The British Empire - 20th Century Flashcards
What was Partition?
When India was divided into India and Pakistan after independence from the British Empire.
How many Indian troops served in WW1?
1 million Indian troops served overseas in areas including: the 1st Battle of Ypres (Belgium) and the Middle East.
How many medals were won by the Indian troops in WW1?
The Indian Army won 12,000 medals for gallantry and 12 Victoria Crosses for bravery.
What were the implications of the India contribution to WW1?
In return Britain passed the Government of India Act in 1919 which gave 2 million wealthy Indians the right to vote.
What happened in Amritsar in 1919?
The Amritsar Massacre, 1919:
The British banned public meetings after a series of riots in Amritsar.
A group of men, women and children held a public meeting in April 1919 and without warning were fired upon by British troops under the command of General Dyer.
379 people were killed and 1,200 wounded.
Name the two Nationalist Groups
Muslim League
Indian National Congress
Who were the Muslim League?
Muslim League— Formed in 1906. Led by Jinnah. They wanted a say for the Muslim minority in India. From WW2 fought for a separate Muslim state: Pakistan.
Who were the Indian National Congress?
Indian National Congress—Led by Gandhi. After WW1 the INC wanted dominion status. Organised different campaigns against the British including the Salt March and civil disobedience campaigns. From the 1930s sought independence from British rule.
What was the NonCooperation Campaign?
It aimed to resist British rule by non-cooperation with the British after the Amritsar Massacre between 1920-1922.
What was the success of the NonCooperation Campaign?
It united all Indians against the British and was the first step towards getting eventual independence from the British Raj.
What was a failure of the NonCooperation Campaign?
Some Indians took the campaign as an opportunity to take revenge. In 1922 a police station was set on fire killing those inside. (Chauri Chaura incident)
How many Indians fought in WW2
2.5 million Indians fought in WW2. They were the largest volunteer army and mainly fought in Africa.
What was the result of the contributions of the Indian Army in WW2
Their contribution was rewarded with independence from British rule in 1946.
Why did some Indians fight against Britain in WW2 and what was the name of the person who led them?
Some Indians fought with the Axis powers as they saw this as the best way to get independence from the British. They were led by Chandra Bose.
Who was in charge of Partition?
- Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India had the task of preparing India for independence.
- He came up for a plan of partition where India would be split into Pakistan and India.
What date was Pakistan formed?
14th August 1947
When was the new India formed?
A day after Pakistan, 15 August 1947.
What was the name of the plan which legalised the separation of India?
- The Indian Independence Act (a.k.a. The Mountbatten Plan)
Who was Mahatma Gandhi?
Mohandas Gandhi was a leading member of the Indian National Congress who campaigned for Indian independence from British rule.
* Mahatma means “great soul”
What methods did Gandhi use in his campaign for independence?
He used non-violent methods of noncooperation to try and effect change as well as hunger strikes.
Who was Chandra Bose?
He was a member of the Indian National Congress who formed a breakaway nationalist group called the Forward Bloc Party.
What did Chandra Bose do during WW2?
During WW2 he met with Hitler and joined the Axis powers along with 3,000 Indian Prisoners.
Who was Muhammad Ali Jinnah?
Led the Muslim League from 1913 and wanted to have Muslim voices heard in a majority Hindu country. He campaigned during WW2 for an independent Muslim country that became known as Pakistan.
