a. European Traders 1)The Portuguese were the first Europeans to gain a foothold in India. 2)In 1600, England set up the East India Company (EIC). 3) The English traded gold and silver for cotton, silk and tea. 4)British forces were able to force out most other Europeans for primary rights to India.

b. East India Company Rule The EIC appointed local rulers who favored the interests of the company. Many Indian rulers fought to keep the British out. The EIC gained enormous wealth and land from India

c. British Rule By the 1850s, Indians had many greivances against British rule. The Sepoy Rebellion: a revolt amongst India soldiers serving the British. In 1858 the British took over India as a colony.

Effects of British Rule Improved infrastructure. Improved healthcare. British run schools. Changes in farming.

Indian Nationalism Indian nationalism was strongest among the British educated elite. Some wanted to return to Hindu traditions. Indian National Congress: set up in 1885 to work towards change.

Growing Unrest April 13, 1919 more than 10,000 Indian gathered in Amritsar. The British opened fire and killed 379 and 1,100 wounded.

Mohandas Gandhi Gandhi united many groups within the Nationalist movement. Satyagraha: “truth force”; his ideas about nonviolent resistence to end injustice. He traveled around India urging nonviolent protests.

Moving Toward Independence During the 1920s and 30a tensions grew between Hindus and Muslims. The Muslims wanted a separate Muslim nation. In 1946 Britain signed the Indian Independence Act. Ended British rule in India

The Subcontinent Divided Pakistan became the Muslim nation once India was divided. The partition led to an explosion of violence. To escape death, millions of Muslims fled to Pakistan.