How Effective Was The British Response To The Changing Political Landscape In India, 1920-30?

Question 1

What was the political situation at Westminster?

Answer 1

The Government of India Act was due for review in 1929, but was also a scheduled for a general election in which the Labour Party may win and policies in India would never veer left

Question 2

When was the Simon Commission?

Answer 2

1927

Question 3

What was the reasoning for the Simon Commission?

Answer 3

To see how the Government of India Act was working

Question 4

Why was the Simon Commission received badly?

Answer 4

No Indian members alluring to the fact that the future of India was to be decided by the British and Indians would have no part in deciding their own future

Question 5

How was the Simon Commission received? (3)

Answer 5

• Greeted by booing, jeering, waving black flags and shouting slogans like ‘Simon go home’
• Boycotted the commission
• Refused to give evidence to the commissioners

Question 6

Who assisted the Simon Commission?

Answer 6

Muslims from provinces where they were in a majority, Anglo-Indians, Sikhs, Untouchables hoped for a better future under a Hindu-dominated Congress

Question 7

Who won the general election in Britain in 1929?

Answer 7

Labour

Question 8

How was the Labour government different to the previous Conservative government?

Answer 8

Ramsay McDonald (new Prime Minister) was sympathetic to the demands of Congress

Question 9

When was the Irwin Declaration?

Answer 9

October 1929

Question 10

What did the Irwin Declaration entail?

Answer 10

Reiterated the Montagu Declaration of 1917 and added that the attainment of dominion status would be the natural development of this.

Question 11

What were Indian representatives invited to?

Answer 11

London to a Round Table Conference where details of a new Indian constitution would be hammered out

Question 12

How did the Congress Working Committee react?

Answer 12

Welcomed the announcement and called upon the British government to demonstrate its good faith by declaring an amnesty for all Indian Political prisoners

Question 13

How did Irwin react to the amnesty?

Answer 13

Thought it was a step too far

Question 14

How did Indians react to Irwin’s decline of the amnesty?

Answer 14

Led to more terrorist attacks, including the bombing of the Viceroy’s train and the destruction of the carriage next to the one in which he was travelling

Question 15

What was Gandhi’s dilemma? (3)

Answer 15

• To attend the London conference would be political suicide as they would be on foreign soil and forced to follow a British agenda
• All representatives would be present and so the chances of Congress achieving what they wanted would be severely compromised
• But by not going it would probably result in a settlement being made to which Congress could not possibly agree

Question 16

Why did Irwin want to get Gandhi involved in the First Round Table Conference?

Answer 16

Afraid Congress would result to violence

Question 17

What was Irwin’s dilemma? (3)

Answer 17

• Wanted Gandhi to participate in the conference but he couldn’t be seen to negotiate openly with someone authorities regarded as a terrorist
• Had to be seen to support the Indian Civil Service and those who stood aside from confrontation
• Had to persuade Gandhi that his presence was needed

Question 18

What was agreed in the Gandhi-Irwin Pact?

Answer 18

• Congress’ civil disobedience campaign was suspended
• Gandhi agreed to attend a second London conference

Question 19

How many Congress supporters were released from jail after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact?

Answer 19

19,000