Colonization Timeline

Terry Luong

British East India Company gained control of all Indian trade

• Occurred June 27, 1757

• The British Company defeated the Nawab of Bengal during the Battle of Plassey and then set up a puppet ruler that gave them complete control of trade.

British Government Establishes Rule Over India (Raj)

• August 2, 1858

• Britain already had controlled most of India, and decided to pass the India Act, which gave them full control. This period of time is known as the Raj.

Indian National Congress

• 1885

• The Indian National Congress was able to be in control sometimes, but it eventually split up due to factionalism.

Muslim League Wants a Separate Pakistani State

• 1930

• The Muslim League proposed making Pakistan a separate Muslim state, but had little support.

Gandhi’s Salt Marches

• March 12, 1931

• Gandhi led about a hundred people over two hundred miles to protest the British Salt Tax. They extracted free salt and gained attention from the press and the British Authorities.

Pakistan and India Declare Independence

• August 14, 1947

• Problems between Pakistan and India have been growing and Britain eventually portioned India into two separate nations. Pakistan was turned more into a Muslim nation, while India was a more Hindu nation.

First Battle Over Kashmir

• August 27, 1947

• Pakistan believes since that Kashmir is Muslim dominated, it is theirs, yet India believes since it is theirs legally, it should stay that way, and the opposing beliefs sparked a war.

Gandhi Assassinated

• January 30, 1948

• Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu radical who believed Gandhi was too nice to the Muslims.

India Becomes a Democracy

• 1950

• India adopted democratic elements of both American and British systems with the fact that they are a federation of states and a parliamentary government. With over a billion people residing in India, it is the world’s largest democracy.