Key component 4: 1943-48 Flashcards
Who became Viceroy in 1943
Wavell
How was Wavell a different Viceroy
- was previously based in India
- one of his first moves was to reinstate the regular meetings of 11 governors of the provinces (Linlithgow had never called such a meeting)
What caused the Bengal famine (5)
- poor harvests
- distribution failure
- loss of imports
- wartime price inflation
- severe weather conditions
1943 death rate
annual death rate rose from the average 1.2 million to 1.9 million
Price of rice in Bengal famine
By 1943 the price had increased tenfold
What did Wavell do in response to the Bengal famine
- immediate action to coordinate rationing
- try to stop profiteering by diverting troops from the war effort to do so
How did AIML and Congress react to the Bengal famine
- Was used by both to mobilise further support for the nationalist movement.
- presented it as further evidence of the need for India’s immediate independence
How much grain did Wavell request, how much did he receive
Requested- million tons to grain of rice
offered- 250,000 tons of rice
but by 1944 Wavell extracted 450,000 tons of rice
Churchill as a barrier to progress 1943-45 (4)
- Churchill rejected Wavell’s request for an Indian Finance Minister on the Executive Council
- dismissed commitment that Britain made during wartime: ‘no obligation to honour promises made at a time of difficulty’
- when PM, had considerable influence on British policy, major obstacle to Indian independence
- BUT only had the support of 42/43 MPs and influence limited
What caused a change in approach in 1945
- Economic challenges
- Labour government elected
- Military success and increasing pressure
How did military success and increasing pressure cause a change in approach (3)
- By the summer 1944, was clear that was was being won
- pressure for discussion of the post-war political situation
- increasing pressure to repay India’s war efforts
When was the Simla conference
25 June 1945- with all of the Indian politcal leaders
What was proposed in the Simla conference
- Loosely modelled on that of Cripps
- offered equal representation of Muslims and Hindus on the Executive Council
Why did the Simla Conference reach a deadlock
- disagreement on the issue of how Muslim members of the newly reconstituted Executive Council were to be chosen
- Jinnah insisted that they must all be nominated by the AIML, Congress couldn’t maintain such a restriction, as they saw themselves as an inclusive party
What is the Simla Conference evidence of (2)
- strengthened position of the AIML (offered equal representation)
- Ongoing obstacle of communal divisions
how many Indians fought in WW2
2.5 million
Labour getting elected positive impact on Indian independence (2)
- Election of a Labour government removed Churchill, who was one of the biggest barriers to progress
- Very close links between Congress and the Labour party, particularly between Cripps and Nehru
Labour getting elected negative impact on Indian independence (3)
- Muslim League did not have close ties to Labour
- quickly became suspicious that Labour were anti-Muslim
- made it harder to build trust and encourage the compromises needed for political settlement
1946 election evidence to show that India was becoming increasingly divided
- More polarised, Muslims voted for the AIML
- AIML secured 75% of the muslim vote
1946 election evidence to show that Congress was India’s dominant party
- Won almost 90% of overall seats
- Formed a provincial government in 8 provinces
1946 election evidence to show that Jinnah successfully strengthened the AIML (2)
- won 90% of seats reserved for Muslims
- won all 30 seats reserved for Muslims in the central assembly
1946 election showing that the idea of partition/ Pakistan had growing support
- in provinces where Muslims were the minority, there was a very strong Muslim vote for the AIML (as opposed to other Muslim parties)
- these were provinces that could never expect to be part of a geographical Pakistan, so implied support for a separate Muslim state that they would travel to
