India topic 1 policies and acts

Question 1

Royal titles bill

Answer 1

officially gave Queen Victoria the title of ‘Empress of India’ and was brought before Parliament in 1876. It had faced opposition from Liberals who feared that the title was synonymous with absolutism.

Implying the same idea as the principle or exercise of complete and unrestricted power in government.

Question 2

Indian Councils Act also known as Morley-Minto Act

Answer 2

• 1909
• as voice of nationalism and Muslim-Hindu political relations deteriorated
• outcome of a series of reforms agreed by secretary of state and viceroy
• 60 Indian reps elected for Viceroy’s executive council 27 of which elected from territorial constituencies and special interest groups. British officials still majority
• provincial councils enlarged to create non-official majorities. vote not the same as governor. Illusion of power
• separate electorates to give Muslim minority a voice
• Morley appointed two Indians to his London group and Minto added Advocate-General of Bengal to his body of advisors

Question 3

July 1905

Answer 3

partition of Bengal

Question 4

12th December 1911

Answer 4

Bengal reunited

Question 5

home rule leagues

Answer 5

• two new and innovative nationalist organisations established in 1916
• one by Bal Tilak (freed from imprisonment by the British) and operated mainly in Western India
• one by famous Fabian activist Annie Besant
• both used newspapers, rallies, pamphlet, preachers and songs in attempt to spread voice of nationalism
• after one year around 60,000 joined
• both leaders banned from the British-controlled provinces, students banned from their meetings and Besant even locked up in 1917 by Raj authorities

worrying as formed mid war which meant Indian war support could stop
bigger than INC and ML

Question 6

Lucknow Pact

Answer 6

• June 1916
• Muslim League changed their objective and joint hands with Congress and Hindus to put pressure on British government
• mastermind was Jinnah
• huge deal for Britain as it saw an end to their divide and rule tactic they’d always relied on
• it was a plan for a future government/constitution where they coexist with Britain
• highlighted their desire for Dominion Status or some form of it and now they weren’t fighting which aided their cause, almost complete unity

Question 7

what did the Lucknow Pact give Muslims

Answer 7

• 20% of seats in Indian Parliament - a fixed proportion
• extra seats in areas where they were a minority
• Muslims felt similar to the British in 1909 Congress had shown them they welcomed Muslim voice. United Hindus and Muslims in the aim of self-government and gave Muslims a role to play in policy decision making

Question 8

what were the reasons behind the Lucknow Pact

Answer 8

• 1911 Bengal reunified and ML saw the annulment of the partition as an implication that the Raj no longer favoured the Muslim cause
• British Empire declared war on Turkey and the Ottoman empire in November 1914 and many Muslims resented this decision as they regarded the Sultan of Turkey as their spiritual leader. Muslims questioned their loyalty to Britain
• Jinnah worked tirelessly to create rapprochement between the ML and INC so both organisations could work towards common aim of self-government

Question 9

what was the Montagu-declaration

Answer 9

• agrees to meet with Indian nationalists
• some form of self-government at some point in the future
• wants to nip nationalism in the bud
• it appeases them for a short time but its a temporary fix because it is fake promises and sets the Indians up for huge disappointment
• they couldn’t just say no to independence due to Indian contribution and couldn’t ignore their own beliefs of right to self-determination
• but had to stop Indian nationalism without giving them Dominion Status or implying the dismantle of the Raj

Question 10

Defence of the Realm Act

Answer 10

DoRA
applied to the whole empire
said lands and resources can be used at any point during the war by the British

Question 11

Defence of India Act

Answer 11

DoIA

• India was the biggest threat to Britain due to nationalism
• unnecessary as already had DoRA and just an extension, it was deeply unpopular as stifled political discourse
• very repressive e.g. restriction of free speech, writing and movement and internment without trial
• an emergency criminal law by Governor General in 1915 with intention of supressing nationalism. But it was before Lucknow Pact and Home Rule Leagues, there was no anti-war feeling at this point and if anything it probably caused it

Question 12

government of India act or Montagu-Chelmsford report

Answer 12

• Dec 1919 (after Amritsar)
• it sat in the government for 17 months which was detrimental as it was a good act and it should have come before Amritsar and then maybe it wouldn’t have happened
• provincial councils enlarged but Indians already resigned due to Rowlatt acts so the seats were filled with Indian yes men which watered down Indian power
• allowed a franchise for 10% of native population but all wealthy, educated who liked British
• 1% of women eligible to vote
• divided power albeit unequally between British and Indians - system of dyarchy - remained till 1935 - 2 countries ruling 1

Question 13

the Rowalatt acts

Answer 13

• March 1919
• imprisoned without trial, held indefinitely, be convicted by a court without a jury, restriction of free speech, banned public meetings and crowds gathering
• some Indians on legislative council like Jinnah resigned
• unnecessary and although repealed shortly after their passing damage already done
• extension of war-time measures in Bengal, Punjab and Bombay as Rowlatt Commission report of July 1918 highlights these as centres of revolutionary areas
• big religious divides in these areas, most historic anger with Britain, outlaws nationalism here

Question 14

why were the Rowlatt acts passed

Answer 14

• Britain worried about full scale revolution and were vulnerable after was so resorted to repression, what they know best
• there was a vote for the acts but Indians were outvoted and they realised Britain will never listen to them furthering anger and the rise of nationalism
• confirmed Britain had no intention of losing grip on India and will keep them under the thumb by any means necessary
• global recession after the war and Spanish Flu killing around 13 million Indians caused crisis in the Raj
• crop failure and famine exacerbated situation
• unrest, disturbances and riots

Question 15

martial law

Answer 15

• curfews across most of Punjab
• people were flogged
• travel restricted and vehicles commandeered
• students punished for trivial offences like tearing official posters off walls
• crawling order - Indians in Amritsar who wished to go down narrow street were Marcia Sherwood has been beaten had to crawl on all fours

Question 16

government of India act 1858

Answer 16

disbanded the EIC and placed India directly under British government rule

Question 17

How did the government of India act divide power under dyarchy

Answer 17

British control:
Foreign affairs 
Legislation and law
Finances 
Military
Trade 
Communication 

Indian control: 
Education 
Agriculture 
Healthcare 
Public works 
Local self government

Question 18

What were the positives and negatives of the Government of India Act ? (1919)

Answer 18

Positives:

• a step towards Dominion Status
• looks good but they still need Britain’s approval to put things in place as they have finance control
• gained domestic affairs
• pretty much what Montagu-Declaration promised

Negatives:

• not full Dominion Status
• would have been more effective in March
• British delay, after Amritsar they don’t want Britain around