Causes of Indian Independence and Partition

Question 1

Describe 1935 Government of India Act

Answer 1

Yet another compromise…

• Indian electorate from 5m-35m (still 10% of population)
• Made provinces self-governing
• Didn’t set a date for Dominion status and no changes made to central administration

Question 2

What did Churchill offer in August 1940?

Answer 2

A post-war settlement that would make India a Dominion after the war; INC rejected

Question 3

When was the Lahore Resolution and what was wrong with it?

Answer 3

March 1940; lacked clarity

Question 4

Describe Atlantic Charter

Answer 4

• August 1941
• Promised support for ‘sovereign rights and self-government’
• Ultimately failed and gave Hindus and Muslims justification to become more stubborn

Question 5

Describe Cripps Mission

Answer 5

• March 1942
• Sir Cripps (Labour MP) sent to India to offer full dominion status after war
• Indian people would elect an assembly to frame their new constitution but in return all Indian parties invited to join in an interim government of national unity under VR until end of war
• Congress rejected proposals on 10th April

Question 6

Evidence as to why the failure of the Cripps Mission was because of British

Answer 6

• Gandhi said the British were to blame for not offering enough
• Roosevelt also held view that British unwilling to concede self-governance

Question 7

When was the start of the Quit India Resolution?

Answer 7

August 1942

Question 8

Who was chosen to be chairman of the Boundary Commission?

Answer 8

Sir Cyril Radcliffe

Question 9

Evidence to show British could no longer afford India/no longer economically beneficial

Answer 9

• Wartime debts got to £70m/day by end of war
• Indian had cost £1.5m a year to run since 1933
• Indian government had placed high tariffs on British goods and Japan and USA were competing in exports to India
• Lost 11.7 tonnes of shipping in war and 54% of merchant fleet strength - less trade

Question 10

Describe Lord Mountbatten’s role in Indian Independence/Partition

Answer 10

• VR in March 1947
• February 1947, Attlee set out a plan to withdraw from India in June 1948
• June 1947, Lord M brought handover up by about 10 months to 15th August 1947 = little time to decide how to divide India’s administrative assets, physically move Pakistan’s share to its interim capital Karachi and to define the boundary between India and Pakistan

Question 11

Give examples of Nehru’s role in Indian Independence

Answer 11

• 1936 polls indicate INC extremely popular

- 1946 elections Congress won a 90% victory under Nehru

Question 12

How did Nehru destroy chances of a united India?

Answer 12

• 11th June 1946
• Nehru claimed the partition should be considered temporary and eventually a constitution would centralise Hindu/Congress’ power; ML then cancelled its acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Scheme

Question 13

Give examples of Jinnah’s role in Indian Independence

Answer 13

• Built up ML by reducing membership fees, opening new branches and recruited professionals to staff the party org.; w/in 2 years, party grew x10
• ML won 1945-46 election, promising Muslim homeland

Question 14

What did Jinnah call for following Nehru’s remarks?

Answer 14

16th August 1946 as ‘Direct Action Day’

Question 15

How did external factors bring about Indian Independence?

Answer 15

• Economic factors
• Bengal Famine 1943-44 (greatly damaged British rep despite Wavell trying to distribute food with military)
• Pressure from Roosevelt and USA:
  Atlantic Charter (signed by him and Churchill August 1941 which promised support for ‘sovereign rights and self-government’) as binding

Question 16

How could you argue for Gandhi’s role in gaining Indian Independence?

Answer 16

• Brought nationalist movement mass appeal through 3 major non-cooperation campaigns in 1919-22, 1930-31 and 1942
• Non-violent methods (strikes, boycotts, marches) = difficult for British to respond
• Embarrassed British internationally (1930 Salt March)
• Tried to unite Hindus and Muslims helping to present united front to British e.g. after Amritsar Massacre April 1919

Question 17

How was Gandhi’s role in achieving Indian Independence limited?

Answer 17

• Campaigns sometimes collapsed into violence (1922 Chauri Chaura; police opened fire on protestors)
• Gandhi tended to call off a movement when things didn’t suit him e.g. in 1922 when a crowd burned down a police station and in 1931 having secured a bargain with VR Lord Irwin who didn’t even keep terms
• Gandhi rejected politics without religion and alienated secular support
• Insisted Congress represented all and so didn’t recognise minorities like Muslims or Untouchables and so often divided nationalist movement/hindered progress e.g. Second Round Table Conference September 1931 where he attended as only Congress representative

Question 18

Describe the Cabinet Mission

Answer 18

• Lawrence, Cripps and Alexander sent to India by Attlee on 24th March 1946 to maintain united India and secure Britain in Asia
• They stayed in India for over 3 months and second Simla conference held in early May to go over proposals; partition not acceptable
• Proposed 3 clusters of provincial governments (federal system similar to states with overall government uniting them) : one for Congress’ Hindu heartland; one (predominantly) Muslim are and one in Bengal and Assam
• Nehru made his comment… once Congress controlled AIU it would do as it pleased