Prelude to Indian Independence
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Transcript of Prelude to Indian Independence
Prelude to Indian Independence
The Scramble For Overseas Territory
Imperialism
• New imperialism was more rapid & dominating
• Strong economic motivations
• Ties to Social Darwinism & racism?
• Brought world together, but also cause of many wars
British East India Company
Cornering The Market• 1498- Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama
discovered a new sea route to India• British enterprise full of London
businessmen band together to import Indian spices
• After the destruction of the Spanish Armada, the East Indies belonged to the British
Portuguese Trade Route
The Battle of Plassey
• B.E.I.C given permission in 1617 to trade in India
• By 1717, granted permits for duty free trade in Bengal
• People of Bengal opposed this permit, leading them to war
The Battle of Plassey
•1757- B.E.I.C army was led by Sir Robert Clive which overwhelmed Bengal
• Victory symbolized the first political foothold that British acquired in India
• Clive became 1st Governor of Bengal, as the British began taxing the natives
• Consolidation of an empire began & by 1849, Great Britain dominated India
The Indian Mutiny
• B.E.I.C maintained its own military—hired Sepoys as a more diplomatic approach—attempt to ease tensions
• Hatred brewed over the rumored sepoy exposure to “ritual pollution”
• Sepoys refused to carry out duties & were arrested by British
• Response was a Sepoy rampage
First Attempt At Independence• Indians greatly
outnumbered British 240,000 to 40,000
• British ultimately crushed the revolt
• Poor organization and dissension among troops cause of Indian downfall
• Battle at Cawnpore: Atrocities of this battle resulted in costly losses on both sides
Rise Of The British Raj
• British Parliament gained direct control of India—Title of Empress of India bestowed upon Queen Victoria
• India becomes “Jewel of the Crown”
• Viceroys maintain order—subjects consisted of 300 million people
Some Advantages of Colonial Status
• Order & stability brought• Education• Brutal traditions eliminated• Religious fanatics eliminated• Railroads• Telegraphs• Postal Service• Health & Sanitation
Hardships of Colonial Status
Economic & Social Problems
• Destroyed industries
• Taxation
• Farmers: food to cotton
• Starvation
• Native traditions not honored
Indian Nationalist Movement
• Nationalism: sense of unity & common identity felt by people who share the same history
• 1885- Indian National Congress formed
• Members educated—looked for say in government initially, not independence
• British were not compliant with proposals of the I.N.C.
Division of Thought & Belief
• I.N.C. divided into radicals & moderates
• “New Party” formed—called for use of terrorism & violence to achieve national independence
• “Muslim League” formed—Muslims believed that their needs were not surfacing within the I.N.C.—needed representation of their interests
Life Of A Born Leader
Mohandas Gandhi
• Born 1869 in Gujarat in Western India
• Son of a government minister
• Western education (London)—in law
• 1893—worked in South African law firm to serve Indian workers there
• Witnessed racial prejudice & exploitation of Indians
Gandhi’s Immediate Impact
• 1914- Gandhi returned from South Africa & brought experience, new life to the Indian National Congress
• Gandhi’s 2 Goals: convert British to his own views, strengthen unity among all Indians
• Rise of “Civil Disobedience”