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Published byGodwin Roberts Modified over 9 years ago
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Independence Movements Independence in India
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World War I Heightens Nationalist Activity Prior to World War I, Indians had little interest in self-rule or independence When World War I began, the British promised India reforms that would eventually lead to self- government (provided at least a million Indian soldiers) 1918 – Great Britain had no desire to give India independence (self-rule) – many Indians revolted
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World War I Heightens Nationalist Activity 1919 – Great Britain passed the Rowlatt Act – allowed the government to jail protestors without trial for as long as two years (denial of trial by jury) – more violence erupted Amritsar Massacre – British soldiers fired on Hindus and Muslims who had gathered to protest the Rowlatt Act – Indians demanded independence from Great Britain Armistar Massacre
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Gandhi’s Principle of Nonviolence Mohandas K. Gandhi – leader of India’s independence movement Promoted use of civil disobedience – the deliberate and public refusal to obey an unjust law Gandhi called on Indians to refuse to do the following – buy British goods, attend government schools, pay British taxes, and vote in elections
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Gandhi’s Principle of Nonviolence Encouraged Indians to weave their own cloth and boycott British cloth (a huge source of wealth for the British) Salt Acts – Indians could buy salt from no other source but the government (they also had to pay taxes on salt) Salt March – Gandhi and his followers walked 240 miles to the seacoast to get their own salt
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Gandhi’s Principle of Nonviolence Police officers attacked defenseless marchers outside a salt plant (a place where the British government process salt) – world journalists reported the violence against unarmed and nonviolent Indians 1935 – Great Britain passed the Government of India Act (provided for local self-government and limited democratic elections)
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Religious Tensions 1947 – India gained independence from Great Britain Sri-Lanka-formerly known as Ceylon gained its independence Religious differences led to the Partition of India – India (Hindus) and Pakistan (Muslims) Pakistan included East and West Pakistan Civil War broke out between East and West Pakistan – East Pakistan became Bangladesh Muslim League
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Republic of India World’s largest democracy Federal system with much power given to the states Jawaharal Nehru- a close ally of Gandhi’s supported Western style industrialization 1950 Constitution sought to prohibit caste system discrimination
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Republic of India Indira Gandhi was the first female Prime Minister of India from 1980-1984. During the Cold War, she maintained a close relationship between the USSR and India. Under her leadership, India developed a nuclear program.
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Republic of India Ethnic and religious differences caused problems in India developing a democracy New economic development has helped to ease the financial problems of India.
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