Transcript PwrPt
South Asia Nationalist Movement & Independence Review Imperialism British East India Company: • At first learned Indian culture & intermarried • Used Indian princes as figureheads • Pitted Hindus against Muslims • Kept Indian bankers & merchants benefiting from British trade • Used Sepoys • British trained Indian soldiers to protect trade Major Event • Sepoy Rebellion, 1857 = • Great Mutiny v. 1st War for Independence • Sepoy’s revolt results in colonization. Sign of early nationalism British Raj • British tighten hold on India • Set-up official colonial government – “Raj” • Tax Indian textiles, salt • Impose British education • “A class of persons, Indian in blood and color, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect.” • Tight British grip leads to organized Indian nationalist movements Years Leading Up To WWI Years leading up to WWI • Earlier colonization = • large class of Western-educated elites • earlier nationalism • Groups like the Indian National Congress were formed • Virtually all of the INC was Hindu, lived in cities, & British educated • Muslim community watched suspiciously Social Foundations of a Mass Movement • Increasingly resented Britain draining India economically Militant Nationalism • B.G. Tilak garners first public support via stressing violent rebellion & Hindu revivalism British Response • Britain attempted to prevent full independence movement by brokering some political freedoms through INC After WWI – Major Event • Amritsar Massacre, 1919 = • Ended Indian effort to operate within British control Gandhi • Gandhi broadened nationalist movement through civil disobedience Major Event • Salt March, 1930 = • “Tea Party” of India. Solidified Gandhi’s popularity and effort at peaceful protest. WWII • Strain from WWII coupled with British control fostered greater resentment • INC organized a “Quit India Movement” • Advocated complete independence from Britain • soldiers stopped fighting WWII • local officials quit gov’t jobs • citizens boycotted British goods • used strikes & work stoppages Winning Independence • INC (led by Gandhi) sought united & multicultural but independent India • Muslim League (led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah) sought separate Muslim state Partition • Partition & hasty British pullout = creates Muslim state (Pakistan) • Pakistan: clumsy 2-part country (East & West) • Tension b/t East & West Pakistan • 1971 → Bangladesh Independence WWII & Partition: • Muslim League “wins” debate • Partition was messy & millions fled to the “correct” side of the new border • Millions killed in the process • Problems continue – clear divisions are difficult: Kashmir Gandhi’s Legacy • Gandhi failed to create a peaceful, multicultural India • Assassinated for teachings •Indians had power to change events •Shredded legitimacy of British rule •Embodied national cause •Forged links b/t classes •Mobilized thousands •Spread civil disobedience •Raj’s government never threatened •WWII caused independence •India was partitioned Independence • Jawaharlal Nehru, Gandhi’s close ally, becomes 1st prime minister of India • Muhammad Ali Jinnah, becomes 1st Governor-General of Pakistan Goals of Independent India • Secular democracy • Outlaw caste • Economic independence Challenges Remain: • Caste differences remain • Hindu-Muslim clashes • Cultural diversity Two Indias What did you LEARN about India after independence based on the article? Reflection of History? • Diversity, Tension, Innovation • Federation: • allows a fair degree of autonomy to states • States based around linguistic & large ethnic groups) • Hindu nationalism v. Islam • Green Revolution Summary • British set up BEIC • Exploit division b/t Hindus & Muslims • British rule contradicts many Indian customs – nationalism grows • Sepoy Rebellion, INC, Muslim League • Rise of Gandhi & nonviolent protest • WWII weakens Britain • India divided into two nations: India (Hindu/secular), Pakistan (Muslim)