The Road to IndependenceAn epilogue of sorts

Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, Oh My!

Hinduism (Hindus): the majority religion in India; followed by Gandhi and most members of Congress

Islam (Muslims): the majority religion in present-day Pakistan; followed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and most members of the Muslim LeagueSikhism (Sikhs): the majority religion

in the Punjab (a province in northwest India); concerned with protecting their political power and religious freedom

Some Key TermsCongress Party

Formed 1885; Gandhi takes over in 1920Primarily Hindu political party dedicated to independenceUnified Indians across castes, backgrounds, and (sort of) religions in the name of independence

Muslim LeagueFormed 1906Primarily Muslim political party aimed at advancing the interests of Muslims in British IndiaSuccessfully advocated the partition of India and Pakistan into separate states

Two ConflictsBritish vs. Indians

Political independence + repressive ruleEconomic independence

Hindus vs. Muslims (and Sikhs)Muslims are a minority in British India, but heavily concentrated in a few areasInitial demand: more powerful local government more power for MuslimsEventual demand: Pakistan as homeland for Muslims

Satyagraha, and other hard-to-spell terms

Satyagraha: Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violent non-cooperation; literally “truth-force”Ahimsa: non-violence (according to Gandhi, absence of violent thought as well as violent actions)Swadeshi: strategy of achieving economic independence from the British Empire by refusing to buy British-made goods

Khadi: a hand-spun, hand-woven cloth that replaced British-made, imported clothing

Swaraj: “self-rule,” or strategy of achieving political independence from foreign domination

World War I

1917: Britain announces plan to give Indians more rights1918: WWI ends1919: Government of India Act gives Indians power in local government, but keeps national affairs in British hands

1914: World War I begins1.4 million soldiers of the British Indian Army (both British and Indian) fight in the war

You’re halfway through!Here are some hamsters dressed as dinosaurs

The Amritsar MassacreApril 13, 1919British army fires on a nonviolent, defenseless crowd of protesters and pilgrims, killing hundredsGalvanizes Indian resistance and the first non-cooperation movement under GandhiBritish failure to punish General Dyer further angers Indians

The Salt MarchMarch-May 1930240-mile march to illegally produce salt, followed by a raid on the Dharasana Salt WorksSignificance

Sparked large-scale resistance against the salt tax and British ruleDrew international attention to the Indian independence struggleDid not lead to major concessions from the British

World War IIBritain joins WWII in September 1939British Governor-General brings India into war

Muslim League supports warCongress debates whether to support war

March 1942: Cripps Mission – failed attempt to convince Congress to support the warIndia sends over 2 million volunteers to fight in the war

Quit IndiaAugust 1942 through roughly 1944Campaign led by Congress Party to force the British out of India by massive, nonviolent resistanceBritish respond harshly

60,000 Congress leaders imprisoned immediately after start of movementMass arrests and public flogging of demonstrators

Ultimately failed to change much

The End of the RajWWII ends in 1945; Britain is economically devastatedJuly 1945: Labour Party wins elections in Britain and rapidly moves toward independenceOngoing dispute between Congress and Muslim League over how to achieve independence

Mohammed Ali Jinnah: calls for separate Muslim state

Hastily drawn borders between India and Pakistan

PartitionAugust 14 and 15, 1947Two components:

Independence of the British Indian EmpireDivision of India (mostly Hindu) and Pakistan (mostly Muslim)

Represented a victory for both Congress and the Muslim LeagueMass migration, riots, and deaths – 10 million migrantsLeft border disputes unsettled