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Colonization of India. Arrival of Europeans - 1498. Portuguese first arrived and were followed shortly by the Dutch, French, and British By 1600, England set up the East India Company Textiles (cloth) were the most important good traded Khaki, Calico, Dungarees. Control of India.
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Arrival of Europeans - 1498 • Portuguese first arrived and were followed shortly by the Dutch, French, and British • By 1600, England set up the East India Company • Textiles (cloth) were the most important good traded • Khaki, Calico, Dungarees
Control of India • Eventually the British and French fought for control over India with GB winning • GB allows the East India Company (EIC) to manage India and it expands British control
East India Company Rule • EIC success can be attributed to Robert Clive • Defeated the French, gained control of India • He forced Indian rulers to sign treaties granting him power • Eventually gained the right to collect taxes
Sepoy Rebellion • Foreigners were a threat to Indian’s way of life • Sepoy= Indian soldiers in GB army • Broke out in 1857 from general unrest in both Muslim and Hindu populations (Beef/Pork fat?) • Put down by GB and results in full colonization of India by GB
Effects of British Rule The Bad • Decline in Indian industries and economy • Forced to buy expensive British goods • Had to grow Cash Crops • Taught British ethnocentrism The Good • Improved Roads • Built Railroads • Built Telegraph Lines • Improved Sanitary Conditions The British wanted to create “a class of persons, Indian in blood and color, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect.” – British Official
Rise of Indian Nationalism • Nationalism – An intense pride in ones country • Arose from the British educated Indians • Why? • Rejected foreign rule and demanded independence.
Amritsar Massacre • Occurred after GB limited the freedom of press and other rights when nationalist began demanding freedom. • April 13, 1919 – 10,000 Indians gathered to defy a British general’s orders to not publicly gather. • General ordered British army to open fire. • 379 Killed; 1,100 injured • It was the turning point in the independence struggle. • More distrust of the British
Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi • Became the key figure of the independence movement. • Inspired people from all caste’s to work for change.
Gandhi’s Principles • Rooted in Hindu beliefs and Christian traditions • Hindu – nonviolence and respect for all life • Christian – Teaching of love, even enemies • Innovator in non-violent protests • Civil Disobedience • Refusing to obey unjust laws
Goal of Non-Violence • “Convert the wrongdoer” • Hoped to make the world aware of the injustices by accepting punishment without striking back.
Gandhi's Appeal • Ideas were appealing to Hindus of all classes. • Gave up western ways; encouraged Indian industries • He lived simply. • Dressed same as the poor; Vegetarian • Followers called him Mahatma = “Great Soul” • Demanded better treatment for untouchables. • Early 1920’s he encouraging nonviolent protests and boycotting of British goods.
The Salt March - 1930 • British laws forbade Indians to make salt. • Had to buy from GB; Heavily taxed. • Gandhi leads a group of protesters on a 200 mile march to the ocean where they made salt. • Results in Gandhi and 50,000 protesters being arrested. • Increased world support for Indian nationalists. • British continued to respond to later nonviolent protests w/ force. • People in Britain began debating on whether holding on to India was worth it.
Independence • Facilitated by World War II • Why?
Division of Indian Subcontinent • 2 groups of people live in India • Hindu • Muslim • 1947 – GB passed the Indian Independence Act, officially ending rule over India and divided the subcontinent into 2. • India : Hindu • Pakistan : Muslim
Hindu-Muslim Conflict • Hindus and Muslims did not trust each other and violence broke out (500,000 die). • Muslims fled India, Hindus fled Pakistan – 15 million took part in mass migration • Gandhi was sickened by the violence and began to hold prayer meetings and recited verses from numerous holy texts. • Assassinated in 1948 by a Hindu extremist.
Conflict Today • The Hindu-Muslim Conflict which began in 1947 is still a problem today. • Most recently, 2002, Indian (Hindu) and Pakistani (Muslim) violence sprang up over the region of Kashmir. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6r-hFwLikQ