1. Colonial Rule and the Indian Nationalist Movement World History Unit 4
Events and Ideas #4
Colonial Rule and the Indian
Nationalist Movement
World History
Unit 4

2. Essential Questions:
Analyze the role of the British government in India
Describe the lasting effects of Imperialism on the Indian people

3. The “Sun Never Sets on the British Empire”
(areas in pink)
The British Empire of 1897 (red and pink areas).
One tiny little European island controls all of this land! Imagine the cultural conflicts that must have occurred.
Your educated, from England, at the height of industrialization, and you consider yourself more superior to people from other places that may still live in agrarian societies.
Why waste your time learning and respecting the customs and traditions of all of the people you would encounter along the way – from Canada to the far East.
Wouldn’t be easier if everyone just adopted your ways? That kind of attitude leads Britain to problems in India in the mid-1800s.

4. Great Britain and India

5. Britain and India in the 1700s
British influence and power increased.
The power of the local Mogul rulers decreased.
British East India Company was given power by the British government.
Britain and India in the 18th century (1700s).
a. British influence and power increased.
b. The power of the local Mogul rulers decreased.
c. British East India Company given power by British government.
i. Political and military activities.
1. British East India Company had its own soldiers and forts.
2. They heavily relied upon local Indian soldiers known as Sepoys.
ii. Social and Religious activities.
1. In British minds, British culture was superior to Indian culture.
2. Indians should adopt British culture (language, food, dress, etc.)
Agra Fort in India

6. States in India in Rebellion
The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857
Rumor concerning the use of cow and pig fat to grease bullets.
Some Sepoys refused to load their rifles.
A growing distrust of the British led to the First War of Independence, called the Sepoy Mutiny
1857 and the Sepoy Mutiny (the First War of Independence).
a. Rumor concerning the use of cow and pig fat used to grease bullets for new rifle.
i. Cow is sacred to the Hindus and the pig is taboo to Muslims.
b. Some Sepoys refused to load their new rifles.
i. Sepoys were arrested and riots began to break out.
ii. Sepoys rampaged and killed 50 European men, women, and children.
States in India in Rebellion

7. The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 Loyal Sepoy & British troops = 40,000.
Sepoy rebels = 230,000.
House of Ladies in Kanpur – British women and children massacred.
British recapture Kanpur – and take revenge.
Kanpur Memorial
1857 and the Sepoy Mutiny (the First War of Independence).
c. Revolt quickly spreads throughout India.
i. Loyal Indian troops and fresh British troop numbered 40,000.
ii. Troops rebelling numbered 230,000.
1. Revolting troops were not well organized.
2. Hindus and Muslims did not trust each other.
iii. House of Ladies in Kanpur.
1. Indians armed with swords and knives massacred two hundred defenseless women and children.
2. British recapture Kanpur and take their revenge on the entire city before executing the Indian troops.
iv. East India Company powers were transferred back to British Government.
, Queen Victoria in England is bestowed the title of Empress of India.
2. The Indians were now her royal subjects and India was considered the “Jewel in the Crown.”

8. British Colonial Rule in India
British officials = 3,500
ruled a country of 300 million people.
A viceroy ruled as the representative of the monarch.
Viceroy’s residence in Calcutta, 1819
a. A viceroy ruled as the representative of the monarch.
b. British staff of 3,500 officials ruled a country of 300 million people.
c. British colonial rule had benefits and costs for the local population.

9. Benefits of British Colonial Rule
Brought order and stability to Indian society.
British education system brought to India.
Received the advantages of British industrialization.
Benefits of British Colonial Rule.
a. Brought order and stability to a society that was divided among different lines.
i. Divisions based on religion and culture:
1. Muslims and Hindus.
2. Caste System.
b. British Education system was brought to India.
i. Focused on Western ideas.
ii. Limited to upper-class Indians
1. 90% of the population was illiterate (could not read).
c. Advantages of British Industrialization.
i. Railroads, the telegraph, and postal services were introduced in India after coming out in England
1. By 1900, 25,000 miles of railroads crisscrossed India
Sepoys of the British East India Company

10. Costs of British Colonial Rule
Local economy shattered by cheap British Imports.
Local officials abused their power.
Cash crops instead of food crops.
British rule was often degrading.
= 30 million died of starvation
Costs of British Colonial Rule.
a. Peace and stability come at a high price.
i. Local Indian economy was shattered by cheap British imports.
ii. British entrepreneurs and a small number of Indians got rich while millions suffered.
iii. British textiles (cloth) put thousands of women out of work and severely damaged the Indian textile industry.
b. British used zamindars (local officials) to collect taxes from the peasants.
i. Zamindars abused their power and took advantage of the peasants.
1. Increased taxes.
2. Peasant farmers to tenant farmers.
3. Peasant unrest grew.
c. British encourage farmers to switch from growing food to growing cotton.
i. Cash crop. Cotton exported to England with English cloth imported to India.
ii. Famines devastate India and between 1800 and 1900, 30 million Indians die of starvation.
d. British rule was degrading.
i. Best housing and jobs reserved for Britons.
ii. Even highly educated upper-class Indians were not considered equal to Britons.
iii. Taj Mahal (tomb of the beloved wife of an Indian ruler) was used for parties and weddings. Pieces were removed as souvenirs.
British officer and Sepoys
(local troops)

11. Indian Nationalist Movement for Independence
First Indian nationalists were upper-class educated Indians.
Their goal was to share in the governing process in India.
Muslim League was created because Muslims felt they were not being represented.
Indian Nationalist Movement for Independence.
a. First Indian nationalists were upper-class educated Indians.
b. From urban areas.
c. Many studied British law and were civil servants.
d , formation of the Indian National Congress (INC).
i. No call for full independence but a share in the governing process.
ii. INC had difficulties due to internal religious strife.
1. Leaders were Hindus and reflected Hindu concerns.
2. Muslims felt left out.
e. Muslim League created to represent the interests of Muslims in Indian society.
Nationalist Movement Leaders including Ghandi

12. Indian Nationalist Movement for Independence
1915, Mohandas Gandhi brought new life to India’s struggle for independence.
Gandhi’s philosophy was to resist unjust law with non-violent responses.
Eventually, his movement would lead to Indian independence.
Indian Nationalist Movement for Independence.
1915, Mohandas Gandhi brought new life to India’s struggle for independence.
i. Studied in London and became a lawyer.
ii. Moved to South Africa to work in a law firm.
iii. Saw the racial exploitation of Indians living in South Africa
iv. Returned home and began a “non-violent” resistance movement to British rule.
v. Gandhi’s philosophy was to resist unjust law with non violent responses.
vi. Eventually, his movement would lead to Indian independence.
Mohandas Gandhi

13. India gains independence but at a great cost
After WWII great Britain gave up India
Violent fighting broke out between Hindus and Muslims

14. 500,00 people were killed in the riots

15. India divided their country into two countries leaving Hindus in India and putting Muslims in East and West Pakistan

16. 14 million Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims were displaced during the partition and had to leave their homes and walk hundreds of miles to a new area of the country
It was the largest mass migration in human history

17. Essential Questions:
Analyze the role of the British government in India
Describe the lasting effects of Imperialism on the Indian people