India: Mughal Empire - End to Independence
Dual Control System –
-Parts of India were ruled by local dynasties.
-Part was ruled by the British Govt. (through the E.I.Co.)
-1773 & 1784: British laws gave control of India to the British govt.
Rebellion and Reform: The Sepoy Rebellion-1857: Sepoys (Indians working in the British armed forces in India) rise up against the British (they believe they are being discriminated against: British arrogance and cartridges)
-Sepoys claim last Mughal heir as their leader: lots of massacres on both sides. The British ultimately crush the rebellion and end the Dual Control Sytem and the MughalDynasty (exiled last leader).
Aftermath of Sepoy Rebellion
• British Parliament ended E.I.Co. governmental role
• India now governed by the Viceroy (answered to the Sec. of State in Britain)
• India was governed by and for the British– Positives: better health,
infrastructure (water, ports, rails,…), and political stability (90% of males illiterate, 99% of women)
– Britain was able to rule a much larger population by dividing and conquering: causing long term resentment among the groups
The Indian National Congress
• Formed in 1885
• Comprised of western educated Indians –they learned British history and liberalism. Saw the hypocrisy of British rule.
• Upper class (caste) Indians would not do manual labor, so they were unemployable – they turned against British rule.
• The opposition to British rule led to a shift in British policy: 1907-09: Provincial Legislatures could elect Indian majorities. However the Indians were not appeased.
• Post 1914, British want to head toward gradual self government
• 1918 – New Constitution written – Dual System with Britain maintaining most power
• 1919 – outbreak of violence – Britain passes laws to suppress subversive acts (Britain wants to hold onto their empire)
Mohandas Gandhi
• 1869-1948 – foremost nationalist leader –studied law in London – practiced law in South Africa, where he begins his career as a nationalist leader
• Protested using non-violent, non-cooperation. Wanted a separation from the west, a return to Indian traditions
• Sent back to India during WWI • Continued to push for Indian nationalism
and independence• Post WWI he calls for Britain to leave –
thrown in jail in ’22 for 6 years – continued calling for Britain to leave and was in and out of jail until his death in ‘48.
• Killed by a radical Hindu, who was upset with Gandhi ‘giving away’ Pakistan
Process toward Independence
• 1937: full autonomy given to the provinces, national government also given to Indians **except for defense and foreign affairs**
• The Indian National Congress had become the center of militant nationalists – Gandhi made nationalism a mass movement
• Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) shared power with Gandhi in the I.N.C. – he was a rationalist (he embraced both the east [India] and the west [Britain])
Split Between Hindu and Muslim India
• The “Muslim League” challenged the idea that the I.N.C. represented all of India. The Muslim League broke away from the I.N.C.
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948) began the “two-nation” movement (Pakistan and India) and was the leader of the Muslim League - the British ultimately accept this idea
Independence Achieved
• 1942: Great Britain promises India independence
• Post WWII – violence between Hindu and Muslim intensifies
• Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy, got both sides to agree to a partition• However – Pakistan was “artificial” in that it had two parts 1000+ miles apart
with India in the middle
Continued
• 1947 – independence achieved – but this led to more violence –millions of people have to move to the “correct” country
• India becomes the world’s largest democracy