Indian Independence and the Question of Partition Flashcards

Flashcards about Indian Independence and the Question of Partition

Partition

The division of British India into two separate countries, India and Pakistan in August 1947.

British East India Company

A company established by a royal decree from the queen of England in 1600 to compete with Dutch traders by trading in the East Indies (modern-day Indonesia) and India.

Mughal Empire

An empire that ruled over a large territory spanning from present-day Pakistan to the southern region of modern India before the British.

Mansabdari system

A government system implemented by Emperor Akbar where nobles appointed by the emperor were assigned to a specific territory and expected to recruit cavalry for the Mughal army in return for the right to collect taxes on the land.

Nawabs

Newly independent rulers from the provinces of Bengal, Awadh, and the Deccan who declared their independence from the Mughal emperor.

British East India Company

A joint-stock corporation funded by individual shareholders that was created to compete with Dutch traders.

Provinces

Smaller administrative units within British India (similar to states in the United States).

Exports

Goods shipped to other countries.

Mercantile Class

Middle-class merchants, bankers, and traders who profited from increased trade on the subcontinent.

Battle of Plassey

Battle where Robert Clive's forces quickly defeated the Nawab's army.

Battle of Buxar

Battle where the Company's army defeated the emperor's regiment, resulting in the Company receiving rights to control the political offices and military forces in Bengal.

Warren Hastings

The first governor-general of Bengal.

Indian Subcontinent

The peninsula in South Asia, which includes the present-day territories of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Under British rule, the entire Indian subcontinent was referred to as “India.”

Bengal Permanent Settlement Act

Act passed in 1793 that granted official land ownership to zamindars in Bengal.

Sepoys

Indian soldiers recruited by the British East India Company.

The Great Revolt of 1857

A revolt beginning in the spring of 1857, where sepoys of the British East India Company's Bengal Army rose up against their British officers, later joined by Indian civilians.

Act for the Better Government of India

Act passed by the British Parliament on August 2, 1858, which made Queen Victoria the ruler of British territories in India.

Brahmans

Hindu scholars and leaders who convinced the British that caste was critical to understanding the structure of Indian society.

All-India Politics

A level of politics dealing with issues across all provinces.

Cash crops

Resources demanded by the market that peasants began to harvest more of instead of traditional food crops.

Durbars

Festivals and royal visits that the colonial government spent massive amounts of money on.

Swadeshi

Indian-made goods that people were encouraged to buy as part of the swadeshi movement.

Separate Electorates

In India, this electoral law created separate voter rolls for people belonging to different religions.

Self-governance

The right to vote and have representation in government.

Self-determination

The right to determine the structure of the government without outside interference.

Reserved Seats

A number of positions (or seats) in government that can only be held by a specific group (e.g. Muslims or women).