Imperialism in India

Mohandas Gandhi

A philosopher from India, this man was a spiritual and moral leader favoring India's independence from Great Britain. He practiced passive resistance, civil disobedience and boycotts to generate social and political change.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Indian Muslim politician who founded the state of Pakistan. A lawyer by training, he joined the All-India Muslim League in 1913. As leader of the League from the 1920s on, he negotiated with the British/INC for Muslim Political Rights

Queen Victoria

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

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Brightest Jewel

Refers to India most valuable colony in British empire

Colony

A territory that is legally tied to a sovereign state rather than completely independent.

British East India Company

A joint stock company that controlled most of India during the period of imperialism. This company controlled the political, social, and economic life in India for more than 200 years.

Mughal Empire

Muslim state (1526-1857) exercising dominion over most of India in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Bengal

Region of northeastern India. It was the first part of India to be conquered by the British in the eighteenth century and remained the political and economic center of British India throughout the nineteenth century. Today this region includes part of Eastern India and all of Bangladesh.

Sepoy Rebellion

The revolt of Indian soldiers in 1857 against certain practices that violated religious customs; also known as the Sepoy Mutiny.

British Raj

British political establishment in India; developed as a result of the rivalry between France and Britain in India.

Indian National Congress

A movement and political party founded in 1885 to demand greater Indian participation in government. Its membership was middle class, and its demands were modest until World War I. Led after 1920 by Mohandas Gandhi, appealing to the poor.

Muslim League

Founded in 1906 to better support demands of Muslims for separate electorates and legislative seats in Hindu-dominated India; represented division within Indian nationalist movement

Pakistan

A Muslim republic that occupies the heartland of ancient south Asian civilization in the Indus River valley; formerly part of India; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947

Amritsar Massacre

killing by British troops of nearly 400 Indians gathered at Amritsar to protest the Rowlatt Acts

Salt March

passive resistance campaign of Mohandas Gandhi where many Indians protested the British tax on salt by marching to the sea to make their own salt.

Non-Violent Resistance

peaceful resistance to a government by fasting or refusing to cooperate

Caste System

A Hindu social class system that controlled every aspect of daily life

Spinning Wheel Movement

Indians protested by making their own clothes using spinning wheels (British said they needed to buy British made cloth and clothes)

Indirect Rule

Colonial government in which local rulers are allowed to maintain their positions of authority and status

Direct Rule

a system of government in which a province is controlled by a central government.

Causes of Imperialism

Industrial Revolution led to a demand for more raw resources; European nationalism demanded colonies; Europeans needed more land for growing populations; Europeans wanted new markets to sell their goods in; Europeans had better weapons and technology; European desire to spread religion and culture; belief in Social Darwinism; desire for global empire.

Causes of the Sepoy Rebellion

animal fat greased bullet casings were against religion; forced to travel to places outside caste restrictions; sati abolished and divorce allowed, made English mandatory in school