Gandhi’s Nationalist Movement

Why the movement has been successful

- In certain environments a sense of national Identity within and between communities foster successful independence movements.

• British empire and India

•Gandhi and peaceful protest

Nationalist Movement in the British Empire

•By the start of the 20th century Great Britain had acquired a large empire.

• In many colonies, the nature of British rule encouraged the growth of nationalist movements that sought to challenge Great Britain and take over countries for themselves.

Ex. India

• Inda Utilized peaceful protest

The Rowlatt Act

•During WWII, rights of citizens such as freedom of speech & right to hold protests temporarily suspended in India

• In 1919, British passed the Rowlatt Act Keeping these restrictions in place during peacetime

•The Indian Congress immediately began campaigning against the Rowlatt Act.

Amritsar Massacre- Result of the Act

Amritsar was a city in the north western area of India

•Immediate protest against the Rowlatt Act and protests turned violent

British General Dyer banned all public meetings.

•April 13, 1919 a large, unarmed crowed gathered and General Dyer marched be soldiers to the meeting

•Meeting was peaceful and made up of men, women, and Children.

-General Dyer lined up his men & ordered them to fire.

•379 people died & over 1200 were wounded.

•After the massacre, General Dyer sets up punishments for the Indians.

•one punishment, known as 'crawling order, required Indians wishing to use a specific street. being forced to crawl on their hands & Knees to show respect for the British

Gandhi and Self-Rule

•Self government for India

•Self-control for each individual

example of noncooperation

• Indians renounced titles and honors

• Lawyers refused to work for the British

•Students boycotted schools & universities established by the British

• People refused to buy British cloth; Gandhi encouraged to make and wear their own cloth

• People refused to pay taxes

Outbreak of violence

•Despite what Gandhi promoted, violence broke out in several places & Gandhi was appalled.

• He goes on a five-day fast & called off campaign

• Gandhi then arrested & Charged with seditition (encouraging others to disobey the law.)

•He was sentenced to 6 years in prison, but released after 22 months

After Gandhi’s Release

•Gandhi worked hard in Indian National Congress to get the different groups to work together-Specifically Hindus and Muslims.

• Gandhi went to congress and brought a vote to declare immediate self rule for India

•Congress passed the motion & the President flew the Indian tricolor flag for the first time

Nonviolent Civi Disibedience

•Gandhi marched thousands of followers 400km to the coast, where he picked up salt on the seashore

•This challenged hugely uppopular British law that taxed salt & forbade Indians to avoid this task by making their own salt

•Gandhi & 100,000 other Indians were put in jail

The British’s Response

The British come to realize they can't Keep India by force

•There's concern about Britain using force in non violent protest

So, Gandhi was released from prison and Invited to attend meetings with the viceroy