History Imperialism in India

Causes of the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857

• Greased Cartridge on rifles that were rumored to be coated with cow and pig fat, which the Hindus and Muslims soldiers had to bite off

  • The cow is sacred for Hindus

  • The pig is considered a filthy animal for Muslims

• British trying to convert Indians to Christianity

• Loss of privileges and heavy taxes

• Disrespect towards India traditions and culture

• Controlled by British East India Company

Effects of Sepoy Mutiny

• Fueled rise in Indian nationalism

• British Government took direct control of India (the Raj)

• British won greater control of these “free” and “independent” states in India

• Fueled the racist attitudes of the British

• Resulted in the end of the EIC rule

Positive Impact of Colonialism

• New roads and railroads

• Telegraph and postal systems

• Irrigation systems

• New laws

• British schools

• Customs ended (harmful traditions- though could be negative due to destruction of Indian culture

• Sanitization and public health improved

Negative Impact of Colonialism

• Indian resources go to Britain

• British made goods replace local goods

• Farms grow cash crops rather than food crops

  • Indians grow hungry

• Top jobs go to the British

• Britain tries to replace Indian culture with western ways

• Indians treated as inferiors and restricted Indian owned businesses

Ram Mohun Ray

• Known as the “Father of Indian renaissance” 

• Fought for women’s rights

• Promoted English education to modernize society

• Wanted India to move away from traditional practices

• Idea that if nothing changed, India would always be controlled

The Indian National Congress

• In Bombay (Mumbai)

• Leaders included Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru

• Aimed to give Indians a voice in government under British rule

• Leading force for full independence

• Promotes democracy, secularism, and social justice

The Muslim League

• Muhammad Ali Jinnah was elected as president

• Group formed in the interest of Muslims

• Disapproved of civil disobedience as it was “too radical”

• Called for a separate state

Rowlatt Acts

• Passed to respond to violent nationalists

• Could jail protestors for up to 2 years

Amritsar Massacre

• 10,000 went to Amritsar to protest, pray, fast, and listen to speeches

• British opened fire for 10 minutes without warning; 400 died and 1,200 injured

Mohandas Gandhi

• Leader of Independence

• Promoted Civil Disobedience

• Organized salt march and boycotts

• Was hindu

• Promoted Unity

The Salt March

• A march led by Gandhi

• Protestors walked 240 miles to the sea coast in order to make their own salt

• Demonstration to defy the “Salt Acts” which were laws set by the British which forced Indians to buy salt from not other source than the government

• Some protestors marched to salt factories but were brutally attacked by British officers

India’s two major religious groups

• Hindus: 75% of population; ~350 million

• Muslims: growing minority-20-23% of population; ~100 million

Two political organizations that represented these religious groups

• Indian National Congress/The Congress Party

  • Represented Hindus

• The Muslim League

  • Represented Muslims

Partition of India and how it was supposed to work

• Separate Muslim and Hindu nations

• Northwest and eastern regions with mostly Muslims became Pakistan

• Hindus got the rest of India

Mass migration in 1947

• Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs had to decide where to move after the partition

• People relocated and violence broke out among religious groups

  • Muslims killed Sikhs who moved into India

  • Hindus and Sikhs killed Muslims who moved into Pakistan

Significance of the partition and Kashmir

• India and Pakistan fought over Kashmir and who should rule it

• Majority Muslims but had a Hindu king → left the British unsure who to give power to

• Two countries still fight over the region today

What are some of the 21st century challenges that India faces?

• Rapid population growth that leaves a strain on resources

• Pollution and environmental issues

• Economic inequality

• Infrastructure needs

• Religious and ethnic tensions

What are some of the 21st century challenges that Pakistan faces?

• Political instability and government changes

• Economic struggles

• Tensions with neighboring countries

What were the effects of the civil war that followed in Pakistan?

• Creation of Bangladesh - formerly East Pakistan

• Massive loss of life and displacement of millions

• Weakening of Pakistan politically and economically

How did WWI change the situation of nationalism in India

• Nationalism booms in Indian communities

• Indians enlisted in government

• To curb the revolt of Indians for Self-government the British pas the Rowlatt Acts that allowed the government to jail protestors without trial

• Indians still treated as second class citizens

How did Gandhi use civil disobedience to weaken Britain’s control over India

• Used deeply religious approach to political activity

  • Blendings of Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity

• Gandhi urged the Indian National Congress to follow a policy of noncooperation with the British

Mustafa Kemal

• A brilliant commander that successfully led Turkish nationalists in fighting back the Greeks and British

• Became the president of the new Republic of Turkey and implemented reforms such as secularism, granting women equal political rights, and adopting a civil code based on European models

Between 1660 and 1757, how did the political situation in India evolve?

The British East India Company took over in the late 1600s but before India was ruled by the Mughal Empire

East India Company

• British company that controlled parts of India

Sepoys

• Indian soldiers hired by the EIC

“Jewel in the Crown”

• How the British considered India, the most valuable of all British coloniesPlantation Crops

  • Include tea, indigo, coffee, cotton, jute, and opium

  • High value, perennial crops used to trade in international markets

Plantation Crops

• Include tea, indigo, coffee, cotton, jute, and opium

• High value, perennial crops used to trade in international markets

Why did the Sepoy Mutiny Fail?

• Weak leadership

• Rivals between Muslims and Hindus

• Princes of India made alliances with EIC and did not take part of this rebellion

Sikh

• A religious group that had been hostile to the Mughals and remained loyal to the British

Raj

• British rule after India came under the British crown during the reign of Queen Victoria

Why would the British find it a good thing to divide the Hindus and the Muslims

• It would keep the two groups from uniting and calling for independence