British Imperialism in British Imperialism in IndiaIndia

Ch.11 Sec. 4Ch.11 Sec. 4

IndiaIndia

Great Britain in IndiaGreat Britain in India

1600’s Great Britain set up trading posts through out India1600’s Great Britain set up trading posts through out India

British East India CompanyBritish East India Company

● ● controlled British trade in Indiacontrolled British trade in India eventually the company gained political control over Bangladesh, eventually the company gained political control over Bangladesh,

Southern India, and Northern India (along Southern India, and Northern India (along Ganges RiverGanges River) )

British East India CompanyBritish East India Company 1800’s: company operated in India with no regulation by 1800’s: company operated in India with no regulation by

British governmentBritish government

company had its own armycompany had its own army Company army led by Company army led by

British army officersBritish army officers

SepoysSepoys Indians who joined British armies in IndiaIndians who joined British armies in India

Resented by other IndiansResented by other Indians

““Jewel in the Crown”Jewel in the Crown” Great Britain considered India its most precious Great Britain considered India its most precious

jewel (colony) in its Imperial crownjewel (colony) in its Imperial crown

““Jewel in the Crown”Jewel in the Crown” Industrial Revolution turned India into a major supplier of Industrial Revolution turned India into a major supplier of

raw materials to Great Britainraw materials to Great Britain

300 million Indians were 300 million Indians were

a large market for a large market for

British products British products

““Jewel in the Crown”Jewel in the Crown” British forbade India from British forbade India from

trading on its own with trading on its own with other countriesother countries

India was forced to produce raw India was forced to produce raw materials for only Britain and to materials for only Britain and to buy finished products from only buy finished products from only BritainBritain

Indian competition with British Indian competition with British finished products was forbiddenfinished products was forbidden

““Jewel in the Crown”Jewel in the Crown” Britain set up a railroad network to take raw materials from Britain set up a railroad network to take raw materials from

inside India to its portsinside India to its ports

Raw Materials Taken from India Raw Materials Taken from India Tea Tea Indigo (dye for clothing)Indigo (dye for clothing)

Raw Materials Taken from IndiaRaw Materials Taken from India CoffeeCoffee Cotton Cotton

Raw Materials Taken from IndiaRaw Materials Taken from India Jute (fiber for making rope)

Opium (plant that heroin is Opium (plant that heroin is made from)made from)

Raw Materials Taken from IndiaRaw Materials Taken from India Britain relied more on raw materials from India as wars Britain relied more on raw materials from India as wars

around the world cut off British supplies from other placesaround the world cut off British supplies from other places

example: example: American Civil WarAmerican Civil War (1861-1865) (1861-1865)

made Indian cotton more important to made Indian cotton more important to

Great Britain because cotton supply from Great Britain because cotton supply from

America was cut offAmerica was cut off

Positives for IndiaPositives for India Great Britain laid the Great Britain laid the

world’s third largest world’s third largest railroad network in Indiarailroad network in India

Railroads brought unity to Railroads brought unity to disconnected regions in disconnected regions in IndiaIndia

Modern road Modern road

networknetwork

■ ■ Telephone and telegraph linesTelephone and telegraph lines

Dams, bridges, canalsDams, bridges, canals

Sanitation and public health Sanitation and public health improvedimproved

Schools/Schools/

colleges foundedcolleges founded Truces betweenTruces between

local warring rulers local warring rulers

in India in India

Negatives for India Negatives for India British held all political and British held all political and

economic powereconomic power

British restricted Indian-British restricted Indian-owned industriesowned industries

Cash crops made it impossible Cash crops made it impossible for small farmers to produce for small farmers to produce enough food for themselvesenough food for themselves

Racist attitudes of most British Racist attitudes of most British officials and missionaries officials and missionaries threatened Indian traditional lifethreatened Indian traditional life

