Indian+Nationalism

1.Read 657-661 and 722-723 Outline notes Indian Independence - Make sure you relate events in India to major world events

pg.657-661 India: The Making of the Nationalist Challenge to the British Raj MI - Formed in 1885, the National Congress party helped India towards independence.


 * India being colonized for many decades = early movements towards independence compared to Africa
 * by end of 19th century, Western-educated minorities in India were political organized for decades
 * Indian nationalist movement pioneered patterns of nationalist challenges and European retreat in other colonies
 * National Congress party led Indians to independence
 * formed in 1885 and was backed up by high ranking British officials who saw if they allowed Indians to be heard then there would be no political protests
 * raised questions about India's drain of wealth to Britain
 * debates and petitions often dominated by elite-centric issues
 * removal of barriers to Indian employment in bureaucracy and increased rep.
 * Western-educated Indians troubled by British racism
 * seen in poor salaries and limited opportunity in administration
 * in Congress meetings, they discovered that no matter where in India, this was present
 * sense of common Indian identity found through shared grievances

Social Foundations of a Mass Movement MI - There is a growing amount of supporters as a result of social and economic issues caused by British rule.
 * elites find causes that would draw large portion of pop. into growing nationalist comm.
 * century of British rule = social and economic disruptions which allowed the growing number of supporters
 * Indian business owners back Congress b/c of unfair treatment compared to British owners
 * Indian political leaders stressed fact of the losses India gained due to colonial rule
 * British said draining was justified as the cost for peace
 * gov't budget went towards maintaining army that fought somewhere else
 * British administrators's salaries come from the Indian people
 * India only able to purchase manufactured goods from Great Britain b/c Britain was afraid of losing ground to either U.S or Germany
 * need of British home economy = Indian peasants have to produce cash crops
 * British did care about or did little towards the suffering that occurred due to food shortages and diseases
 * land-lessness and poverty increased greatly and British measures to help this was little or came too late

The Rise of Militant Nationalism MI - In order to appeal to a large portion of the population, nationalist leaders incorporated Hinduism into their push to gain supporters. Terrorists also come into play as some groups of people became impatient with the approach taken by the Congress.
 * issues of Indian nationalist leaders stressed had great appeals to devout Hindus
 * protection of cows, Muslims able to eat/slaughter cows and made up 1/4 of the Indian empire
 * **B.G.Tilak** and other leaders felt that if the pop was to be a majority of Hindus, then nationalism should appeal to Hindus (violent)
 * worked to restore the ancient traditions of Hinduism
 * opposed women education and raising of women's age required for marriage
 * demanded boycott of British goods, persuade Indians to not serve military
 * his promotion of Hinduism offended Hindus, Muslims and other religious followers
 * increase of terroristic activities as young Bengalis became impatient with the approach taken by the Congress
 * British able to repress terrorists easily b/c of small numbers and limited support
 * Congress party strengthened by Tilak's removal and repression of terrorists
 * Indian lawyers = dominant force in nationalist politics
 * Gandhi, Jinnah and Nehru - key leaders during struggle for independence
 * approach of peaceful, constitutionalist route to decolonization had appeal to political concession of the British
 * **Morley-Minto reforms** of 1909 gave educated Indians opportunites to vote for and to serve on councils

The Emergence of Gandhi and the Spread of the Nationalist Struggle MI - Gandhi becomes more of a popular figure through his peaceful methods
 * India played a crucial role in Britain's war efforts
 * Indian princes offered loans, soldiers bore the brunt of war efforts, nationalist leaders toured India selling war bonds
 * wartime inflation affected all of Indian pop.
 * peasants unable to sell b/c of shipping shortages, laborers see low wages drop even lower
 * after the war, British refused to honor wartime promises
 * promised that India would move towards self-gov't
 * **Montagu-Chelmsford reforms** of 1919 - increased the powers of Indian legislators and gave them control of provincial admin.
 * **Rowlatt Act** - restricted key Indian civil rights = protests and emergence of **Mohandas Gandhi**.
 * Gandhi's peaceful boycotts and strikes = effective way to weaken British control
 * legendary negocaiting skills with British allowed him to build strong following from middle class and educated Indians
 * Gandhi is pictured as a tradition mystic and guru = mass support of laborers and peasants
 * popular appeal = support of nationalist leaders
 * under Gandhi, national protest surged in 1920s to 1930s

