South Asia A Brief History

Executive Summary India Under British Rule Freedom—And Partition

India Under British Rule A. India Under British Rule 1. In 1600, England set up the East India trading company to trade with India * British trade gold and silver for textiles, i.e. cloth, such as silk and cotton 2. Over time, Britain gained control of India’s government 3. In 1858, India became an official colony of Britain

Freedom and Partition B. Freedom and Partition 1. Indians were tired of British rule and formed the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1920 * Led by Mohandas Gandhi 2. Gandhi used civil disobedience to influence British * Peaceful gatherings, strikes 3. Following the end of WWII, Britain was too weak to hold on to India

Freedom and Partition B. Freedom and Partition 4. Fighting between Hindus and Muslims left hundreds of thousands dead 5. In 1947, England passed the Indian Independence Act a. India would be free of British rule b. Created Pakistan for Muslims and India for Hindus