the masses to his cause
- His leadership brought increased support and direction to the nationalist movement
- Gandhi’s methods made it hard for the British to respond as they believed in the ‘civilising mission’ of the empire - breaking up non-violence with violence hardly fulfilled this - damaged the British reputation of being ‘civilisers’
- He led and was involved in many campaigns and protests for Indian independence
