Modern India Flashcards
East India company
British company that Forced Indian rulers to sign treaties giving the company power. The Parliament passed laws to regulate affairs. Main goal was to profit in India and many natives of India hated the British
Monsoon
A large rain storm formed from the land and the ocean being opposite temperatures
Positives of British rule
Improved transportation and communication: Improve roads, modern ports, built railroads, telegraph system. Brought parts of India closer together and modernized part of the country. Improved healthcare and sanitary conditions. Taught India English which was a unifying language. Tried to make caste disappear and made the courts more fair for lower caste people
Negatives of the British rule
Destroyed India economy. Discouraged local India industry. India becomes a giant market for British goods. Had to grow cash crops to afford items which led to less food and the population was growing so widespread famine
Sepoy rebellion
Sepoy- Indian soldier who served in an army setup by the French or English trading companies. Some changes were made that went against a lot of religious items and culture because…
- Sepoys had to serve in India or overseas. Upper caste Indians cannot travel overseas based on Hinduism
- Hindu widows can remarry which is thought to be a Christian conspiracy against Hindu beliefs
- Sepoys had to bite of cartridges greased with animal fat from cows (sacred for Hindus) or pigs (forbidden for Muslims). When people refused they went to prison
So sepoys rebelled against their British officers. Very bloody and British soon ended the rebellion. Left legacy of hatred and ended east India companies reign and the British gov came into control
Cash-crops
Crops that are sold for profit and are not needed to survive
Ex- coffee, tea, opium, cotton, pepper
INC Indian national congress
-congress party made up of middle/ upper class Hindus
-believed in peaceful protest called for gradual change
-called for greater democracy to give Indians more power
-looked forward for self rule
(After WWI it is more forceful in demands and it puts Gandhi as it’s leader)
Muslim league
- Muslims formed this to pursue own goals
- Muslim/Hindus work together for self rule
- Muslims began to resent Hindu domination of congress party
- wanted a separate Muslim state
Mohandas Gandhi (includes the items satyagraha, civil disobedience, salt march)
Leader of INC. Believed in satyagraha- truth force or nonviolent resistance to end justice. Civil disobedience- refusal to obey unjust laws. Stressed India’s heritage- Stressed traditional industries plus clothing. Hindu practices- vegetarian. Rejected caste and wanted Muslims for one country not two. Organized boycott British goods. Led the salt march- British forbid Indian production of salt (had to buy from British). Gandhi protested by marching 200 miles to sea where he made salt (which is illegal) he had the media come and they received lots of publicity. Thousands of people participate Gandhi and Gandhi and people are arrested. Publicity led to worldwide support for Indian nationalism
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Leader of the Muslim league. And led the Muslims when they fought the Hindus
Amritsar massacre
Indians held a public protest (not violent) and sepoys and British soldiers opened fire and killed a lot of people. This created public outrage and increased demands for independence
Indian independence movement
An act Signed by Britain that gave India independence however it divided Indians two separate states: India which is mainly Hindus and Pakistan made of many Muslims. Pakistan separated into East and West Pakistan they had a Civil War and East Pakistan became Bangladesh
Indira Gandhi
Daughter of Nehru became prime minister in 1966 and led India for many years until 1984. Assassinated by Sikh body guards after the battle at the golden temple that she led
Sikh separatism
These are Sikhs who wanted punjab to be a separate state from India. At one point a radical group attacked the Golden temple. Indira Gandhi had to step up and send troops into the temple. this is why Indira out was assassinated by one of her bodyguards
Rajiv Gandhi
Indira’s son became prime minister in 1984. Served until he was assassinated by the Tamils.