Indians RebelIndians Rebel By 1850 most Indians resented By 1850 most Indians resented

that Great Britain owned their that Great Britain owned their countrycountry

Indians were angry at attempts Indians were angry at attempts to forcefully convert them to to forcefully convert them to ChristianityChristianity

Indians were angry Britain Indians were angry Britain controlled all useful land in controlled all useful land in their country their country

■ ■ Indians were angry at the constant Indians were angry at the constant racism expressed towards them by racism expressed towards them by the Britishthe British

Sepoy MutinySepoy Mutiny 1857 gossip spread amongst 1857 gossip spread amongst SepoysSepoys (Indian soldiers for (Indian soldiers for

the British)the British)

the seals of their ammunition had to be bitten offthe seals of their ammunition had to be bitten off they believed the British dipped the seals of their they believed the British dipped the seals of their

ammunition in beef and pork ammunition in beef and pork

((Hindus Hindus can not eat beef/ can not eat beef/ MuslimsMuslims can not eat pork) can not eat pork)

Sepoy MutinySepoy Mutiny British commander was British commander was

outraged when 85 outraged when 85 SepoysSepoys refused to accept the refused to accept the ammunitionammunition

The The SepoysSepoys were jailed for were jailed for disobeying ordersdisobeying orders

May 10, 1857 May 10, 1857 SepoysSepoys rebelled; rebelled; marched on Delhi (Indian capital)marched on Delhi (Indian capital)

rebellion spread into northern rebellion spread into northern and central Indiaand central India

Sepoy MutinySepoy Mutiny Fierce fighting between British Fierce fighting between British

and Sepoys (aided by other and Sepoys (aided by other Indians)Indians)

East India Company took more East India Company took more than a year to regain control of than a year to regain control of the countrythe country

British government sent troops British government sent troops to help themto help them

Indians Did Not Fully Unite During Indians Did Not Fully Unite During Sepoy Sepoy MutinyMutiny

serious splits between Hindus and serious splits between Hindus and MuslimsMuslims

unclear inconsistent leadershipunclear inconsistent leadership

Many Indian princes did not take Many Indian princes did not take part in the rebellion (made part in the rebellion (made alliances with alliances with

British)British)

SikhsSikhs (Indian religious group) (Indian religious group) remained loyal to the Britishremained loyal to the British

SikhsSikhs

SikhsSikhs Minority Indian religious groupMinority Indian religious group

Sikhs feared Muslims would regainSikhs feared Muslims would regain

control of the country during control of the country during

Sepoy MutinySepoy Mutiny

■ ■ Muslim Muslim MughalsMughals ruled ruled

India before BritainIndia before Britain

SikhsSikhs SikhsSikhs replaced replaced SepoysSepoys in in

Britain’s Indian army Britain’s Indian army after the after the Sepoy MutinySepoy Mutiny

MughalsMughals did not allow did not allow religious freedomreligious freedom

Great Britain allowed some Great Britain allowed some religious freedom in Indiareligious freedom in India

Turning Point Turning Point

1858 British government took direct control over India 1858 British government took direct control over India (because of the Mutiny)(because of the Mutiny)

RajRaj (time period when (time period when

India was under Great India was under Great

Britain’s control: Britain’s control:

1757-1947)1757-1947)

RajRaj India was divided into 11 Provinces and 250 districts India was divided into 11 Provinces and 250 districts

sometimes a handful of sometimes a handful of

officials would be the only officials would be the only

British amongst millions of British amongst millions of

Indians in a districtIndians in a district

Mutiny increased distrust between British and Indians: it fueled more British Mutiny increased distrust between British and Indians: it fueled more British racism towards Indiansracism towards Indians

Ram Mohun Roy (1772-1833)Ram Mohun Roy (1772-1833) well-educated Indian who well-educated Indian who

began a campaign to began a campaign to modernize Indiamodernize India

he was opposed to India’s he was opposed to India’s caste system (social class caste system (social class system that ties a person to the system that ties a person to the social class they are into for social class they are into for life: based on Hindu beliefs)life: based on Hindu beliefs)

opposed to child marriages opposed to child marriages and widow suicidesand widow suicides

believed these practices believed these practices needed to be changed if India needed to be changed if India wanted to be free from rule by wanted to be free from rule by outsidersoutsiders

