India at War 1939 - 45

Question 1

What was the Forward Bloc party

Answer 1

It was basically a terrorist party. Which aims was to get the British to quit India.
> they were a ‘socialist’ party

Question 2

What type of methods were they willing to use

Answer 2

> Militant methods

Question 3

who did the Forward Bloc party try and gain support from, why and did it work

Answer 3

They tried to gain support From the Soviet Union because the were socialist.
However, Stalin was not interested in India’s fight for independence and also he was fighting the Germans in their invasion of the Soviet Union

Question 4

When Russia did not help, who did Bose turn to.

Answer 4

The Enemy - the Germans

Question 5

Why was the forward bloc party and Bose a threat to the raj

Answer 5

> because the were spreading negative propaganda, such as calling them tyrants.
he was working with the British enemies

Question 6

What was the Raj’s reaction to the forward bloc party and Bose.

Answer 6

> they banned the Forward Bloc and its publication.

> there offices were ransacked in attempt to get member list and destroy seditious material

Question 7

When did japan invade Singapore

Answer 7

February 1942

Question 8

When did Japan invade Burma

Answer 8

March 1942

Question 9

What is it a problem that japan invaded Singapore

Answer 9

Singapore was formally a British colony, and was seen as impenetrable

Question 10

Why was it a problem to the Raj that japan had invaded Burma

Answer 10

As Burma is next to India and japan could decide to invade there too

Question 11

When was the Cripps mission

Answer 11

March 1942

Question 12

What was the Cripps Mission

Answer 12

An attempted concession

> a compromise of what India’s future constitution would look like.

Question 13

What was the Cripps mission’s aim

Answer 13

To try and get Indian nationalist loyalty + peace + stability

Question 14

What was the Cripps mission named after. And who was he

Answer 14

Sir Stafford Cripps - he was a labour MP and was close friends with Gandhi and Nehru

Question 15

What were the conclusions to the Cripps mission.

Answer 15

> Dominion status would include the right of provinces not to join the Dominion - this was directed at the Muslim league as it allows for them to have separate states.
The executive Council should include with immediate effect an Indian as defence minister.

Question 16

What was Gandhi’s reaction. And congresses answer to the proposal

Answer 16

He was furious, as they were not willing to give into a bargain where India could end up separated
> congress reject the proposal

Question 17

What was Jinnah’s reaction and what was the M.L’s answer to the proposals

Answer 17

Although Jinnah wanted to accept the bargain because it implicated that there could be separate states.
The M.L ultimately had to reject it too if they were to remain part of the constitution-making process.

Question 18

What was the Atlantic Charter

Answer 18

An agreement between Churchill and Roosevelt
+ an agreement that the US was going to indirectly help the British with the war
+ they become ‘allies’

Question 19

Who was involved in the Atlantic Charter

Answer 19

Britain and the USA

Question 20

Who did Britain and the US differ over Britain’s relationship with India

Answer 20

‘National self-determination’ - a countries right to have independence
Britain thought it meant to help keep the Empire
The US thought it meant getting Indian independence
- as a former colony they sympathise with India