L8: Developments in India Flashcards
What did the Mutiny of 1857 show to Britain?
Their control of India could not be taken for granted and the balance of British to Indian troops in India would have to be reconsidered
How did Britain control India?
Through disruptive and intimidation tactics
What disruptive tactics did the British use to control India?
Regiments of native Indian troops were trained and stationed in their own districts and cut off from one another
Deliberately separated by caste and religion
Army enlisted Sikh’s to replace the Bengali army
What intimidation tactics did the British use to control India?
Number of British officers increased
Growth of Railways exaggerating British presence
Armoured gun trains introduced
First Viceroy established an imperial police force
When was the British crown established in India?
After the Sepoy revolt in 1858
What did British officials continue to do in India?
They continued to enjoy their unrestrained power until some form of government was established in 1909 and the Morley Minto reforms
What was the Viceroy?
Most senior position in the Raj (British government in India) and was supported by the Indian Civil Service
How did the British control the fears of rebellion?
They used the method of “divide and conquer” in which the British emphasized differences within the population
Who was energetic about reform?
Viceroy Curzon as he was increasingly aware of the criticism against the British rule coming from a well educated Indian middle class
When did Curzon rule as Viceroy?
1899-1905
What was Viceroy Curzon mindful of?
The growing criticisms of British rule
What changes did Curzon make?
Founded the Imperial Cadet Corps in 1901 to give native princes military training and commissions
He reformed Universities, Police
Lowered taxes
Adopted the Gold Standard to ensure a stable currency
What did Viceroy Curzon attempt to do?
He attempted to divide the province of Bengal in 1905
What was the partition of Bengal in 1905?
Viceroy Curzon decided that Bengal should be divided into 2 separate provinces; East Bengal being a Muslim majority and the Hindu majority being occupied in West Bengal
What did the Bengal partition produce?
An uproar amongst the Hindu’s in East Bengal and the Muslims in West Bengal as they owned land in the opposite sides of where they are supposed to be
How did the Hindu’s view the partition of Bengal?
They saw it as pay-back for their criticisms of British rule which led to strikes, protests and boycotts of British goods
What did the partition event cause?
A split in Congress between the extremists and continuing moderates which helped enforce Curzon’s resignation
What were the consequences of the Bengal partition?
The Muslim elite, who supported the partition, formed All India Muslim League in 1906 to safeguard the rights of Indian muslims
Division justified British control as a way of avoiding serious religious conflict
following protests, Bengal was reunited in 1911
When did Curzon resign as Viceroy?
1905
Who became Viceroy after Curzon?
Viceroy Minto
When did Minto rule as Viceroy?
1905-1910
Who assisted Viceroy Minto with introducing reforms?
John Morley, the Secretary of State for India
What reform did Minto and Morley introduce?
The Indian Councils Act of 1909
What was the Indian Council Act of 1909?
It enabled 27 Indians to be elected from constituencies to the Viceroy’s council, who advised and assisted the Viceroy.
What did the Indian Council Act of 1909 provide?
The reform provided for greater Indian participation in government
What did further democratic reforms mean in 1910?
135 Indians were able to secure seats in Elections and play a greater part in government
What was held in 1911 in Dehli?
The Dehli Durbar of 1911
What was the Dehli Durbar of 1911?
The coronation Durbar of King George V and Queen Mary was held in Coronation park in Dehli in December 1911
The purpose of the Durbar was to honour King George V as the “king-emperor” of India and was also where it was announced that the capital city would change from Calcutta to Dehli
What did the Dehli Durbar show?
It seemed to epitomise the summit of British rule in India; however despite the occasion, there were signs that things didn’t go well
How long did it take to change the capital city from Calcutta to Dehli?
20 years to implement due to delays caused through the First World war
How long did the British enjoy their capital?
16 years as India gained it’s independence in 1947
