Historical Events Leading to
Indian Independence
How long did it take for the American Colonies to
achieve independence from Great Britain?
The Revolutionary War lasted from 1776 to 1781
Timeline Towards Independence
•
•
•
•
•
Sepoy Rebellion, 1857-1859
Gandhi, 1919
Salt March, 1930
World War II, 1941
Independence achieved, 1947
– Almost 100 years after the Sepoy Rebellion
Things to remember about
Great Britain
•
They believed they were a “master race”
•
They were conceited from moving about the globe
and creating colonies and bringing “civilization” to
the less fortunate.
Historical Events Leading to
Indian Independence
• One of the first steps in India gaining
freedom from Great Britain was the
Sepoy Rebellion.
• This rebellion lasted from 1857-1859
Sepoy Rebellion
1857-1859
A mutiny of Indian
troops stationed near
New Delhi (mutiny is a
conspiracy among members of
a group of similarly situated
individuals)
Results:
1. British and Indian attitudes changes
towards British rule of India.
2. Year long insurrection (insurrection –
A violent uprising against an authority
or government).
3. Dissolution of the British East India
Company.
4. Beginning of British Raj, when Great
Britain ruled India directly.
Ireland’s Independence
• 1921 Ireland gained independence
• The world watched as Ireland finally
became established as the Republic
of Ireland.
Mohandas Gandhi
later Mohatma (“Great Soul”) Gandhi
• London trained lawyer, Hindu religion
• Worked in Africa for the rights of Indians (Indians in Africa had no
citizenship rights.)
• Developed satyagraha meaning “truth force” (nonviolence protest
technique)
• Returned to India in 1914 (WWI)
• 1919: protest fired upon British troops; 379 people killed
• Gandhi led boycotts, encouraged people to stop paying taxes
Salt March
• 1930
• Salt was illegal unless purchased through a British government
supplier, keeping the price very high
• Gandhi and his followers went on a 250 mile march to the
seaside village of Dandi
• He and 60,000 others arrested; peaceful protest an example
for the world
World War II
India supported the Allies
Indian Independence
1947 – Great Britain granted
independence to India – almost 100
years after the Sepoy Rebellion
Issues after Great Britain
• Ethnic and religious hatred blossomed
•
Hinduism - a body of social, cultural, and religious
beliefs and practices native to the Indian subcontinent
•
Islam - a religion marked by belief in Allah as the sole
deity, in Muhammad as his prophet, and in the Koran
Solution to Religious Intolerance
Partition India into India and Pakistan
(Partition – separation)
The followers of Hinduism would have India for their home.
The followers of Islam would have Pakistan for their home.
The rush of humanity from border to border and the ensuing
conflict caused the deaths of 200,000 people.
Similarities between India and the
Thirteen Colonies and their move
towards Independence
Things to consider:
Economic motives
Most Trade with England
Religious Intolerance
Lack of Self Government
Differences between India and the
Thirteen Colonies and their move
towards Independence
Things to consider:
Ethnic Differences
Historic Differences
Culture
Length of Conflict
Contributions of India
See handout
“It is a country of inexhaustible
riches and one which cannot fail to
make its new masters the richest
corporation in the world.”
Robert Clive, top official of the East India Company
“You may have been taught that…British rule in
India is beneficial. Nothing is more false! You
cannot escape two facts: first, that under the
British, India has become the world’s poorest
country; and second, that it is denied advantages
and decencies to which any free country is
entitled.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Write a journal entry – Choose one of the
quotes and write a journal entry that explains
what you think the quote means. Use
information from your notes and class
discussion to support your writing.
What are some reasons for the
decline of the British Empire
•
Growth of other nations
•
Technological advances in weapons for other
countries
•
Growth in transportation in other countries
•
Resistance to nations controlling other countries.
The Fall of the British Empire
The reasons for the fall of the British
Empire are the same reasons for its rise!
Economics
The cost of keeping up with the empire
outweighed the benefits of resources
from colonies (troops stationed, etc)
Geopolitical Landscape
Global Expansion
• 20th Century: Japanese power in Pacific
• Germany power in Europe
• Britain’s increased obligation towards territories,
such as those in the Middle East after World War I
caused more demand on government and troops.
Warfare in the 19th and 20th
Century (Success in Wars)
Britain won the wars but at a tremendous cost!
• Ireland – 1100’s-1600’s
• Treaty of Utrecht – Nova Scotia, Newfoundland; a monopoly on the slave trade in S.
America
• Treaty of Paris – 1763, Seven Years’ war – All of French Canada. East India pushed
France out of India
• Boer War – 1899-1902, Africa
• Opium Wars 1841-1842, China
• WWI – 1941-1918
• WWII 1939-1941
World Powers
The largest navy no longer indicated the
most powerful nation; with new technology
in weapons and flight, the designation of
world power was beyond the largest navy.
World Trade: Few Restrictions
•
After WWII, The US would not support British colonization. This caused
rapid disintegration of the British Empire.
•
1957 – Britain tried to join the European Common Market – but vetoes
from member nations kept Great Britain out.
•
In 1973, Britain was finally admitted to the European Community.
•
1950’s: Egypt, Kenya, Cyprus, followed by others sought independence.
•
By the late 1960’s, British troops world-wide were brought home.
•
The last troops left Hong Kong in 1997.
Guesses as to why the empire fell apart….
• Britain’s economic decline after WWII
• The cost of the war was too high
• Nations self-determination after the war did not support
colonization
• The lack of support from the US for Britain’s imperialistic
attitude
• The US was now the most powerful nation in the world and
dissuaded Britain from hanging on to other colonies.
Dominions waiting for
Independence
Many countries like Cyprus, Kenya
and Egypt suffered much bloodshed
before gaining independence
Our focus in this unit has been on
India and Ireland and their
freedom…but MANY nations fought
for independence
See British colonies and
dates of independence
In 1930, The Statute of Westminster took a step
towards awarding independence to some of
Britain’s colonies.
The “white” dominions were the first to receive
independence.
After WW I the word “empire” was
dropped from the name….empires
were out of style at this time.
The commonwealth concept
became popular. Former colonies
had a looser association with the
Crown than previously permitted
and this was a political segue for
Britain to move the colonies to
independence.
British Empire’s Long-lasting Hold
on the World
1. The English Language – Doctors in India could
converse with doctors in Africa
2. The English Legal System – laws, parliamentary
democracy, and political parties, representative
government
British Empire’s Long-lasting Hold
on the World
3.
Religion – Anglicanism, the Church of England,
is world-wide. (Nations with established
religions, such as Islam in Sudan or Hinduism in
India are exceptions to the influence of the
British missionaries.)
4.
European culture
British Empire’s Long-lasting Hold
on the World
5.
ailroads, canals, roads, bridges, factories
6.
Free trade and investments in foreign goods and
manufacturing
7.
Racism toward colonies whose inhabitants
were different races