Ram Mohun Roy (1772-1833)Ram Mohun Roy (1772-1833) other Indian writers picked up other Indian writers picked up

on Roy’s ideas and called for on Roy’s ideas and called for changes changes

Indian resented being second-Indian resented being second-class citizens in their own countryclass citizens in their own country

Indians were paid 20 times less Indians were paid 20 times less than Britishthan British

Indians could not hold top jobs Indians could not hold top jobs in governmentin government

Indian National Congress 1885Indian National Congress 1885 Made up of Made up of HindusHindus; called for ; called for

self-governmentself-government upset that Britain segregated upset that Britain segregated

Bengal (Indian city) into Muslim Bengal (Indian city) into Muslim section and Hindu section in 1905section and Hindu section in 1905

INC led acts of violence INC led acts of violence against British in Bengal against British in Bengal

1911 Britain changed the order 1911 Britain changed the order of segregation of segregation

Muslim League 1906Muslim League 1906 Made up of MuslimsMade up of Muslims also called for self-governmentalso called for self-government

also upset about segregation of also upset about segregation of Bengal in1905Bengal in1905

also participated in acts of also participated in acts of violence against British in Indiaviolence against British in India

Indian Nationalism GrowsIndian Nationalism Grows Indian National CongressIndian National Congress (Hindus)/ (Hindus)/Muslim LeagueMuslim League

(Muslims) Found Common Ground(Muslims) Found Common Ground

Both worked together towards Indian IndependenceBoth worked together towards Indian Independence

World War I World War I Great Britain got Great Britain got 1 Million 1 Million

IndiansIndians to enlist in the to enlist in the British army to fight in British army to fight in World War IWorld War I

Britain promised Indians self-Britain promised Indians self-government in exchange for government in exchange for them enlisting in the British them enlisting in the British armyarmy

1918 Indian troops returned 1918 Indian troops returned home: expected Britain home: expected Britain to fulfill its promiseto fulfill its promise

Rowlatt Act (1919) Rowlatt Act (1919) instead Indian troops were treated as second class citizens instead Indian troops were treated as second class citizens

again by Great Britainagain by Great Britain many Indians committed acts of many Indians committed acts of

violence against British in India violence against British in India

in responsein response

Great Britain passes Great Britain passes Rowlatt ActRowlatt Act (1919) in response (1919) in response

Rowlatt Act (1919)Rowlatt Act (1919) allowed British gov’t to jail protestors for 2 years with no allowed British gov’t to jail protestors for 2 years with no

trialtrial

violent protests by Indians in violent protests by Indians in PunjabPunjab (province with most Indian (province with most Indian World War I veterans)World War I veterans)

Amritsar MassacreAmritsar Massacre (Spring 1919) (Spring 1919) 10,000 Hindus and Muslims 10,000 Hindus and Muslims

went to Amritsar (capital of went to Amritsar (capital of Punjab Province):Punjab Province): festival to festival to pray and hear political pray and hear political speechesspeeches

alliance of Hindus and alliance of Hindus and Muslims scared the Muslims scared the BritishBritish

Amritsar MassacreAmritsar Massacre (Spring 1919) (Spring 1919) Britain had earlier banned public Britain had earlier banned public

protests: Britain issued the ban protests: Britain issued the ban without informing most Indians!without informing most Indians!

