Empire and India Flashcards
What did Churchill believe (against emancipation of India)
As the product of the Victorian era, Churchill was deeply influenced by the ‘white man’s burden’ as a means to govern primitive countries. He believed that the Indians couldn’t govern themselves at the moment and that by handing India to a caste-governed society this would bring despotism between Hindus and Muslims.
Limitation to his view against freedom of India
However, he did believe that Indians could govern India one day as he did support the liberal Simon Commission of 1928.
Opinions on laws to give India more self determination?
He opposed the Irwin Declaration of 1929(vague offer of dominion) and showed his opposition by making the ‘India Defense League’ in 1933 as well as being head of the British Empire Society.
He was supported by Lord Beaverbrook and Lord Rothermere.
His opposition to the India Bill of 1920 had previously failed as it manifested in the Government of India Act in 1935 which gave India some self-determination in controlling aspects deemed non-vital to Britain.
Opinions on Ghandi?
Gandhi and the Indian National Congress (INC)- He viewed Gandhi disdainfully, calling him a ‘half-naked fakir’ (Chamberlain supported him.) Churchill and Ghandi were the exact opposites of each other.
What did other Conservatives think of Churchill’s view?
Many regarded Churchill’s India Campaign as a means to remove Baldwin as leader of the Conservatives for supporting Macdonald’s India policy. However, the majority of Conservatives supported Macdonald’s India policy and was optimistic about giving India Dominion status in the near future, with liberal reforms being the key ingredient.
