Impact of WW2 Flashcards
1
Q
How did WW2 affect the Empire in India
A
- Viceroy Lord Linlithgow declared war on India’s behalf without consulting Indian leaders – despite this many Indians (e.g. the princes and military officers) still contributed to the war effort e.g. 2.5m Indians volunteered to fight.
- Mohammed Ali Jinnah, leader of the Muslim league, pledged to support Britain, hoping to win British support for a separate Muslim state of Pakistan.
- However, some Indians opposed the war (Ghandhi, The Congress Party).
- USA urge Churchill to grant freedom to India, Churchill agreed to send Sir Stafford Cripps to India to negotiate.
-> Churchill reluctantly offered India
independence after the war in return for support during it but Congress leaders, settling for nothing short of immediate full independent turned down the offer. - The ‘Quit India’ campaign started after Cripps visit to India.
- In the last 2 years of the war, inflation grew and Bengal suffered a severe famine in 1943-4 which may have killed 3-4 million people -> increased doubts as to whether the raj could properly govern India.
2
Q
Explain how some Indians opposed the war
A
- Gandhi, a pacifist, opposed any support
- Some Indian nationalists were prepared to work with Germany and Japan.
- The Congress Party, now dominated by Nehru, refused support for the war effort unless India was first granted independence -> when this was refused Congress called on provincial governments to resign office which they did although many reluctantly.
3
Q
What was the ‘Quit India’ campaign
A
- The British authority arrested Congress leaders
-> Congress rank and file supporters tried to dislodge the war effort by sabotaging railways, cutting telephone lines and attacking government buildings. - Troops and aircraft helped the police to quell the disturbances but several thousand Indians were killed and wounded and 100 000 were arrested.
4
Q
How did WW2 affect the Empire in South East Asia
A
- By 1942, Japan seized the major European imperial possessions in South East Asia.
- Britain lost Singapore, the great new ‘invulnerable’ imperial base, in February 1942 – this was where Britain’s main military base was and its loss brought the largest surrender of British troops in history.
->132,000 British subjects were taken prisoner. - The Japanese seized Hong Kong, overran Malaya and Burma and by summer 1942 seemed poised to attack India.
- An attempted Japanese invasion in 1944 was narrowly averted and thereafter the allied forces were able to roll back the Japanese conquests in the region.
- The success of the Japanese ended the myth of ‘white invincibility’ and gave independence movements greater confidence.
- 30 000 Indian troops had been captured by the Japanese in Singapore joined the Indian National Army which aimed to rid India and Asia of the British.
- The INA, ledf from 1943 by Subhas Chandra Bose, fought against the British in Burma and elsewhere.
- The Burma Independence Army, formed by Aung San under the guidance of Japan, also fought the British.
5
Q
How did WW2 affect the Empire in North Africa and the Middle East
A
- Britain desperate to preserve influence in Egypt and access to Suez and the oil in the Middle East.
- Germans were only driven back by the Battle of El Alamein in November 1942 both the Egyptians and the Palestinians saw the opportunity for exploiting British weakness.
- Egyptians and the Arabs felt resentful for how their countries had been treated by Britain during the war.
-> Travel and contact and new expectations prompted new political activity. - In Iraq, there was an army rebellion against the British garrisons in May 1941 which was successful for a while.
The Egyptians and the Arabs felt resentful for how their countries had been treated by Britain during the war - In Iraq, there was an army rebellion against the British garrisons in May 1941 which was successful for a while.
6
Q
Summarise the position of Empire after WW2
A
- In 1940 a bill was introduced in parliament to give grants to colonies for their ‘development and welfare’ – very little of the money was ever
actually spent but it was a start.
-> a precedent for a much more substantial Colonial Development and Welfare Act in 1945. - Britain was hard pressed at home -> lacked the means to defend distant imperial territories.
-> prompted a deep re-examination of the imperial relationship and an urgent reappraisal of the importance of self-reliance as a national strategy. - Britain was hard pressed at home lacked the means to defend distant imperial territories prompted both a deep re-examination of the imperial relationship and an urgent reappraisal of the importance of self-reliance as a national strategy.
- Independence movements had grown stronger, particularly in India and the Middle East.
7
Q
What was Britain’s economic position after WW2
A
- destruction of houses, factories and shipping cost Britain nearly 1⁄4 of its wealth.
- Most foreign assets had been sold to pay for wartime imports, significantly reducing the income from abroad.
- Britain was in £3 500m of debt, £2 500m was owed to the colonies.
-> Britain became dependent on the USA
which ended Britain’s existence as an independent great power.
8
Q
Explain how the 2 major powers USA and USSR influenced the Empire
A
- expected that Britain would need to maintain a massive military presence in Europe in order to deter any Soviet threat.
