India Seeks Self Rule
Chapter 8, Section 3
Objectives: Investigate the impact of WWI and the
Amritsar massacre on Indian nationalism.
Evaluate the ideas of Mohandas Gandhi.
Analyze how Gandhi led resistance to political
oppression in India.
PDN
• What do you know or think of when you hear
Gandhi?
India’s Struggle for Independence
• During WW1, more than 1 million Indians served.
– British promised Indians greater self-government.
• Once fighting ended, British continued to have no
care for Indian beliefs and customs.
• Frustration led to call for independence.
A New Leader Emerges
• Congress = middle-class or elite.
• Mohandas Gandhi united Indians across class lines.
• Student of law, helped fight discriminating
legislature.
• Nonviolent, called it “satyagraha” or “soul force.”
• National hero, joined Congress party.
The Muslim League
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah – influential Muslim leader.
• The Muslim League and the Congress party helped
bring independence to India.
PDN 11.20.15
• Ali Jinnah was an influential leader of what?
The Amritsar Massacre
• 1919, British pass Rowlatt Acts, allowed British
officials to arrest and imprison any Indian citizen
suspected of sedition (tried without a jury).
• Gandhi opposed act, bc it also threatened freedoms
• April 13th, 1919, large but peaceful crowd of
protestors jammed into an enclosed field in
Amritsar.
– 400 people were killed by army orders
– 1100 were wounded
– Gandhi sees that India needs to be self ruled.
Gandhi’s Philosophy of Civil Disobedience
• Nonviolent Protest
• Gandhi = horrified by Amritsar
• Preached nonviolence based off ancient Hindu and
Jain doctrine of Ahimsa.
• By using power of love, anyone could be converted.
• Believed in civil disobedience
• Ended harsh treatment of untouchables
Restoring National Pride
• 2 decades (20 years) Gandhi initiated a series of
nonviolent actions against British rule.
• Boycotted British goods like cotton textiles.
• Abandoned western style clothing for the dhota.
• When protests led to violent riots,
Gandhi would fast and pray. His
Actions caught attention of British
Government and world.
Gandhi Takes a Stand
• Mobilized mass support by standing against British
salt monopoly.
– Salt production was a sole right to British empire.
– They would tax sales, and maintain government in India
PDN Monday November 23, 2015
• What event showed Gandhi that India must
become an independent nation?
The Salt March
• Early 1930s, Gandhi writes the British viceroy and
states his intention to break salt laws and condemn
British rule as a curse.
• March 12th, 1930, Gandhi set out with 78 followers
on a 240 mile march to the sea. As they marched
through villages, more and more people joined.
• April 6th, Gandhi picks up a lump of sea salt by the
edge of the water. Soon arrested.
• Coastal villagers followed his lead, tens of
thousands were jailed.
World Opinion Shifts
• Newspapers criticized Britain’s harsh reaction to the
protests.
• Stories revealed police brutality on peaceful
marchers.
• The Salt March embarrassed Britain.
• Finally British began handing over power to Indians.
The Future of India
• 1939, new world war exploded.
• Britain outraged Indian leaders by postponing
independence and bringing Indians into the war
without consulting them.
• Millions of Indians helped Britain during WWII.
• 1945, India’s independence could no long be
delayed after helping win WWII.
• 1947, India becomes an independent nation.
India’s Flag