Topic 1: The First World War and its Impact on British India, 1914-20

Question 1

When was the Montagu Declaration announced?

Answer 1

20th August 1917

Question 2

What did the Montagu Declaration imply?

Answer 2

British Gov granting some form of self-government to India.

Flaw- No timescale. No rush for the British

Question 3

What did Edwin Montagu notice about the British Administration of India ?

Answer 3

It was slow, complex, stifled innovation and opposed radical reform.

Question 4

Why did the Rowlatt investigation get launched in 1917?

Answer 4

To put a stop to anti-war & revolutionary conspiracies.

Question 5

What did the Rowlatt commission report?

Answer 5

Bengal, Bombay and Punjab as centres of revolutionary activities.
encouraged Old wartime controls to be continued- Imprisonment without trial, censorship, House arrest.

Question 6

How did the Indian Legislative Council react to the Rowlatt act?

Answer 6

All 22 members opposed the act (out-voted by British majority)
Muslim Leader Jinnah- resigned, wrote angry letter to Chelmsford “irresponsible and out of touch with the people of India”

Question 7

How was opposition to the Rowlatt act displayed?

Answer 7

Hartals organised- impressive Hindu-Muslim solidarity

After arrest of organisers- turns into anti-Raj riot on April 11th. Scared European women, property destroyed

Question 8

What was the response to the Rowlatt opposition?

Answer 8

General Dyer Marched 1,000 soldiers into Amristar (April 12th)
Dyer sent proclamations against gatherings and established curfew

Question 9

What caused the Amritsar Massacre?

Answer 9

Baisaki Day (reg festival) bought in pilgrims. All gathered in park -4 exits, high walls.
Rules Ignored by punjabis. Infantrymen at entrances shooting.

Question 10

How many people died in the Amritsar massacre?

Answer 10

In 10-15min, 400 were killed and 1,500 injured

Question 11

How did Martial Law in Amritsar affect the people of India?

Answer 11

Designed to humiliate
Indians had to Salaam to Europeans
Public floggings
Crawling order-most humiliating, had to crawl in dirt to pass the street. Offensive to Hindu caste system.
Aroused even more anger

Question 12

Impact of Amritsar Massacre on Britain?

Answer 12

Split opinions. Commons scrutised Dyer. The Lords supported his actions.
Lord Hunter went to Lahore to question wittnesses

Question 13

What did the Hunter Commission’s report conclude?

Answer 13

Found no evidence of a conspiracy to overthrow the Raj.

Dyer was censured.

Question 14

Impact of Amritsar Massacre on India?

Answer 14

Set up it’s own inquiry. India was governed/treated in an appalling manner- roused deep anger/resentment among subjects of the Raj.

Question 15

Government of India Act-1919

Answer 15

Created a Dyarchy
Provincial/central legislative councils enlarged
Prov council control- Education, agriculture, health, local self gov
British- Control of Military, foreign affairs, currency, criminal law
Franchise extended
reserved seats for religious groups

Question 16

What was the British response to the India Act?

Answer 16

Horrified. Became a controversial issue.
Right wing- gov was losing its nerve, and soon India
Left wing-reforms had not gone far enough
felt strength and influence slip away

Question 17

How did the Lucknow Pact form?

Answer 17

M&H pursuing self-government
Problem of separate electorates due to: The raj denying muslims partition
Declaration of War against Turkey in 1914- insult to Muslims. Caliph most important
Wanted an enhanced sense of muslim identity

Question 18

when was the Lucknow Pact formed?

Answer 18

1916

Separate electorates for all communities unless a joint one is requested.

Question 19

what was the Impact of the Lucknow Pact?

Answer 19

ML reassured, felt like they could work with Congress, Muslim identity enhanced
Congress strengthened through cooperation & healing rifts within.

Question 20

who was Jinnah and What was his role?

Answer 20

Member of Congress & League. Worked to unite the groups under the aim of self-government. Barrister in Bombay, League’s chief spokesman in discussions leading up to Lucknow

Question 21

Which were the 2 main Leagues that promoted self-rule in 1916?

Answer 21

Bal Tilak’s ‘Home Rule League’ in Western India (gained 32k members)
Anne Besant’s ‘All India Home Rule League’. Slower growth but a network covering most of India

Question 22

How did the Home Rule Leagues gather support?

Answer 22

Newspapers, Rallies, pamphlets, songs, fiery speeches
Jinnah joined Besant’s League in 1917
support from Muslim League & Congress

Question 23

What impact did Home Rule Leagues have on Indian society?

Answer 23

Encouraged nationalism, showed strength in unity, spread political awareness in unpoliticised provinces (idea of educating the masses)

Question 24

What caused the Amritsar Massacre?

Answer 24

Hindus protesting the Rowlatt Act, British did not fullfill promise of giving Indians independence after WWI. Did not respect the curfew/ regulations and therefore shot at by soldiers.

Question 25

What were the cosequences of the Amritsar Massacre?

Answer 25

Gandhi Launched non-violent satyagraha to government to withdraw Rowlatt Act
Degree of Hartals observation from gov was limited & some erupted into violence.

Question 26

Aftermath of the Amritsar?

Answer 26

Thousands of Loyal Raj supporters turned away.
Revealed true face of British Rule
Any British reform tending to Indian independence was a sham

Question 27

Why did Gandhi’s Satyagraha fail to work in Amritsar?

Answer 27

Satyagraha only worked if everyone involved understood it’s basic tenets and did not use it as a pretext to follow other agendas

Question 28

Who was Gandhi?

Answer 28

A lawyer who previously worked in South Africa. Adopted a peasant lifestyle to get closer to people.Believed that Violence inhibits the search for the ultimate truth, thus non-violence between groups is essential. People will be happier in small self-contained communities.

Question 29

How did Gandhi develop the idea of Swaraj (self rule)?

Answer 29

The Rowlatt Acts which continued oppressing people
The Amritsar Massacre of 1919
An outcome of the Paris peace conferences- Turkey paying indemnity & losing territories, showed the west’s lack of concern for Islam and encouraged separatism among Muslims

Question 30

How did Congress react to Gandhi’s rise in the political sphere?

Answer 30

Congress impressed at first
No one could oppose him as he was the most influential figure in India
Congress so divided they could not unite against him
Little alternative but to ally with Gandhi