British British General Reginald DyerGeneral Reginald Dyer ordered his troops to fire on the ordered his troops to fire on the unarmed crowd without warning unarmed crowd without warning

Shooting lasted 10 minutes: 400 Shooting lasted 10 minutes: 400 Indians Killed; 1200 wounded Indians Killed; 1200 wounded

news of the massacre spread news of the massacre spread rapidly across India: Indians rapidly across India: Indians demanded independence demanded independence

Mohandas GandhiMohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) (1869-1948) Amritsar MassacreAmritsar Massacre set the set the

stage for stage for Mohandas Mohandas GandhiGandhi to become leader of to become leader of the Indian Independence the Indian Independence MovementMovement

his teachings blended ideas his teachings blended ideas from all major world from all major world religions (especially religions (especially Hinduism, Christianity, Hinduism, Christianity, IslamIslam))

Mohandas GandhiMohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) (1869-1948) Gandhi Gandhi preached/practiced preached/practiced

Civil DisobedienceCivil Disobedience deliberate and public refusal deliberate and public refusal

to obey any unjust lawto obey any unjust law rebellion without violencerebellion without violence

1920 1920 Indian National Indian National CongressCongress officially adopts officially adopts Gandhi’s policy as a means to Gandhi’s policy as a means to push for independence push for independence

Mohandas GandhiMohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) (1869-1948) Gandhi’s Plan for Gandhi’s Plan for Civil Disobedience:Civil Disobedience: Refuse to buy British goodsRefuse to buy British goods

Refuse to attend British schoolsRefuse to attend British schools

Refuse to pay British taxesRefuse to pay British taxes

Refuse to vote in electionsRefuse to vote in elections

Indians weave their own Indians weave their own

cloth (to put British cloth cloth (to put British cloth

out of business)out of business)

Civil DisobedienceCivil Disobedience 1922 Indian rioters 1922 Indian rioters

attacked a police station attacked a police station and set officers on fire!and set officers on fire!

Many British businesses went Many British businesses went out of business in India out of business in India

British arrested Indians who British arrested Indians who protested and boycottedprotested and boycotted

Salt Acts 1930Salt Acts 1930

These laws required that Indians buy salt only from the These laws required that Indians buy salt only from the British government (without refrigeration, salt was crucial British government (without refrigeration, salt was crucial to keeping food from spoiling)to keeping food from spoiling)

Required Indians to pay Required Indians to pay

a sales tax to British on salt as wella sales tax to British on salt as well

Salt March 1930Salt March 1930 In protest Gandhi and his In protest Gandhi and his

followers walked 240 miles followers walked 240 miles to the coast to make their to the coast to make their own saltown salt

demonstrators marched to a demonstrators marched to a British salt processing plant to British salt processing plant to protestprotest

made salt by evaporating sea made salt by evaporating sea waterwater

Salt March 1930Salt March 1930 British police attacked British police attacked

protestors with steel clubsprotestors with steel clubs

Protestors refused to defend Protestors refused to defend themselves: marching peacefullythemselves: marching peacefully

British arrested 60,000 peaceful British arrested 60,000 peaceful protestors (including Gandhi)protestors (including Gandhi)

International newspapers covered the International newspapers covered the event: won worldwide support for event: won worldwide support for Gandhi’s movementGandhi’s movement

Great Britain Grants India Self-RuleGreat Britain Grants India Self-Rule 1935 Government of 1935 Government of

India ActIndia Act

■ ■ British Parliament British Parliament allows India some allows India some

self-self- rulerule

■ ■ Allowed for local self-Allowed for local self-government (mayors) government (mayors)

and and limited elections limited elections (regional (regional representatives)representatives)

This was the first step in full This was the first step in full independence for Indiaindependence for India

Gandhi and his campaign was Gandhi and his campaign was successfulsuccessful

Internal ConflictInternal Conflict India does not get full India does not get full

independence until after independence until after World World War IIWar II (after 1945) (after 1945)

Hindus far outnumbered Hindus far outnumbered Muslims in IndiaMuslims in India

Hindus and Muslims had Hindus and Muslims had conflicting views for India’s conflicting views for India’s futurefuture

Leads to more internal conflictLeads to more internal conflict