British Colonialism in India

By Chiara Bianchini

Timeline Timeline Year Event 1600 East India Company begins to trade in

India 1744 Anglo-French War in India begins1757 Battle of Plassey1784 India Act passed giving British crown

more power1857 Indian Rebellion1885 Indian National Congress Formed1918 Rowlatt Act passed 1919 Amritsar Massacre1947 India attains independence

East India CompanyEast India Company Created in 1600 Had exclusive trading rights in the East Indies Traded cotton, silk, indigo dye, opium and tea Began to exercise military power in India Battle of Plassey in 1757 assured Company Rule Lasted until 1858 due to the Indian rebellion a

year earlier The Government of India Act gave the British

Crown control of India

Indian Rebellion of Indian Rebellion of 18571857

Also known as the Sepoy Mutiny Began in Meerut Sepoy’s of the East India Company’s army led an

uprising against their British oppressors The rebellion lasted a few months until the British

regained control The Raj begins Reasons for Mutiny

Strict caste system among soldiers Unfair treatment Tallow-greased cartridges

GandhiGandhi Arrived back in India in 1915 Started the practice of non-violent civil disobedience

protesting 1920 started the non cooperation movement Salt March of 1930

Walked over 240 miles to protest the British tax on salt Took 24 days to complete

Brought all levels of Indians together to fight for independence

Helped bring the Government India Act of 1935 To establish a federal structure Provincial autonomy Safeguard the interest of minorities

Amritsar Massacre- Amritsar Massacre- 19191919

Also known as the Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre

5,000 unarmed men, women and children gathered in peaceful protest

General Dyer ordered 50 armed soldiers to fire into the crowd at will

Raj estimated 379 deaths while the Indian National Congress estimated 1,500

Massacre continued…Massacre continued… Reginald Dyer appeared before the Hunter

Commission for an inquiry about the massacre "I think it quite possible that I could have

dispersed the crowd without firing but they would have come back again and laughed, and I would have made, what I consider, a fool of myself.”- Dyer

The Montague Chelmsford Reforms were made to appease Indian unrest and give them a larger role in government

Indian IndependenceIndian Independence 1942 the Quit India movement was initiated

for complete independence from British rule World War II: Indian National Congress

refused to support war efforts due to hypocrisy

1946 Royal Indian Navy Mutiny brought Hindu’s and Muslims together

1947 India becomes self-governing