history- asian imperialism Flashcards
British East India Company
Economic interest in India -> took over India
Has its own army staffed by sepoys (Indian soldiers)
Western influences in India
Western education and legal procedures
No caste system
No slavery, etc.
Sepoy Rebellion
Rumor spread that new bullets for rifles were greased with fat from cows (sacred to Hindus) or pigs (Muslims can’t eat)
When told to load rifles->sepoys refused to bc they had to bite off cartridges -> arrest sepoys ->sepoys rebel -> brutal fighting on both sides, Britain eventually put down rebellion
What divided India after sepoy rebellion
Some wanted independence form British rule, come just wanted more rights under British rule
What happened as a result of the sepoy rebellion
British govt took tighter control on india->direct command over India and sent more troops -> British raj (with British viceroy
Why was India considered britains most valuable colony
Many raw materials and new markets and customers and people to work
What did Britain prohibit in India to benefit themselves
Indians required to produce raw materials (cars crops, no food crops->famine)
Indians must purchase only British goods
Benefits of British colonialism
Improved transportation, improved communication, damn/verges/irrigation canals, sanitation and public health improved
Ram Mohun Roy
Called for modernization of India politically and socially
Adopt western ways
Believe that unless Indian modernized they’d continue to be controlled by others
Why were Indians mad ->Sparks nationalism
And why did they start a nationalist movement
They hated the system that made them second class citizens in their own country Schooled in western ideas such as democracy and equality
Two nationalist groups in India
Indian national Congress (congress party) and Muslim league
What was the goal of the nationalist groups
Independence from British rule
Ideals of Indian national Congress
Believed in peaceful protest
Called for a greater democracy
Called for self-rule/home rule
Supported western style modernization
Indian national Congress was primarily…
Hindu
Jawaharlal Nehru
Leader of the congress party
Became the first prime minister of India
Mohandas K Gandhi ideals
Nonviolent civil disobedience
Willing to except the consequences of your actions
Satyagraha= “soul force”
Gandhi’s four general principles
- live as simply as possible, never striving for material reward
- be tolerant of the religious beliefs of others
- devote ones like to service of others
- battle injustice in all of its forms but never resorting to violence
What is nonviolent civil disobedience
Peacefully not obeying unjust laws
Why was the Muslim league formed
Didn’t like Hindu domination of the congress party
Worried that Hindu-run government would oppress Muslims
Called for an independent Muslim state
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Head of the Muslim league
Became the first leader of Pakistan
Why did Gandhi only wear homespun clothing
Says not to buy clothes from stores because those clothes are British clothes and we shouldn’t give them our money-> make your own clothes instead
Also disobeys law that outlaws Indian textiles
Describe the events of the Amritsar Massacre
Thousands of people were meeting and one man was talking about nonviolence and peaceful protest-> British army enters and open fire on unarmed crowd without warning
Effect of the Amritsar Massacre
Gandhi requests self-rule and warns British that they simply cannot control the Indians if they choose not to give their cooperation
The salt march
What tax does Gandhi decide to fight-> salt tax
How was he going to fight it -> Make his own salt-> shows Britain doesn’t control their lives (bc salt=life )