pg. 722-723

MI - India's push for independence from Britain
 * WWII = end of accommodation b/w Indian National Congress and British in 1930s
 * Congress offered help in WWII for exchange of power in India
 * rejected on both sides but coalition gov't of Britain were willing to negotiate India's independence
 * **Quit India movement** begins in 1942 as civil disobedience campaigns started as a result of the collapse of Cripps's initiatives
 * British response = repression and mass arrests of major Congress leader such as Gandhi
 * only Communists and **Muslim League** rallied to British cause
 * League lead by **Muhammad Ali Jinnah** and won support from British b/c of support
 * demand of separate Muslim state in India = key factor for push of decolonization
 * after Churchill's defeat in elections, gov't ready to deal with India's nationalist leaders
 * League claimed that a single state of Hindus will target the Muslim minority
 * demanded for creation of Pakistan
 * British handed power in 1947 to leaders of Congress party and to Jinnah as the first pres of Pakistan
 * quick removal of British forces from India = Hindu-Muslim and Muslim-Sikh riots
 * destruction and violence was widespread
 * India's independence inspired successful struggles for independence in Ghana, Nigeria and other African areas
 * retreat of a powerful empire => lessen of other weaker Euro empires
 * Dutch/French unwilling to let go of colonies but fail as they lose wars
 * America gives quick independence to Philippines b/c of their loyalty and hard efforts in the war
 * new threats of imperial orders in Africa


 * Name of Leader: Mohandas Gandhi ||
 * Lifespan: Oct. 2, 1869 – Jan. 30, 1948 || Title: Leadership of Indian National Congress ||
 * Country/region: India || Years in Power: 1921 - 1948 ||
 * Political, Social, & Economic Conditions Prior to Leaders Gaining Power
 * Political
 * Want of self-gov’t, Talek
 * arrested in both South Africa and India as he tried to aid Indians in those areas
 * Great Britain was involved in WWI and called for help from its colonies
 * aided South African colonies through civil disobedience to make leaders look bad
 * Social
 * first-hand accounts of Indian racisms from Europeans which made him question Indian status in British Empire
 * tensions between Indians and Muslims in India
 * British promised independence ||
 * Ideology, Motivation, Goals:
 * use of civil disobedience
 * self sufficient -> made own clothes, vegetarian
 * long fats as self-purification and social protest
 * believed in truth, nonviolence, vegetarianism, education, simplicity and faith
 * goal = non-aggressive protests
 * weakened British control limiting their military strength ||
 * Significant Actions & events During Term of Power
 * led campaigns in 1921 to ease poverty, expand women’s rights, end untouchability
 * launched Quit India Movement in 1942 demanding immediate independence
 * transfer of power from Britain to India
 * India’s hope for self gov’t = ||
 * Short-Term effects:
 * Dandi Salt March in 1930 to protest British salt tax
 * actively recruited Indians for war efforts in WWI
 * multiple fasts ranging from various time frames to protest political issues
 * All-India leaders protest rejection of Gandhi’s principles || Long-Term Effects
 * assisted Indians in South Africa
 * after WWII, British transfer power in Indian hands and political prisoners released after struggle called off
 * inspired independence movements of colonies all over the world
 * Market prices – inflated = peasants angry ||

What is an Identity? An identity is something given to an individual or group of people that defines who they are. It also shapes who you are in the eyes of other people.

How are our identities formed? Our identities are basically formed by the actions we choose to take our-selfs. These actions are seen by others who will associated certain traits to us.

How does our identity influence the way we see ourselves and others? The way we see others and ourselves are influenced by the identities that we created for ourselves and by others. Certain identities given to someone changes the outlooking on that person

What is conformity? Conformity is an effect of other people's thoughts, beliefs, or other things that would change your own thinking. Conformity will change your thinking to the thought of others. It also means the same since everyone around would then follow in the manner.

How does a society decide who belongs and who does not? A society could possibly decide who belongs or not through conformity. If a huge majority of the society believes the same thing and others go along with it, it would mean that others would accept them because of the same thoughts shared. On the other hand, a society could see a nonconformist as someone who doesn't belong because they express what they really think.

How do our attitudes and beliefs influence our thinking? Our attitudes and beliefs influence our thinking in a way where many of us would then have similar thinking. If one thinks differently than a group of people, then it would make them think differently about what they had once thought before.

What does it mean to belong to a group? Belonging to a group means that everyone in that group would share similar interests or beliefs. Their identities may also be similar to one another.

How is membership defined and by whom is membership defined? Membership is defined as being allowed to take part with a group and usually membership is defined by those of the group. Within the group, you will need to be accepted as one of them in order to obtain membership.

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