What were Churchill's views on India? Flashcards
What were the two main strands of resistance against British rule?
- educated elite - had been campaigning for political reform since at least 1880s
- wider mass population who had increasingly applied pressure under Gandhi’s leadership from 1920s onwards
What was founded in 1885 and what did they want?
Indian National Congress/Congress Party - initially demanded greater political autonomy but by early c.20 calling for full independence
What helped strengthen the independence movement?
The fact that World War 1 had left Britain virtually bankrupt
How many Indian troops had fought for Britain in World War 1?
Over 1 million
What did the British war cabinet estimate in August 1917?
It would take 500 years for Indians to learn to rule themselves
What did the Imperial Legislative Council introduce in March 1919?
The Rowlatt Act
When was the Rowlatt Act introduced?
March 1919
What 3 key things did the Rowlatt Act permit?
- Certain political cases could be tried without a jury
- Suspects could be imprisoned without trial
- Restrictions placed on press
What other act did the British introduce in 1919, what did this do and what did British conservatives/Indians think of it?
Montagu-Chelmsford Act - gave provincial governments increased autonomy over some issues
For many conservatives - step too far
For many Indians - reforms did not go far enough
What was Gandhi’s response to the Rowlatt Act?
In April 1919, Gandhi called for people to engage in nonviolent protest
In Amritsar, what did the arrest of Indian nationalist leaders spark and what was the response?
Riots
British Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer sent to restore order.
He banned all public meetings and announced he would use force to disperse them if necessary
What did the rioters do after Dyer’s warning and what did he do as a result?
Thousands gathered in a walled enclosure called Jallianwala Bagh. Dyer marched 90 Gurkha and India soldiers and without warning opened fire for 10-15 minutes.
How many were killed/wounded at the Amritsar Massacre?
379 killed
1,200 wounded
What did Churchill say about the Amritsar Massacre?
‘monstrous event’
What did the pro-Empire newspaper, The Morning Post, do?
Started a Dyer Fund which raised £26,000