Unit 1 and 2 Flashcards
What was the Indian reaction to the outbreak of WW1
-Instant support came from congress, the muslim league and the princely states
-even radical Indian politicians like Ban Tilak, leader of extremist faction of congress, declared loyalty to Britain
-27 of India’s largest Princely states put their armies at Britains disposal and commissioned a hospital ship, loyalty
-recruitment of Indians for troops were a success. Indian troops were soon sailing for Flanders, gallipoli etc.
WHO WAS TE VICEROY, SECRETARY OF STATE AND COUNCIL OF INDIA
-viceroy was a political appointment made in Westminster. represented the british crown in india. Worked from Delhi.
-Secretary of State for india was a political appointment. Responsible for the development of gov policy in india and answerable to british parliament
-secretary of state was guided by the council of india, based in London. consisted of 15 men. none were Indian
what were the princely states
the princely states were vast areas of indian subcontinent that were not ruled by the raj
-ruled by the indian princes
-35% of the country , consisting of 562 seperate states
-they all had treaty arrangements with britain, allowed a certain degree of autonomy.
-each state kept its own laws, languages, ministers etc BUT were under the ‘protection’ of Britain so in reality couldnt take action that countered the interest of the british raj
how did the caste system effect hindu individuals
-every hindu born into a specific caste and couldnt change
how large were muslims as a minority
20%
IN NORTH EAST AND NORTH WEST THEY WERE A MAJORITY BUT WERE A MINORITY IN MOST STATES
-fewer muslims in the south except for Hyderabad, that had been the stronghold of the muslim Mughal empire during the q6th and 17th C
how was indias economi role vital to britain
-was both a provider of raw materials for british inustry and a market for british manufactured goods (e.g cotton, iron, steel()
-india supplied britain with jute, cotton, rice, tea, oil-seed etc
-transportation of goods helped the opening of the Suex canal in 1869
impact of Lancashire cotton-cloth industry AND tariffs
in 1879 all import duties on lancashire cotton cloth industry were removed, allowing it to flood into the indian market , when the indian cotton industry desperately needed support
-3 years later all tariffs were removed on british goods, lthough in 1917 ome protection was given to indian industries (tarriff control became a factor that fastened oto indian nationalists as the 20th c progressed)
where did raj officials and high earning proffessionals live live
lived in large 18th C houses built by East india company merchants
there became a clear distinction between the british living in india and the indians. Furnishing and lavish ornamentation was shipped out.
many english children went back to england for education
indian national congress background
-delegates in the first meeting of the indian national congress on 1885 were mainly high caste hindus who spoke English. most were lawyers.
-also british delegates
-muslim delegates were in the minority
-at the outbreak of the First World War congress became a powerful voice for indiian nationalism and they met increasingly
muslim leage background
formed in 1906 as a voice of the muslim community
indian councils act 1909
outcome of reforms agreed by John Morely and Lord minto
provisions:
-60 indian representatives for viceroys executive council (27 in special interest groups)
-provincial councils in largeness
-seperate electorates provided for hindus and muslims
what was India’s military contribution to world war 1?
-827,000 troops recruited by November 1918
-many cited to be fighting for the british kingdom, not india.
-about 1.5 million Indians had been recruited by the end of the war and 64,500 died
-indias military contribution was vital to British victory, providing troops, ammunition and food
-first Indian force full of 16,000 british troops and 28,500 indian troops arrived in Marseilles in September 1914 for the First Battle of Ypres . (The losses ere heavy- one battalion was left by the end with half of it’s soldiers)
-they were soon back in the trenches. Provided half the allied fighting force at Neuve Chapelle in 1915 and the Lahore division was thrown into the counter attack at the second battle of Ypres 1915
opporations against the turks/ Middle East
-two infantry divisions were withdrawn from france in 1915 and were sent to the Middle East- some said because of the low morale in winter, but others that indians were more used to the heat and ease of sending suppliesand reinforcements to india
-middle eastern force was poorly equipped and poorly-led. thousands of british and indian troops were forced to march on turkish POW camps after surrendering following a seige. hundreds died
-two divisions stayed in europe until march 1918 when they were transferred to palestine to fight the turks
India’s economic contribution to WW1
-Contributed 184,000 animals and $146 million to war effort
-India gave war loans to Britain and dramatic increases in military expenditure
economic IMPACT of WW1 on India
NEGATIVE
-increased taxation, rising prices and fuel shortages despite India not fighting for their own cause
-culture of grief and worry due to soldier deaths
-sitution in india made worse by the faiure of monsoon rains to arrive in 1918-19
-had to juggle demands of Britain for war amenities
POSITIVE
-indian manufacturing did benefit (IRON, STEEL, SUGAR, ENGINEERING AND CHEMICALS), India produced goods that they normally imported
-shareholders in businesses saw rising dividends.
