Independence Movements Independence in India World War I

Independence Movements Independence in India

World War I Heightens Nationalist Activity n n n Prior to World War I, Indians had little interest in self-rule or independence When World War I began, the British promised India reforms that would eventually lead to selfgovernment (provided at least a million Indian soldiers) 1918 – Great Britain had no desire to give India independence (self-rule) – many Indians revolted

World War I Heightens Nationalist Activity 1919 – Great Britain passed the Rowlatt Act – allowed the government to jail protestors without trial for as long as two years (denial of trial by jury) – more violence erupted n Amritsar Massacre – British soldiers fired on Hindus and Muslims who had gathered to protest the Rowlatt Act – Indians demanded independence from Great Britain Armistar Massacre n

Gandhi’s Principle of Nonviolence n n n Mohandas K. Gandhi – leader of India’s independence movement Promoted use of civil disobedience – the deliberate and public refusal to obey an unjust law Gandhi called on Indians to refuse to do the following – buy British goods, attend government schools, pay British taxes, and vote in elections

Gandhi’s Principle of Nonviolence n n n Encouraged Indians to weave their own cloth and boycott British cloth (a huge source of wealth for the British) Salt Acts – Indians could buy salt from no other source but the government (they also had to pay taxes on salt) Salt March – Gandhi and his followers walked 240 miles to the seacoast to get their own salt

Gandhi’s Principle of Nonviolence n n Police officers attacked defenseless marchers outside a salt plant (a place where the British government process salt) – world journalists reported the violence against unarmed and nonviolent Indians 1935 – Great Britain passed the Government of India Act (provided for local self-government and limited democratic elections)

Religious Tensions 1947 – India gained independence from Great Britain n Sri-Lanka-formerly known as Ceylon gained its independence n Religious differences led to the Partition of India – India (Hindus) and Pakistan (Muslims) n Pakistan included East and West Pakistan n Civil War broke out between East and West Pakistan – East Pakistan became Bangladesh Muslim League n

Republic of India World’s largest democracy n Federal system with much power given to the states n Jawaharal Nehru- a close ally of Gandhi’s supported Western style industrialization n 1950 Constitution sought to prohibit caste system discrimination n

Republic of India Indira Gandhi was the first female Prime Minister of India from 1980 -1984. ¨ During the Cold War, she maintained a close relationship between the USSR and India. ¨ Under her leadership, India developed a nuclear program. ¨

Republic of India Ethnic and religious differences caused problems in India developing a democracy ¨ New economic development has helped to ease the financial problems of India. ¨