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Key termsBritish RajThe term given to the period of British imperial rule over India.Executive CouncilThe cabinet of the Viceroy of India. The executive council was a body of politicians charged with shaping the governance of India. As of 1909, 3 Indians were permitted to be within the executive council. Indian Civil ServiceThe administrative service (made up largely of young white men) responsible for ensuring the day-to-day running of India.Bal TilakA radical member of Congress, who felt India should employ force if Britain resisted granting India elf-governance.ViceroyA political appointment made in Westminster charged with overseeing the running of British India.SepoyThe term given to Indian soldiers who served within the army of the British Raj. Indian Sepoys were to play a critical role during WWI.Princely StatesStates that were run autonomously by Indian princes, but that were under the ‘protection’ of the British Raj.Battle of YpresThe first conflict in WWI that Indian’s took part in. Their losses at the battle were extensive.CasteThe rigid system of hierarchy used by Hindus to classify members of society.Provincial Legislative CouncilsPolitical councils within the 11 provinces of India, with the responsibility of forming laws and ensuring the safe running of the provinces. UntouchablesThe lowest members of the caste system, who were largely separated from the rest of Hindu Society.HartalA mob-based riot, often in response to unpopular British actions. Hartals were a violent backlash to certain aspects of British rule. Mughal EmpireThe Empire who had ruled India prior to the British seizing control. They were an empire dominated by Muslims.Martial LawLaw temporarily imposed on an area or state through the use of the military or army. In India, Martial Law was used by Britain during the war in order to ensure co-operation. It was controversially extended at the end of the war.East India CompanyA private company which had dominated trade in India since the early 1600s. Their domination of this trade led to their de-facto ruler ship of India.DyarchyA system of power sharing between both Indians and British. Dyarchy was unequal, as the British retained the power to impose and enforce laws without the consultation of Indians, though some Indians were granted power in provincial assemblies.CantonmentsSeparate regions of housing occupied by white British inhabitants of India.SatyagrahaA form of protest which involved non-violent resistance to British rule. This constituted largely of not co-operating with British institutions within the Raj.Muslim LeagueThe political party originally formed to safeguard the interests of India’s Muslim population.Home-Rule A system of governance which would grant Indians complete control over internal affairs within India.CongressThe political party formed with the intent of moving India towards a form of self-governance.ElectorateThe group of people given the right to vote. Within India, Muslims were keen to be given a guaranteed portion of the electorate, so that they could safeguard their interests within government.TariffsRestrictions and taxes placed on goods being imported into a country. Britain placed no tariffs on their goods imported to India, restricting Indian industry in the process.Key ConceptsExamplesImpactDemocracy – A system of government in which power is vested to the people, and governance is undertaken by freely elected officials and representatives. With the arrival of the British in India, they brought with them the concept of democracy (Britain was, after all, a democratic country) and thus instilled in educated Indians a belief that the Raj could be challenged via political means.The emergence of the Indian National Congress can be cited as a clear example of the development of democratic principles within the Indian subcontinent. Formed in 1885, and with a membership of over 100,000 by 1914, Congress was a forum designed to debate political issues, and later pressure the British government grant India greater self-government. In 1906, the All-Indian Muslim League was established, giving India a second united political party. The Muslim League was formed with the aim of protecting the interests of India’s Muslims.The impact of the introduction of democracy to India was clearly the emergence of distinct political parties, originally aimed at working alongside the Raj in an attempt to divulge further power to Indians. As both parties grew, so did their democratic aims, beliefs, and leaders. By 1917, both parties were asking for a form of self-government in India, and had established clear doctrines in terms of how to achieve this.Nationalism – The concept of being loyal and devoted to a particular nation or country, with the explicit aim of gaining sovereignty over this country. Nationalism emerged in India during the early 20th century, largely on account of the immense contribution offered by the Indian subcontinent to the War effort. With this contribution came a sense of pride amongst