Nationalism in India & SW Asia & The Indian Subcontinent Achieves Freedom Chapter 30: Section 4 & Chapter 34: Section 1

Objectives: After the lesson is taught, students will have acquired specific core knowledge of: Factors affecting the growth of nationalism in India The presence of an emerging world leader and his philosophies that freed his country The independence movements of other SW Asian countries The modern-day effects of the independence movements on these countries

India’s Road to Nationalism: A chart to show the events Until the advent of World War 1, a vast majority of Indian citizens had little to no interest in nationalism. The situation changed when the British Empire asked for her colonies to send troops to help the main Brit army fight in the war. How did this event lead to Indian citizens becoming strongly nationalist? The chart on the next slide shows the progression of this movement—and the end result.

India’s Road to Nationalism: A chart to show the events India’s Action Reason Britain’s Response 1. One million Indian citizens enlist in the British Army for World War 1. 2. British government promises to introduce reforms for self-governance for Indian’s citizens. 3. The British government reneges on the promise. 4. Radical nationalists take their angry causes and fights to the streets. 5. Nationalists want to show their hatred for British rule. 6. The British government passes the Rowlatt Acts—laws designed to punish protesters for up to 2 years. 7. Hindus and Muslims unite to pray and fast at Armitsar. 8. They unite to fast and pray for a solution; also to protest the harshness of the Rowlatt Acts. 9. The British Army opens fire on the protesters; 400 dead, 1200+ wounded. (1919)

The massacre at Armitsar brought worldwide attention to the situation in India. It also set the stage for an Indian citizen—a young lawyer trained in schools in both England and South Africa—to emerge as a leader of the emerging Indian independence movements. Using teachings and philosophies from the world’s major religions (including Hinduism, Christianity, Jainism, Buddhism, and Islam), he developed a following that counted millions among his supporters.

Mohandas K. Gandhi

X Mohandas K. Gandhi Brief Bio of Gandhi: Born in India (1869); educated in England and South Africa Came back to India after the Armitsar Massacre of 1919 Organized movements using CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE to show the British that Indian citizens would no longer be subservient to their authority Assassinated in 1948

Gandhi’s Tactics of Non-Violence Civil Disobedience—deliberate and public refusal to obey an unjust law Believed that the larger numbers of Indians disobeying laws would weaken authority Boycotts—refuse to do business with Gandhi called for Indians to NOT: Buy British goods Pay British taxes Attend Gov’t schools Vote in elections Staged a successful boycott of British cloth, cutting their profits sharply

Gandhi’s Tactics of Non-Violence 3. Strikes/Demonstrations— refusal to work Work stoppage affected: Trains and other transportation services Factories that produced British goods Jail/Imprisonment; overcrowded jails gave the British MAJOR problems The British lost MAJOR DOLLARS from the loss of these services!

Here’s how he really upset the Brits SALT MARCH (March 1930) Organized to protest the Salt Acts (British made Indians buy only gov’t salt—and pay high taxes on it) Protesters marched to seacoast; took sea water, let it evaporate, and made the salt from it Police officers attack protesters—but news of the event garnered support for the independence movement

Results of Gandhi’s work? India granted LIMITED Self-Rule, starting in 1935. GOOD NEWS—Passage of the Gov’t of India Act Local self-government Limited democratic elections BAD NEWS—The Act didn’t grant FULL independence; also, it fueled tensions between the majority Hindu and minority Muslim peoples (Muslims feared that Hindus would control India if the country was granted full independence). This tension caused more trouble for the goal of India’s independence movement.

Part 2: Freedom for the Indian Subcontinent X Gandhi’s philosophy of employing CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE influenced an entire nation to continue the drive for independence. British dominance over India (2 centuries long) was coming to an end. But it wasn’t only British resistance that hampered the advent of FULL INDEPENDENCE—in-fighting between Hindus and Muslims slowed down the movement. Eventually this disagreement would divide India (and several regions around it) on lines of territory, religion, and language.

Freedom brings turmoil Heavy fighting between Hindus and Muslims made Britain PARTITION (divide) a large portion of its colony into separate Hindu and Muslim lands. Northwest and Eastern regions now belonged to Muslims—new land called Pakistan However, another group (SIKHS) wanted independent territory MOBILITY and BORDER ISSUES are very unstable now Battle for Kashmir (disputed land) in 1949—split as 1/3 Muslim, 2/3 Hindu (but not done nicely)

Modern India Granted independence in August 1947 Became world’s largest democracy 1st Independent Prime Minister is Jawaharlal Nehru; PM for 17 years Formed alliances with countries like the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union Reorganized states on language commonalities Pushed for industrialization Elevated status of lower castes and women After his death, his daughter was chosen as prime minister…

Indira Gandhi No relation to Mohandas Gandhi Service in this office marked by violence by extremist Sikhs seeking independent state She was assassinated by Sikh guard assigned to protect her in 1984 After her death, the new prime minister was…HER SON…

Rajiv Gandhi (top left) Service in this office marked by charges of rampant corruption in his government He was assassinated by members of an opposition group in 1991 Current PM is Dr. Manmohan Singh