The Road to Independence An 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 League Sikhism (Sikhs): the majority religion in the Punjab (a province in northwest India); concerned with protecting their political power and religious freedom

Some Key Terms Congress Party Muslim League Formed 1885; Gandhi takes over in 1920 Primarily Hindu political party dedicated to independence Unified Indians across castes, backgrounds, and (sort of) religions in the name of independence Muslim League Formed 1906 Primarily Muslim political party aimed at advancing the interests of Muslims in British India Successfully advocated the partition of India and Pakistan into separate states

Two Conflicts British vs. Indians Hindus vs. Muslims (and Sikhs) Political independence + repressive rule Economic independence Hindus vs. Muslims (and Sikhs) Muslims are a minority in British India, but heavily concentrated in a few areas Initial demand: more powerful local government  more power for Muslims Eventual 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 1914: World War I begins 1.4 million soldiers of the British Indian Army (both British and Indian) fight in the war 1917: Britain announces plan to give Indians more rights 1918: WWI ends 1919: Government of India Act gives Indians power in local government, but keeps national affairs in British hands

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

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

The Salt March March-May 1930 240-mile march to illegally produce salt, followed by a raid on the Dharasana Salt Works Significance Sparked large-scale resistance against the salt tax and British rule Drew international attention to the Indian independence struggle Did not lead to major concessions from the British

World War II Britain joins WWII in September 1939 British Governor-General brings India into war Muslim League supports war Congress debates whether to support war March 1942: Cripps Mission – failed attempt to convince Congress to support the war India sends over 2 million volunteers to fight in the war

Quit India August 1942 through roughly 1944 Campaign led by Congress Party to force the British out of India by massive, nonviolent resistance British respond harshly 60,000 Congress leaders imprisoned immediately after start of movement Mass arrests and public flogging of demonstrators Ultimately failed to change much

The End of the Raj WWII ends in 1945; Britain is economically devastated July 1945: Labour Party wins elections in Britain and rapidly moves toward independence Ongoing 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

Partition August 14 and 15, 1947 Two components: Independence of the British Indian Empire Division of India (mostly Hindu) and Pakistan (mostly Muslim) Represented a victory for both Congress and the Muslim League Mass migration, riots, and deaths – 10 million migrants Left border disputes unsettled