- The American alliance was vital to Britain both
during the war against Japan, Italy and Germany and afterwards- in all probability -against Russia. - Life Magazine 1942: they are sure they are ‘not fighting to hold the Empire together’ (USA).
9
Q
explain how there were signs of strength and continuity after WW2
A
- Even the dependencies -> those which Britain
denied self-government to – proved loyal. - Despite declaring war on India’s behalf many
Indians still contributed to the war effort. - The Muslim league pledged to support Britain.
- Atlee’s government had no intention of
abandoning the empire, e.g. Britain was especially determined to hold on to Malaya.
-> Ministers recognised that without colonies, Britain would no longer be a great power.
-> would threaten economic prosperity. - Dominions and colonies contributed 5m
fighting men. - Hitler had expected the empire to crumble at the first nudge – the fact that it didn’t was a tribute to the resilience of Britain’s colonial methods.
10
Q
explain how there were signs of weakness/decline after WW2
A
- Some Indians opposed the war, e.g. Gandhi was a pacifist.
- The ‘Quit India’ campaign showed the extent of Nationalism in India.
- By 1945, Britain owed India £1375m.
- Britain could not compare in size and strength with the USA and the USSR.
- Severe economic problems left Britain
dependent on the anti-imperialist USA and
meant that Britain’s strong economy which had held the empire together and gave benefit to the empire was gone. - The dominions turned to the US for support.
- The anti-colonial outlook of the USA and the USSR was likely to increase the hopes of
colonial people for independence.
11
Q
Summarise the ways Britain dealt with India during the inter-war period
A
- Gov of India Act 1919
- adopted a ‘twin track’ strategy.
- Rowlatt Act 1919
- Gandhi leads a non-violent, non-cooperation protest 1919-1922.
- nationalism grew but negotiations on moves towards Dominion status at the Round Table Conferences in early 1930s failed.
- gov of India Act 1935.
- during 1930s, British increasingly favoured the policy of ‘divide and rule’.
12
Q
What was the government of India Act 1919
A
- Nationalist demands for self-government after WW1 had resulted in the Government of India Act 1919 which
allowed a limited system of self-government for India based on the sharing of powers between Indian ministers and the British Viceroy. - This intended to satisfy the demands for greater Indian representation among the more moderate nationalists by
presenting the reforms as a step towards full Dominion status for India. - The British were concerned that these reforms would strengthen nationalist aspirations.
13
Q
what was the twin track strategy the British adopted in India
A
- a combination of reforms and a clear signal that any resort by the nationalists to create mass resistance would be dealt with ruthlessly.
- Rowlatt Act of 1919 is an example of this.
14
Q
What was the Rowlatt Act 1919
A
- an example of the twin track strategy.
- gave the authorities harsh powers to arrest
and imprison anyone who protested against British rule. - The Rowlatt Act proved counterproductive, producing much resistance and tragic results, including the
Amritsar massacre.
-> April 1919 where General Sir Reginald Dyer fired on demonstrators, killing 379 and injuring 1200.
15
Q
what was the government of India act in 1935
A
increased the number of Indians eligible to vote and strengthened the
elected provincial assemblies.
- It granted autonomous government for the Indian provinces, with protected Muslim representation, but nationalist opinion still favoured complete Indian independence.
16
Q
Explain the development of Britain’s ‘divide and rule’ policy in India in the 1930s
A
- favoured former policy of ‘divide and rule’, playing on the growing divisions in the nationalist movement.
- The All India Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted a separate Muslim state of Pakistan.
- The Hindu Congress movement, led by Gandhi wanted a united Indian state.
-> However, they were
divided by those willing to share power with the British and those who suspected (correctly) that the British
were trying to break up the Congress by ‘federalizing’ India into self-governing provinces. - Gandhi preached Hindu-Muslim unity, but the Muslims viewed him with suspicion.
- The British favoured the Muslim league – they suggested that the divisions between Hindus and Muslims
proved the necessity of continued British rule since the alternative was likely to be a bloody civil war famine.
17
Q
In what ways did Britain struggle to keep control of India during WW2
A
- provincial governments resigned in 1939 in opposition to India’s entry to the war without consultation or concessions.
- influence of civil-disobedience campaign by Gandhi in Oct 1940.
-> ‘Quit India’. - emergence of INA raised anxiety.
- British adopt adopt a policy of repression.
- March 1942, Churchill sends Cripps.
- Aug 1942 Gandhi and other Congress leaders launched ‘Quit India’ campaign.
-> calling for Britain to leave entirely.
-> Ghandhi arrested and spent the rest of the war in prison.
