The Role of Individuals 1919-47

Question 1

Who was Mohandas Gandhi?

Answer 1

The leader of the movement for Indian independence.

Question 2

What was Gandhi’s nickname, and what does it mean?

Answer 2

Mahatma, meaning Great Soul or Great Teacher.

Question 3

How did Gandhi begin his professional career?

Answer 3

Gandhi served as a lawyer in South Africa 1893-1913, campaigning against racism and segregation. He challenged both the British and the Afrikaners over the civil rights of Indians in the area.

Question 4

What did Gandhi do in the years 1915-1918 (2)?

Answer 4

1) In 1915, Gandhi returned to India, becoming President of the Indian National Congress.
2) He travelled across India, supporting protests against British rule, wearing Indian dress.

Question 5

When, after what event, did Gandhi become a prominent figure?

Answer 5

After the 1919 Amritsar massacre, Gandhi’s campaigns for full independence began, making him a national figure.

Question 6

What 3 movements is Gandhi most known for?

Answer 6

1) The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22).
2) The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-31 and 1932-34).
3) The Quit India Movement (1942).

Question 7

What was Gandhi’s view of the partition of India?

Answer 7

He strongly opposed the partition of India.

Question 8

When was Gandhi assassinated, and for what reason?

Answer 8

1948, by a militant Hindu nationalist accusing him of favouring Muslims over Hindus.

Question 9

What is the meaning of satyagraha?

Answer 9

Rejecting violence to combat evil, instead using peaceful protest in order to appeal to the moral conscious of the opponent. Methods include strikes, protests, boycotts, etc.

Question 10

What were the 3 key tenants of Gandhi’s beliefs?

Answer 10

1) Peaceful resistance to British rule, based on satyagraha.
2) Harmonious relations between Hindus and Muslims, and equality for all.
3) An independent India, that rejected the industrialisation and urbanisation that characterised the West, instead focusing on agricultural and rural development.

Question 11

Why was Gandhi’s method of peaceful protest effective against Britain?

Answer 11

The British saw themselves as liberal, peaceful and fair-minded, committed to the colonial peoples that they ruled. Non-violent resistance harmed British economic interests, and Britain used violence to fight back. This showed that imperialism was based on military might instead of peace.

Question 12

What was the Salt March, and what was the British reaction?

Answer 12

1) In April 1930, Gandhi organised a 24 day march to Dandi, where he and his followers made salt from seawater in defiance of the British salt monopoly.
2) Gandhi was arrested, and over 80,000 Indians were jailed for provoking civil disobedience.

Question 13

What were the 2 main roles of colonial administrators in the interwar years?

Answer 13

1) Collect taxes.
2) Maintain stability and order in the face of rising nationalist movements.

Question 14

What 2 departments was the Colonial Office spilt into in 1925?

Answer 14

1) The Dominions Office.
2) The Colonial Office.

Question 15

What is trusteeship?

Answer 15

A concept where colonies had to be ruled in a way that benefitted its indigenous peoples, as well as white people.

Question 16

What is meant by dual mandate (2)?

Answer 16

The belief that a colonial power had double responsibility:
1) Owing moral and material advancement leading to self government to its colonial people.
2) Obliged, to the outside world, to develop and exploit the natural resources of its colonies.

Question 17

What developments were made towards more responsible administration 1927-31 (3)?

Answer 17

1) In 1927, Colonial Secretary Leo Amery argued in favour of trusteeship with colonists, promoting their interests.
2) In 1929, a Royal Commission from Sir Edward Hilton Young ruled out self government and federation in East Africa in favour of trusteeship.
3) In 1931, Lord Passfield argued in favour of a dual mandate to reconcile African interests.

Question 18

Who was Edwin Montague (2)?

Answer 18

Secretary of State for India (1917-22), and was responsible for the Government of India Act 1919.

Question 19

Who was Lord Chelmsford (2)?

Answer 19

Viceroy of India 1916-21, and was responsible for the Government of India Act 1919.

Question 20

Who was Sir Harry Haig (3)?

Answer 20

1) A member of the Viceroy’s executive Council in India, 1932-56.
2) He reluctantly came to terms as seeing India as partners in Empire.
3) He strongly opposed Gandhi’s independence campaigns, labelling him a menace.

Question 21

Who was Lord Linlithgow (5)?

Answer 21

1) Viceroy of India 1935-43.
2) Responsible for the Government of India Act 1935, wanting to appease the Indian nationalists into working with the British towards self government in the long term.
3) Opposed Gandhi, ordering the suppression of the Indian civil disobedience campaign.
4) Praised in Britain, blamed in India for the division and lack of economic development of their country.
5) His reluctance to press for British aid led to approx. 3 million deaths in the Bengal Famine.

Question 22

Who was Sir Donald Cameron (3)?

Answer 22

1) Governor of Tanganyika 1924-31, promoting the building of harbours and railways.
2) Governor of Nigeria 1931-35, promoting exports of ground nuts and palm oil.
3) A believer in trusteeship, advancing colonies economically, and supporting the entry of the indigenous into the civil service.

Question 23

Who was William Hailey (2)?

Answer 23

1) Governor of the United Provinces 1928-36, he attended the round table conferences leading to the Government of India Act 1935.
2) He produced ‘an African Survey’ in 1938, which was highly influential for future British policy.

Question 24

Who was Sir Philip Mitchell (2)?

Answer 24

1) Governor of Uganda 1935-40, fulfilling the trusteeship principle by extending the Makerere College to create an educated African elite.
2) He was also Governor of Kenya 1944-1952.

Question 25

What was Makerere College (2)?

Answer 25

1) Est. in 1922 as a technical school, it became the centre for higher education in Uganda, offering courses in agriculture, teaching, veterinary science, etc.
2) In 1949, it became a college affiliated to UCL.

Question 26

Who was Sir Charles Arden-Clarke (2)?

Answer 26

The Governor of the Gold Coast 1949-57, he presided over the first British African colony to gain independence.

Question 27

Who was Sir Andrew Cohen?

Answer 27

Governor of Uganda 1952-57, bringing about steps towards greater independence.

Question 28

Who was Sir Ralph Furse (3)?

Answer 28

1) Responsible for the 1930 reform of appointments to the colonial service.
2) Director of recruitment in a new personnel division - the ‘father of modern Colonial Service’ 1931-48.
3) He greatly improved the quality of those in the colonial service.