To What Extent Did The First World War Change British Rule In India? Flashcards
Why did the British feel pressured to give Indians autonomy? (3)
- Due to the Indians perceptible efforts in the war
- Couldn’t ignore the enormous sacrifices
- Their own belief of the rights to people and democracy
When was the Montagu Declaration?
August 1917
Who announced the Montagu Declaration?
Edwin Montagu (Secretary of state of India)
Why was the Montagu Declaration created?
- British government realised the need to respond to both the Indian war effort
- Lucknow Pact
What did the Montagu Declaration do?
- Promised some form of self governance (“RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT”) for India
- Montagu would visit India to take soundings
Limitations of Montagu Declaration:
- No timescale was given implying the government was in no hurry
Montagu Declaration quotes: (2)
- “Responsible government”
- “Increasing association of Indians in every branch of government”
When was the Defence of India Act passed?
1915
What did the Defence of India Act do?
- Permitted Britain to close down newspapers suspected of anti-British views (censorship)
- Protest was forbidden
Why did the Simon Commission start?
to report on the working of the Indian constitution established by the Government of India Act of 1919
When was the Rowlatt commission?
1918
What did the Rowlatt Commission suggest? (And what it included (4))
- That old wartime controls should be continued in order to control the situation
- This included:
-imprisonment without trial
-censorship
-house arrests of suspects
When did the Rowlatt act pass?
1919
Who opposed the Rowlatt Act bill?
All 22 Indian members of the imperial legislative Council
As a result of the Rowlatt Act what did Jinnah do?
Resigned from the council along with several of his colleagues
When was the Rowlatt Act repealed?
1922
How did many people view the Raj after the Rowlatt Act?
Duplicitous - supporting the Montagu Declaration but also repressive
What is a hartal?
Refusal to work used as a protest
When were the Hartals organised?
1919 - 30 March and 6 April
8th april too u idiot
What did the Hartals prove?
Showed an impressive display of Hindu-Muslim solidarity
What event further emphasised the hartals and led to rioting?
The arrest of two organisers Kitchew and Pal
What occurred in the riots at Amritsar? (4)
- 5 Europeans killed
- Banks stormed and buildings fired at
- Over 100 European women had taken refuge
- Marcia Sherwood was assaulted and left to die
What did the governor of Punjab, Michael O’Dwyer, think about the riots?
Believed it was part of a carefully planned uprising
When did the Amritsar Massacre begin?
13 April 1919
Its acc 13th, you IDIOT. do better
How many troops did Rex Dyer lead in Amritsar on 12 April 1919?
1,000 (1/3 British)
What was occurring on 13th April 1919 in Punjab?
One of the most religious festivals in Punjab (Baisakhi Day) in which thousands of pilgrims flocked into the Golden Temple in Amritsar to worship
What else was to occur in the Golden Temple on 13 April?
Arrangements for a political meeting so that people could voice their feelings about the Rowlatt Act
Fearing trouble, what did Dyer order?
- Proclamations to be read, warning against the holding of ‘meetings’ and established a curfew
How many Punjabs ignored Dyer’s curfew?
10,000 to 20,000
What did Dyer do as a result of the Punjabis ignoring the curfew on 13th April?
Dyer and a group of infantrymen fired ammunition into the crowd
How many rounds of ammunition was shot during the Amritsar Massacre?
1,650
How many were killed and wounded?
379 - Killed
1,500 - Wounded
What happened in Punjab after the massacre?
- Dyer set about a martial law designed to humiliate the Indians living there
What was included in the martial (3)
- Any Indian passing a European had to salaam
- Public floggings were common
- Crawling Order (Anyone who passed where Marcia Sherwood had been assaulted had to crawl in the filth)
Why was the Martial law particularly offensive to Hindus?
Due to the structured caste system on purity
When did the Hunter inquiry take place?
1919
What was achieved in the Hunter Inquiry?
- Dyer was censured (later forced to resign)
- O’Dwyer was only gently reprimanded
When was the Government of India Act passed?
1919
What did the Government of India Act create?
A dyarchy, a division of powers, between Britain and India
How did the dyarchy work?
- Self-government in the future
- Changes to the composition of councils and the electorates
- Division of governmental responsibilities
Government of India Act on self-government:
It promised a review in 10 years of the successes of the Act and then a decision to Dominion Status might be taken
Reaction to the Government of India Act:
Didn’t seem worth the prolonged wait
