Consultation and Confrontation, 1930-42 Flashcards
In what year was the first Round Table Conference held?
1930
Who notably did not attend the first Round Table Conference?
Congress
The Second Round Table Conference was in 1932. Who did not attend?
Jawaharlal Nehru
Which British political parties attended the first Round Table Conference?
Conservative, Labour and Lib Dems (big 3)
Who was the British prime minister and Labour Party leader at the time of the first conference?
Ramsay MacDonald
How many delegates represented the British overall?
16
How many delegates represented the Indians overall in the 2nd RTC?
58
How many representatives did the Princes send?
16
What countries within the Commonwealth had previously been granted dominion status?
New Zealand,Canada, Australia
What was agreed at the first Round Table Conference?
India would be run as a type of dominion
Dominion would be a federation that included the princely states as well as 11 British provinces
Indian participation in all levels of govt
How many British provinces were there In the agreed first RTC plans, alongside the princely states?
11
What city was inaugurated as the administrative capital of the Raj in February 1931?
New Delhi
Who was the Viceroy at the time (FEB 1931)?
Lord Irwin
What was significant about the architecture of the new city?
the design of the administrative buildings were classical - the secretariat buildings and viceroy’s residence were designed to convey the permanence and solemnity of the Raj - the message was clear; India would be welcomed into the ‘family’ of British dominions
Name one Muslim representative at the Round Table Conference, other than Jinnah?
Iqbal - The Aga Khan (spiritual leader of the Ismailis, a small Muslim sect)
Who represented the Sikhs?
Master Tara Singh
Who represented the Untouchables?
Dr Ambedkar
How many delegates attended the third Round Table Conference?
Only 46 and none from Labour or Congress
Why was there political upheaval and instability in Britain in 1931?
Economic instability (depression, high unemployment, economic collapse)
Labour govt resigned after splitting and was replaced by a Tory-dominated coalition
What did Churchill set up to campaign for a continued strong British presence in India?
India Defence League
How many Conservative MPs supported him?
around 50
Which Viceroy replaced Lord Irwin ?
Why was this a significant change? Who did he not like and why?
Replaced by Lord Willington
He thought Gandhi was a dangerous Bolshevik - significant change from Lord Irwin who liked Gandhi
This attitude coloured his later attitude to national agitation
This dislike for Gandhi (and the Gandhi-Irwin Pact) led to him adopting stricter measures against protestors (alienated nationalist opinion)
Who was arrested on 4th January 1932?
Gandhi, one week after his return from the second RTC
How did the British clamp down on Congress in 1932, following the collapse of the Round Tables?
Congress was outlawed, all members of the CWC and Provincial Committees were imprisoned, youth orgs banned
How many Indians, mostly Congress members, were imprisoned in 1932?
within 4 months, over 80,000 Indians were arrested
How did the Indians display their anger and discontent at the imprisonment of Congress leadership in 1932?
Reaction was quick but disorganised and uneven due to a lack of leadership
- Boycotts on British goods
- Non-payments of tax
- Youth orgs became very popular
- Terrorist activity
- More women involved
Which areas became particularly tense, with increased violence and terrorist activity?
United Provinces and Northwest Frontier Province became essentially armed camps
What did Ramsay MacDonald announce in August 1932?
What did it outline?
Communal Award - Designated Sikhs, Indians, Christians, Anglo-Indians and Untouchables + Muslims as separate classes which were entitled to separate electorates
How did Gandhi react to the Communal Award in 1932?
Gandhi was furious - the inclusion of the Untouchables was the final straw as he had worked previously to help them. They were also Hindus in his mind
Launched the fast-unto-death
What is the expression of a common Middle Eastern and Asian way of registering a deep personal protest?
Fast-unto-death
What was the name of the pact made between Gandhi and the Untouchables?
Yeravda Poona Pact
How many seats were allocated to the Untouchables in provincial legislatures (Yeravda Poona Pact)?
71 seats on the provincial legislatures
What percentage of Central Assembly seats would be allocated to Untouchables (Yeravda Poona Pact)?
18%
What else was funded by the Yeravda Poona Pact?
Education of Untouchables
What British newspaper supported the All India Defence League?
Daily Mail