british india : traders to rulers the crown jewel
TRANSCRIPT
British India : Traders to Rulers
The Crown Jewel
East India Company
• 1600s British entered Mughal India (Islamic Empire) as traders—economic interest
East India Company
• EIC struggled at first, but after defeating the French and the decline (weakening) of the Mughal Empire allowed them to become a dominant force in the region.
• They shipped over British soldiers and hired and trained native soldiers to protect their interests.
• As the EIC grew in strength they started taking hundreds of kingdoms– Alliances– Protectorates– Wars
Diversity
• Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Farsi (Zoroastrian), Christians, Jews, etc.
• India was diverse. 100s of languages and traditions
• “Divide and Rule”• Encouraged competition and disunity.
Westernization• Created roads, created army, police force etc• Created the idea of “India”• Legal codes • Established roads, transportation, and
communication• Western education and reforms– “Sati” – Widow Burning– “Thagis” – organized murderers who practiced
human sacrifice– Infanticide – Universities
SATI
British Rule
• After the loss of the American colonies, the British took great lengths to respected the native’s culture and traditions of their colonies.
• However, as they became more powerful they became more intolerant. Respect was replaced with inequality and mistreatment
• Natives became second class citizens and servants to the British rulers.
Nationalism in India
Painful road to Self-Rule
WWI• Indians participated in
WWI – hoping it would lead to greater reforms at home
• No significant reforms were made
• Indians became increasingly unhappy with their rulers
Amritsar Massacre
• Large peaceful protesters were shot by the British – Killed over 400– Wounded 1100– Women and children
• It upset the Indians even more
Growing Nationalism
• Indian National Congress– mostly Hindu middle class with western education– believed in a peaceful protest to gain more power
to the Indians (Self-Rule)– Independence of India
• Muslim League—Represented interest of the Muslims – Muslims were afraid of Hindu Majority
Mohandas K. Gandhi
Leader of the Indian National Congress
Iconic nationalist hero of IndiaHe will unite Indians of different religion and classes to defy the British rule.
Mohandas K. Gandhi
“Mahatma” (Great Soul) Organized Campaigns• Nonviolence
– Ahimsa – “Non-harming” of all life
• Civil Disobedience– Refusal to obey unjust rule– Boycotting (refusal to buy)
• Equal rights : men, women, and caste– Untouchables : lowest class
in Hindu society
Civil Disobedience• Salt was monopolized
by the British– It was illegal to take or
sell salt without permission
• Salt March– Gandhi and his followers
made 240 mile march to the sea. Where he picked up lump of sea salt
– Other Indians followed– Gandhi was arrested
Consequence
• Thousands of Indians were imprisoned, beaten, and killed
• Showed the world the brutality of British Rule
• Indians were gradually given more power