Indian Independence Test days 1-8

What was the general process by which India became a British Colony in the 19th century?

After Sepoy Mutiny in 1857, the previous British East India Company lost control of India. Britain saw this as a failure of the company and passed the Government of India act in 1858 - making India an official colony and Queen Victoria Empress of India.

What were the causes and effects of the Indian Revolt of 1857?

Religion was a main cause for the revolt, as the British East India company ignored religious Hindu or Muslim customs (cartridges with animal fat). There was an Indian majority in the army, with only few British officers/generals, so Indians were able to unify and revolt.

What was the religious background in the Indian subcontinent leading up to the mid-19th century?

Mughal empire - Muslim leaders with Hindu population, although religions weren't suppressed.
Ottoman empire - Islamic but many other religions like Christianity, Jews, etc.
Safavid empire - Muslim leaders with Muslim population

Sikhism - Islam + Hindu

Sepoys

Indian soldiers in the British army

British East India Trading Company

British trading company with a monopoly on Indian trade. It acted as an agent of British Imperialism in India.

British Raj

1858-1947 British rule over India

Delhi

Capital of Mughal empire, later made Indian capital.

Jhansi

Indian city ruled by Rani Lakshmi Bai, who fought against British during the sepoy mutiny. Was eventually lost to the british

What methods were used by the British to maintain control over India after 1857?

-Divide and Rule methods were used by the British to maintain control over India. British used Caste system, class division, religious division, and division of land to divide Indians : such as Bengal Conflict in 1905
-British intimidated Indians with Durbars (extravagant shows of british power/culture)

How did nationalism rise in India during British rule?

British rule angered many Indians because they didn't have representation in government and felt disrespected by the christianity of Britain. The divisions made by Britain, especially Bengal conflict, caused nationalist sentiment.

What were some of the cultural influences of the British on the people and society in India during the 19th century?

Many Indians spoke english and studied in British Schools or abroad in England. Also, the Indian representatives in the Indian National Congress were very westernized. British made treaties with Indian Princes and elites, which caused the British culture to influence the higher class of India while the lower class was outcast.

Queen Victoria

Queen of Great Britain(1819-1901) and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901.

Government of India Act (1858)

Made India an official colony. Declared Queen Victoria Empress of India.

Viceroy

a governor who ruled as a representative of a monarch

Indentured labor

labor under contract to an employer for a fixed period of time in exchange for their transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities.

Poor indians became indentured servants in 19th century under the war and famine of British rule.

Cash crops

Indian cash crops were Opium, Indigo, Cotton, and Silk

Indian Civil Service

Indian officials who served the British Government. Made Indians think they had a little power, but these elites were very westernized.

Social Darwinism

The application of ideas about evolution and "survival of the fittest" to human societies - particularly as a justification for their imperialist expansion and racism

In what ways did the Bengal conflict of 1905 further a sense of Indian nationalism?

The partition of Bengal undermined the Hindu majority and took away their big territory, which caused more Indian nationalism. This resulted in boycotts of British goods.

What was the purpose of the Indian National Congress?

1885 - due to Indian nationalism, British made the Indian National Congress to give Indians more "power" in the government. These Indian officials (Indian Civil Service) were elites who didn't question British rule, which limited further growth of Indian nationalism.

How did the British respond to criticism stemming from the Bengal conflict?

Secretary of State for India - John Morely, created Morely-Minto Reforms in 1909, gave concessions to Indian nationalists with more government representation. This allowed Indians to further question colonial power.

Caste System

Hindu belief of reincarnation caused the Caste System - essentially class divides. From worst to greatest, Dalits, Sudra, Vaisyas, Kshatriyas, and Brahmins.

Bengal

Region of northeastern India. first part of India to be conquered by the British in the 18th century and remained the political and economic center of British India throughout the 19th century.

Indian Councils Act 1909

A part of Morely-Minto reforms, gave muslims their own electorate.

George Curzon

George Curzon was Viceroy of India (1899-1905)

Morely-Minto reforms

1909 - British gave political power to nationalists and protected Muslims in response to Bengali conflict criticism.

Surendranath Banerjea

Indian Nationalist

Created Indian National Association to unite Hindus and Muslims

One of the founders of INC, 2x president of the INC

Muslim League

Founded in 1906 after Morely-Minto Reforms to protect Muslim’s in India through a separate electorate.

What prompted the Muslim League to seek an agreement with Congress in 1916?

After the British annulled the Bengal 1905 partition, Muslim’s felt threatened.

By 1915, INC was discussing self-governance, which further threatened muslim’s position in government. Thus, they reached an agreement in 1916: Lucknow Pact

Lucknow Pact

1916, INC granted Muslims fixed parliamentary seats

What was the significance of the Lucknow Pact of 1916 for Muslim representation in an Indian parliament?

The Lucknow Pact allowed India to secure Muslim support for self governance, which furthered the quest for independence.

All India Home Rule League

1916: founded by Annie Besant

Promoted Self Governance in India, but only united the educated public; failed to mobilize the poor population

Annie Besant

Along with Bal Gangadhar Tilak, founded All India Home Rule; resided over the Madras AIHR headquarters

How did Mahatma Gandhi’s rise in popularity and his non-violent protests impact the Home Rule Movement in India? 

Gandhi’s unification of rich and poor took attention away from the All Indian Home Rule, which caused their actions to decline.

Led to the 1917 Montagu declaration, where AIHR halted expansion.

What were the reasons for the decline of the Home Rule Movement, and how did it eventually merge with the Indian National Congress?

Gandhi was the main reason for the decline in home rule. Gandhi became AIHR president in 1920 and combined it with INC.

Edwin Montagu

Secretary of State at India Office, author of the Montagu

Montagu Declaration

1917: Promised gradual self-government for India, leading to increased Indian participation in administration under British rule.

Rowlatt Act

1919

following Indian boycott - allowed british to imprison indians without due trial or process

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (AKA Amritsar Massacre)

1919

Indians protested the Rowlatt Act, british police open fired, killing/wounding 1,000. This massacre prompted Gandhi to start civil disobedience

Government of India Act

1919

introduced dyarchy, split governance between indian officials and british officials. granted limited self rule for India.

Lord Chelmsford

Viceroy from 1916-1921

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

INC member. Partly responsible for partition of India into Pakistan

Indian Independence Act of 1947

The british gave up control of indian states and allowed them to choose to join Pakistan or India. Most princely states joined the Indian Union

Jawaharlal Nehru

The Indian prime minister after they gained independence in 1947. He was socialist, practiced republicanism, and was secular.

Sardar Patel

Deputy Prime Minister of India, he opposed Nehru’s socialist and secular beliefs. He pushed for Hindu nationalism in India.

Hindu RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh)

Right wing Hindu nationalist group that assassinated Gandhi. Patel allowed Hindu RSS members into congress, they passed pro-hindu laws.

Zamindar

Indian Landowner Class (Caste system)

Rajendra Prasad

by 1950, india became a republic. Rajendra Prasad became president, backed by Patel.

When did Patel die?

1951, leaving Nehru to have control over congress with no opposition.

Nehru’s 5 year plan

1952

-rebuild Indian economy

-control inflation, alleviate the famine

-invested in public sector

-required private companies to be approved by Govt

-increased agricultural production by investing in irrigation

-Land reform - abolished zamindar class

Hindu Succession Act

1955:

gave women equal rights to inherit and own property

Hindu Marriage Act

gave divorced women alimony and maintenance.