Indian Nationalism

Rowlatt Acts

Act imposed by the British allowing Indians to be found guilty without trial or with trials in camera

Context of Rowlatt acts

Indians were promised independence after WWI, but because this was not granted they were rebelling. The British were fearful of this and wanted to be able to have security and get rid of people they were suspicious of.

Massacre at Amritsar

Indians came to Jallianwala Bagh, a closed garden in order to protest the Rowlatt Acts quietly. They were going to listen to political speeches and pray calmly. There was also a Sikh festival occurring at the same time, so some people present were not even protesting. The British fired and killed many people for being present in the garden.

Mahatma Gandhi

A representative or leader of the Hindu majority. He inspired the people of India to protest against British rule peacefully, in the form of civil disobedience and boycotting. Leader of the Indian Independence Movement

Civil Disobedience

A form of protest that Indians used against the British government. It is the refusal to follow a law without using physical violence to disobey.

Salt March

A protest organized by Ghandi to oppose the salt taxation laws imposed by the British. Protestors walked to the seacoast to gather salt for themselves. The protest was intended to be peaceful but British soldiers cracked down, resulting in violence and 60000 arrests which gained international support for the cause.

Boycott

A form of protest that Indians used against the British government. It is the refusal to buy goods and products from a certain source, in this case the Indians refused to buy goods from the British and refused to attend their schools, pay taxes, vote, etc.

Government of India Act

An act allowing for self government and limited democratic elections for India.

Pakistan

Formerly part of the British Raj/British India, it became separated from India after the Indian Independence Act. The area is mostly dominated by Muslims

Indian Independence Act

The act detailing the independence of India and Pakistan from the British. It divided the two and caused land disputes between them.

Kashmir conflict

An ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. Kashmir’s ruler was Hindu, but the majority of the population was Muslim, so its ruler decided to remain neutral and not join India or Pakistan. This decision resulted in attacks from Pakistan, and in response Kashmir’s ruler turned to India for support in exchange for becoming part of India. This put India and Pakistan into a war ended by a cease-fire called by the UN, and a referendum was to be held where Kashmiris could decide for themselves. The referendum was never held, both sides didn’t hold up their end of the bargain. The border drawn at the cease-fire still divides the region today, and both sides have fought wars and skirmishes over the years because of Kashmir.

"divide and rule”

A strategy utilized by the British Raj to control and segregate the population by religion. Before British intervention in the region, Indians of all different religions coexisted peacefully and without major conflict. However, the British separated the religions from each other in order to sow distrust among them and prevent revolt. There were differences in law and voting depending on which religion was followed.

Indian National Congress (Hindu Indian Congress)

Hindu nationalist party

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Led All-India Muslim League

All-India Muslim League

Led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah