AP WORLD Indian Independence Movement

from nearpod notes pt 1 and 2

Indian Independence movements

• indian nationalist groups had been demanding independence from British rule since the 1800s

  • Indian national Congress: majority hindus, resisted British rule

  • Muslim league: represented Muslim interests, supported independence but would not accept INC rule

Mohandas Gandhi

• after a successful campaign that gainedd rights for Indians in South africa, he asked to lead the INC

• saw that Muslim and Hundu unity was essential for peaceful and successful future of India

• used nonviolent and non-cooperative measures of protest

The Armistrar massacre

• 1919

• British general banned public meetings in city of Armistrar

• many people ignored order and conducted an independence meeting

• the general and his troops opened fire on the crowd, killing 379 people

Gandhi’s actions

• peaceful policy of civil disobediance was in sharp contrast to the British military presence

• his tactice increased support for Indian Independence (Hand-Spun movement, Salt March)

• by the end of ww2, his nonviolent methods were changing opinions about the morality and expense of maintaing colonies

Indian Independence

• britain granted India independence in 1947

  • gandhi’s civil disobedience had weakened British control

  • British very large war debts after ww2

  • too expensive to maintain overseas colonies

Partition of India

• British were concerned that fighting between Muslims and Hindus would break out

• decided to partition India in 1947, with India being for Hindus and Pakistan for Muslims

Results of partiiton

• mass migration of people and violence

  • muslims fled india

  • hindus fled pakistan

• resulted in 1 million deaths

• ghandi pleaded with hndus to stop the fighting

• gandhi assaasinated by hindu radical

• india and pakistan continue to have frequent military conflicts since indepndence due to border disptues and nuclear weaponry.