India’s Road to Independence India’s History until World War I s

What do we know about India?

Outsiders Rule India Mughal Dynasty ruled from –Islamic Empire British East India Company British Rule from –1948 India Gains Independence Taj Mahal 1646 built by Mughal Dynasty

East India Company What: Private English company which Established trading post in India –Queen gave company its charter Maintained its own army –Led by British officers –Sepoys (Indian soldiers) staffed the army

“The loss of India would be final and fatal to us. It would reduce us to the scale of a minor power” Winston Churchill 1931 British Empire Britain considered India the most valuable of all British colonies “ Jewel in the Crown”

Why Britain Wanted India Provided large market for British Goods –300 Million people (1890) Supplied valuable raw materials –Tea, coffee, cotton and opium Raw materialsFinished Goods India England

India’s Religious Tension Strong tension between Muslims and Hindus Muslims –Outnumbered by Hindus –25% of population (100 million 1940 ) Hindus –majority of Indians (300 Million 1940) –75% of Population

Sepoy Rebellion 1857 Hindu and Muslim soldiers rebel against British Reading: Mutiny of 1857