Nationalism Around the World (INDIA) 1885-1939 Mr. Barchetto Notes #2 HONORS.

Nationalism Around the World (INDIA)

1885-1939

Mr. BarchettoNotes #2 HONORS

Western-Educated Indians begin their Quest for NATIONALISM.

• Indian National Congress • formed in 1885 with the initial

goal of having greater control of their own government.

• Most of its members were Hindu. They were lawyers, doctors, teachers and journalists…

• By early 1900’s radicals in group called for an end to cooperation with the British

Muslim League ◦ created in 1906 to ensure that

Muslim interests would be considered in India’s future.

Why does the Indian National Congress not find success with the “heart” of India?

“Every Englishman knows they are a mere handful in this country, and it is the business of everyone of them to befool you into

believing that you are weak and they are strong. You

must realize that the future rests entirely in your own

hands”

Gandhi brings Breath of Life into Indian Nationalism

As a young man Gandhi studied law in Britain.◦ Gandhi first practiced law in South Africa

where many Indians worked in mines for British colonial officials.

◦ It is here in South Africa where Gandhi forms his basic principles of his teachings.

On the onset of WWI Gandhi returns to India as a leader of the Indian Nationalist movement

THINK: How does Gandhi connect to the Indian people in a way that the Congress Party cannot?

Turning point in Indian Nationalist Movement…Outbreak of

WWI◦ Indians put aside

differences and help Britain defeat the Germans.

Expectations from the War: British led Indians to

believe that their service would lead to self-government…

IT DID NOT!

Result of Lies Anti-British terrorism

erupt around India

Rowlatt Act◦ Law gave British

government in India the right to jail protestors w/o trial for as long as 2 years.

◦ In response Gandhi calls for days of prayer and fasting A general strike…result

would essentially shut down services throughout India.

Amritsar◦ Small group of

nationalists meet in defiance of the ban on public gatherings.

Goals of Nationalist are forever changed.

April 13, 1919: Amritsar Massacre The flame of nationalism is lit and explodes

across India

Who: Indian nationalists & celebrators dressed for a Hindu Festival (approx. 10,000)

What: General Dyer and 90 Indian soldiers opened fire on the crowd killing 400 and wounding 1200. General Dyer after ten minutes of shooting orders his men to leave.

When: April 13, 1919

Where: Amritsar capital city of Punjab; in a walled park called Jillianbagh

Why: Indians were meeting in defiance to the new law stating no public gatherings.

"The Indians were 'packed together so that one bullet would drive through

three or four bodies'; the people 'ran madly this way and the other. When

fire was directed upon the centre, they ran to the sides. The fire was then directed to the sides. Many threw

themselves down on the ground, and the fire was then directed on the

ground. This was continued for eight or ten minutes, and it stopped only when the ammunition had reached the point

of exhaustion".....Winston Churchill

General Dyer wanted to send a message to India

Message ReceivedRemember 1885- Indian National

Congress◦Goal: Initially their goal was winning equal opportunity for Indians in social services.

◦By the early 1900’s Indians' were calling for an end to cooperation with Britain

◦The Amritsar Massacre only unified Indians' more toward this cause

“Cooperation in any shape or form with

this satanic government is sinful”-Gandhi

Britain attempts to place a Band-Aid over the Amritsar Massacre

Government of India Act Passed in December 1919

In order to soothe tensions the British passed the First Government of India Act, setting up a dual system of administration in which the British governor-general shared power with an Indian Legislature.Gandhi responds with “Soul Force”…eventually arrested.

The Push for Indian Independence – New Government of India Act 1935

Gandhi & Nehru

New Government of India Act gave India “Home Rule”, but it was to little too late.

Mohandas Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru led India’s independence movement.

Gandhi organized mass protests against British law using methods of civil disobedience.

The unity Gandhi help established was all but gone.

Gandhi is released from prison in 1924

Understanding the history behind the division between the Hindu and Muslim Indians is important to recognize the difficulty of Indian Nationalism during the 1900’s

Read speech made by Jinnah in March of 1940-found on pg. 990 in right column.