Indians, and a belief in their right to govern India.While Congress and the Muslim League were politically active during the years 1914-1920, they were not yet set on a clear nationalistic agenda. Instead, the Indian Home Rule Leagues provide the clearest examples of nationalist thinking within India. Bal Tilak introduced a Home Rule League mainly in Mararashtra and Karnataka which rapidly gained 32,000 followers. Tilak was intent on having Indians govern the internal affairs of the country. Annie Bessant also started a Home Rule League named the All-India Home Rule League.The development of nationalist thought and the emergence of Home Rule Leagues had very clear impacts. Firstly, they spread political consciousness across the entirety of India, engaging people across the entire subcontinent in the concept of self-governance. Hundreds of thousands of Indians signed petitions that asked for Home Rule. The leagues also engaged members of congress and the Muslim League, displaying that excitement and enthusiasm for Home Rule extended to the political elites. Nationalism, therefore, had clear tangible impacts that would lay a foundation for future political developments within India.Imperialism – The concept of one country having considerable power over another country, often ruling in the interest of itself as opposed to the nation it rules over. British imperialism granted unprecedented power to a minority of white British officials (often unelected) within India, while withholding power from the local people. The Viceroy, his executive council, and the Indian Civil Service, provided a ‘top down’ structure of rule within India, intended to ensure British control of the subcontinent. The Viceroy and his council (consisting of 15 men) were appointed by officials in London, and often governed from London, meaning decisions were often made that were outdated and not in the interests of the people they ruled over. India was also ruled as a colony and, as such, was ruled for the benefit of Britain. Britain failed to introduce tariffs on goods such as cotton, allowed the Lancashire Cotton industry to boom and flood the Indian market, while limiting the growth of Indian industry. British imperialism ultimately contributed to the emergence of Indian nationalism. It should not come as surprising that tariff control was a major area of discussion amongst national leaders in India, as it exemplified the British desire to extract money from India. Imperialism also created an ‘us versus them’ dynamic within India, meaning Indians often felt vulnerable to British rule and saw the government as not ruling in their interests.-748664-800100India Unit 1:The First World War and its impact on British India, 1914-192000India Unit 1:The First World War and its impact on British India, 1914-1920-746760-339090008776335172275500Factor contributing to growth in nationalismEvent linking to thisImpact on Indian politicsBritish Actions.Britain had been running India’s economy in an extractive manner, meaning they focused on exporting goods in India that could be bought by Indians, rather than developing Indian industry and importing Indian goods. The tables above illustrate this process, which helped make Britain incredibly wealthy, but stifle India’s own economic development.British colonial violence. At Amritsar in 1919, the British General Rex Dyer opened fire on a crowd of innocent Indians and killed 400. While the Hunter Commission would eventually condemn his actions, the massacre caused deep resentment amongst India’s population, who felt they had seen the Raj’s true colors in this episode of colonial violence. The Martial Law that had followed the massacre only compounded this feeling, with Dyer’s ‘crawling order’ cited by many as a clear example of British contempt towards her Indian subjects.Oppressive reforms aimed at limiting Indian freedoms such as the Rowlatt Acts.The extractive way in which Britain ran India’s economy created resentment amongst many leading Indian politicians. They were adamant in their belief that Britain was not running India for the benefit of Indians.Event such as those at Amritsar helped turn thousands of loyal Indians against the Raj. They believed that, at Amritsar, the British had shown their true colors, and that any future reforms proposed by Britain would be lies – like those seen in the Montagu Declaration.The Punjab Sub-Committee of Congress was set up to examine the events at Amritsar and they offered a damning indictment of the Raj’s role. The report was deeply critical of the way in which India was run, and stirred deep feelings of resentment amongst India’s local populations.The fact that Montagu sanctioned the Rowlatt Acts drew a great deal of ire from local Indians. They saw this as a complete betrayal of his 1917 declaration, and a clear sign of the fact that India would be run duplicitously by the British.WWIThe immense contribution offered to India during WWI included offering over 1 million citizens as soldiers or medics, as well as a staggering economic contributionThe Indian