Section Three-Relations with indigenous people

Question 1

What were the challenges in Egypt to British rule?

Answer 1

• Widespread revolution after British exiled nationalist leader Saad Zaghloul and other members of his party
• Attacks on military bases, civilian facilities and personnel, in which Egyptian villages were burnt and railways destroyed
• At least 800 Egyptians killed and 1600 wounded
• Relations remained strained after Egypt granted independence in 1922 as Britain refused to recognise full Egyptian sovereignty over Sudan

Question 2

What were the challenges in Palestine to British rule?

Answer 2

• Tensions in Palestine escalated in 1930s as more Jews fleeing Nazism entered the country
• Arab protests mounted and inter-racial violence increased as Jews formed Haganah to protect themselves
• More militant Jew nationalists formed secret units such as Stern Gang which waged open war on British and Arabs
• British left in 1947 and allowed UN to deal with their mess

Question 3

What were the challenges to Ireland during WW1?

Answer 3

• British gov. facing prospect of civil war in Ireland between Protestant and Catholic which threatened to wreck the 1912/13 Home Rule Bill granting Irish independence
• British soldiers at Curragh mutinied, refusing to take action to enforce Home Rule on hostile north
• Conflict occurred as both sides armed themselves; ‘Ulster Volunteers’ vs. ‘National Volunteers’ in the south; 3 deaths and many casualties in July 1914 and Home Rule suspended for duration of the war
• Failed Dublin Easter rising during Easter 1916 as protests escalated

Question 4

What were the challenges to Ireland post-WW1?

Answer 4

• In 1919, frustrations caused by delays to Irish Home Rule led members of Sinn Fein, to establish Irish assembly in Dublin; they declared Irish Republic and IRA began guerrilla war against British
• British used ‘Black and Tans’ (temporary policemen) to support them
• Conflict ended with 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty which created Irish Free State as self-governing Dominion within British Empire

Question 5

What were further developments in Ireland?

Answer 5

• Southern Ireland subsequently treated as Dominion, gaining equality of status in 1931 Statute of Westminster
• Valera still continued protest however, refusing to attend Imperial Conference of 1937 and drew up new constitution which turned Ireland into republic- Eire
• In 1948 Eire separated itself entirely from rest of Britain in Republic of Ireland Act

Question 6

What did the challenges by Ireland show to the public of Britain?

Answer 6

The Irish showed the British imperialism could be successfully challenged

Question 7

What occurred in India?

Answer 7

• 1919 gov. India Act failed to satisfy nationalist demand which provoked further protests
• These uprisings led to recommendations for 1919 Rowlatt Acts which allowed political cases to be tried without juries
• This led to conflict coming to a head in the 1919 Amritsar massacre in Punjab after rioting had brought British deaths and near breakdown of civil order in the region
• Amritsar Massacre provoked huge reaction, Indian congress politicians claimed it showed Britain no longer possessed any moral authority to rule and also galvanised Gandhi’s non co-operation movement (1920-22)

Question 8

What was the Amritsar Massacre?

Answer 8

British Army troops fired upon a crowd who had gathered to protest against arrest of 2 nationalist leaders as well as Sikh pilgirms who gathered in public gardens. British gov. claimed 379 killed and 1200 wounded but Indian National Congress claimed 1000 died and over 1,500 wounded

Question 9

What further conflict occurred in India?

Answer 9

Chauri Chaura Incident (1922)- Violence erupted among large group of protesters participating in Non-Cooperation Movement and police opened fire; demonstrators attacked and set fire to police station; 3 civilians and 23 policemen killed; caused Indian National Congress to call for an end to Non-Cooperation Movement

Question 10

What occurred to India after the Chauri Chaura incident?

Answer 10

• Discontent continued to simmer for next 25 years with outbreaks of conflict and protests erupting in a campaign for independence
• Emergence of Indian Muslim League in 1930s brought a new and increasingly militant element into the struggle
• In aftermath of WW2 situation in India became grave
• India rejected offer of dominion status as offered by Cripps
• 400,000 died during the conflict they had led to the partition of India