-one cotton mill owner ewported trebeling of profits
-resulted in rising profits
What was the montagu declaration and when was it
-Montagu declaration, 1917
-announced in 1917 in House of Commons by the Indian secretary Edward Montagu, a liberal
-the declaration announced increasing Indian participation in self governance but didn’t outline how this would happen or when- imnplied there was no hurry from english gov to give india some form of self-determination
-Edward montagu travelred to India from 1917-18 and understood how slow and conservative British administration was in India. was critical of Michel o’dwyer and worried viceroy chelmsford would give into them
1915 defence of india act
inteded to stop anti-war/revolutionary activities
-protest forbidden-
-act gave viceroy the power to issue regulations in order to secure public safety and ensure india was properly defended
-1919 rowlatt wanted to to continue this act
what were The Rowlatt Acts and when did they happen
-The Rowlatt Commission was set up in 1917 to investigate revolutionary activity in India as the effect of the war went on
-reported in July 1918
-isolated bengal and punjab as centres of revolutionary activity and recommended that wartime controls hould be continued after war : the provisions that had been put in place under the 1915 vDefence of India act
-The rowlatt act was passed in 1919 and granted police powers to arrest without trial, imprisonment without trial, trial without jury, censorship and house arrest
-damaged English and Indian political relations, caused Jinnah to resign
- fully opposed the montagu declaration, montagu sanctioned it with reluctance but understood the need to prevent rebellion
-every single of of the 22 members of the indian legislative council opposed it
-act was reppealed in 1922 but only after the damage had been done
what was Indian opposition to the Rowlatt acts like and what did it lead to
-opposition flared up across India (Punjab and it’s capital Amritsar was
the worst)
-Hartals were organised for the 30th of March and 6th of April 1919 (implicated hindu and muslim cooperation)
-two organisers of the hartal were put under house arrest which turned the action violent causing riots
-general anti raj violence occurred as a result (banks stormed, houses fired) 3 europeans were killed- caused Britain to lose control of Amritsar. Marcia sherwood a mission doctor was brutally beaten
-European women had to hide in the gobingh fort
-governer of Punjab (Michael o’dwyer) was scared of anti raj revolution and sent in troops causing the Amritsar massacre
What was the Amritsar Massacre?
-occured April 1919
-Governer of Punjab, Michael O’Dwyer was convinced that an organised anti raj revolution would occur so sent in troops
-General Rex Dyer lead 1000 soldiers into Amritsar on the 12th of April, convinced an uprising was underway
-April 13th was Baisakhi day, an important religious festival and thousands of pilgrims arrived in Amritsar and congregated in Jallianwalla Bagh park with high walls with 4 exits, dyer ordered people against these meetings but they took place regardless
-dyer brought his men in and killed 400 and wounded 1500
what important day was 13th of April 1919
-April 13th was Baisakhi day, an important religious festival and thousands of pilgrims arrived in Amritsar and congregated in a park with high walls with 4 exits
what did dyer do after the Amritsar massacre
-established martial law in Amritsar
(indians passing europeans had to salaam, public floggingsfor guilty and innocent, many low caste Indians were beat)
-the crawling order: indian passing along the street where marcia sherwood was beaten had to crawld in filth (eoffensive to hindu’s due to the ideas suround caste purity and pollution)
British response to Amritsar
-House of Commons passed a motion to censure Dyer however the House of Lords supported him
-montagu set up enquiry into the massacre, Lord hunter arrived in Lahore in 1914.
Dyer was forced to admit he had not warned before he fired, that they kept firing until they were out of ammunition, and wanted to punish the Punjabi for disobedience, and considered destroying Amritsar)
-the inquiry found no evidence that there was to be an organised revolution
-Dyer Censured and O’dwyer reprimanded
-dyers troops cheered him onto the train to leave
what was the Indian response to the Amritsar massacre
-resentment towards raj
-the punjab sub-committee of the INC set up its own inquiry, publishing verified witness statements and graphic photographs
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