contribution to WWI was far greater than any other colonial power.Following the immense sacrifices made during WWI, many Indians – and particular Indian elites and congressional leadership – felt that India deserved recognition for her contribution in the name of self-government.The Montagu Declaration during WWI guaranteed a greater degree of self-government within India – this was evidence to congressional leaders that their diplomatic approach to achieving self-rule was working, and ensured congress continued in its support for the war.Grass-roots movement.Home Rule Leagues attracted thousands to their causes, and widened the net of people involved in and talking about self-government in India. Bessant and Tilak activated people across country, and were able to show that nationalist movements could gain momentum throughout India. Tilak’s League’s gained the support of 32,000 Indian’s, while Bessant was able to activate swathes of the population across the subcontinent, who had previously not been active in Indian politics.A foundation was laid upon which congress and other broader political parties could build onFar more people throughout the subcontinent became active in discussing the future of Indian politics – the concept of self-government no longer seemed ernmental reforms pre 1920328612510160Economic contribution to WWIBy the end of the war, Indian revenues had contributed over ?146 million to the British war effort. Roughly half of this was made up of war loans, which in 1918 raised ?38 millionMilitary Contribution to WWIMass recruitment drive and campaigns within India led to a mass conscription of Indian soldiers. By November 1918, 827,000 Indians had enlisted as combatants in the war effort. In total 65,000 Indian soldiers were killed in the war.Indian Expeditionary Force made up of 16,000 British troops and 28,500 Indian troops fought in the battle of Ypres and sustained heavy losses.November 1918, 1.5 million Indians had contributed in some way to the war effort.Material Contribution to WWIThe war effort sucked basic commodities out of British colonies in order to feed soldiers fighting on the Western Front. Wheat, Rice, Tea, Sugar etc. were taken from places like India and transported to Britain.00Economic contribution to WWIBy the end of the war, Indian revenues had contributed over ?146 million to the British war effort. Roughly half of this was made up of war loans, which in 1918 raised ?38 millionMilitary Contribution to WWIMass recruitment drive and campaigns within India led to a mass conscription of Indian soldiers. By November 1918, 827,000 Indians had enlisted as combatants in the war effort. In total 65,000 Indian soldiers were killed in the war.Indian Expeditionary Force made up of 16,000 British troops and 28,500 Indian troops fought in the battle of Ypres and sustained heavy losses.November 1918, 1.5 million Indians had contributed in some way to the war effort.Material Contribution to WWIThe war effort sucked basic commodities out of British colonies in order to feed soldiers fighting on the Western Front. Wheat, Rice, Tea, Sugar etc. were taken from places like India and transported to Britain.Impact on Indian politicsIndian Councils Act 1909 – The outcome of a series of reforms that aimed to address some of the problems India would face as it moved towards having a greater say in its own governance. It introduced an Indian to the viceroy’s executive council, enlarged the provincial assemblies (so that power would be moved away from the center, and towards the provinces) and created separate electorates for Muslims and Hindus.This act served as the governance structure of India for a decade – it offered the first possible steps for Indians towards taking part in the governance of their nation.Lucknow Pact 1915 – An agreement made between Congress and the Muslim League which agreed that the number of Muslims within the provincial assemblies should be determined province by province (as some provinces had a high percentage of Muslims). It also stated that there should be separate electorates for India’s MuslimsCongress was strengthened through co-operation with the Muslim League, as they presented a united front against British imperial rule. The Muslim League were also guaranteed their own safeties and interests as the knotty topic of separate electorates had been – albeit temporarily – settled. Montagu Declaration 1917 – A promise by the British government to concede some form of self-government to India following the end of WWI. No timescale was given on the promise, and it was opposed by some officials within India – most notably Michael O’Dwyer, the governor of the Punjab.A promise that was received positively by Congress and the Muslim League, as it looked to be setting a precedent for the devolution of power to Indian representatives. The declaration did, however, create a climate in which Indians felt they were owed self-government, and instead received nothing of the kind, leading to a surge in nationalist thinking.Rowlatt Acts 1919 – An extension of the