1. The Road to Independence
An epilogue of sorts

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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