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”