Defense of India Act 1915, which placed India under wartime restrictions. This controversial measure was recommended because areas such as the Punjab and Bombay were said to be close to revolution, and wartime measures were necessary in order to quash this revolutionary spirit. Details of the Rowlatt Act included; imprisonment without trial, censorship, and house arrest of suspects.All 22 Indian members of the Indian Legislative council opposed the Act. Opposition to the Act flared up in the Punjab and culminated in a series of Hartals in Amritsar. The result of this was governor O’Dwyer sending in troops to deal with the situation, and the unfolding of the Amritsar Massacre and resultant Martial Law. The damage to the British Raj was extensive, with leadership being seen as duplicitous, and British rule being viewed as violent and ernment of India Act 1919 – The physical imposition of the suggestions made by Montagu in his 1917 declaration. The Government of India Act granted a greater degree of power to Indians, yet also established an unequal system of power sharing between Indians and Britiah, known as Dyarchy. The British would retain control of major internal affairs such as currency, as well as all foreign affairs. Meanwhile, provincial assemblies would be given control of education, health etc. The intention was to shift more and more decision making from the central assembly to the provincial assemblies.Congress rejected the Government of India Act, viewing it as ‘too little too late,’ following the disaster of the Rowlatt Acts. Many Hindus hated the concept of reserving seats for Indians and British, as this looked undemocratic. Many in India were bitter at how long it had taken between the Montagu declaration and the passing of the government of India Act.1341945592646590868503765198005874385377444000-60579043459400058674002743200Consequences for British rule in IndiaThe rioting that was occurring in response to food shortages caused British officials to grow fearful that India was becoming less loyal to the Raj. As such, the decision was made to introduce the Rowlatt Acts, in order to try and ensure the subcontinent remained loyal to British rule. This ultimately led to further rioting and the Amritsar Massacre.The immense contribution made by India to the British war effort, and the incredible strain which this had inflicted upon Indian (and particularly upon the Indian economy) led leading politicians to ask for recognition and respect for these enormous sacrifices. For most Indian politicians, this meant self-governance.0Consequences for British rule in IndiaThe rioting that was occurring in response to food shortages caused British officials to grow fearful that India was becoming less loyal to the Raj. As such, the decision was made to introduce the Rowlatt Acts, in order to try and ensure the subcontinent remained loyal to British rule. This ultimately led to further rioting and the Amritsar Massacre.The immense contribution made by India to the British war effort, and the incredible strain which this had inflicted upon Indian (and particularly upon the Indian economy) led leading politicians to ask for recognition and respect for these enormous sacrifices. For most Indian politicians, this meant self-governance.13430885229616058864501371600Impact of this contribution in IndiaTo compensate for the vast expenditure on the war, the Indian people were forced to pay a far higher rate of taxation than in previous years.The war created disruption for ordinary trading. As a result, food prices sky-rocketed – e.g. the price of grain rose by 93%. This made food unaffordable to some of the poorest within India, and when monsoon rains failed to arrive in 1918, a disastrous famine hit India.Due to the stringent economic demands placed on India, as well as the immense material contribution made by the war effort, there were a number of food riots and spurts of petty violence throughout the subcontinent during the war. This fed into the British fear that it was losing its grip on India.With so many men off fighting, food production within India’s villages dropped, causing further shortages.00Impact of this contribution in IndiaTo compensate for the vast expenditure on the war, the Indian people were forced to pay a far higher rate of taxation than in previous years.The war created disruption for ordinary trading. As a result, food prices sky-rocketed – e.g. the price of grain rose by 93%. This made food unaffordable to some of the poorest within India, and when monsoon rains failed to arrive in 1918, a disastrous famine hit India.Due to the stringent economic demands placed on India, as well as the immense material contribution made by the war effort, there were a number of food riots and spurts of petty violence throughout the subcontinent during the war. This fed into the British fear that it was losing its grip on India.With so many men off fighting, food production within India’s villages dropped, causing further shortages. ................
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