What were Churchill's views on India?

Question 1

What were the two main strands of resistance against British rule + when?

Answer 1

• educated elite - campaigning for political reform since 1880s
• wider population applied pressure under Gandhi’s leadership (1920s onwards)

Question 2

What was founded in 1885 and what did they want?

Answer 2

Indian National Congress (Party) - initially for greater political autonomy, but by early 1900s called for full independence

Question 3

What helped strengthen the independence movement?

Answer 3

The fact that World War 1 had left Britain virtually bankrupt

Question 4

How many Indian troops had fought for Britain in World War 1?

Answer 4

Over 1 million

Question 5

What did the British war cabinet estimate in August 1917?

Answer 5

It would take 500 years for Indians to learn to rule themselves

Question 6

What act did the Imperial Legislative Council introduce in March 1919?

Answer 6

Rowlatt Act (1919)
* gave power to the police to arrest any person without reason

Question 7

What 3 key things did the Rowlatt Act permit?

Answer 7

• Certain political cases could be tried without a jury
• Suspects could be imprisoned without trial
• Restrictions placed on press

Question 8

What other act did the British introduce in 1919

Answer 8

Montagu-Chelmsford Act - gave provincial governments increased autonomy over some issues

Question 9

What was Gandhi’s response to the Rowlatt Act?

Answer 9

In April 1919, Gandhi called for people to engage in nonviolent protest

Question 10

How many were killed/wounded at the Amritsar Massacre + what happened?

Answer 10

90 Gurka and inidan soldiers led by Reginald Dyre open fired upon a crowd of protesters for 10 minutes

379 killed

1,200 wounded

Question 11

Why did Churchill see India as important?

Answer 11

• Prestige - Churchill believed Britain’s greatness was bound up in its Empire, and India was the “jewel in the crown”
• Violence between Hindus and Muslims - Churchill believed rule of British Raj protected Muslim minority from Hindu majority
• Counter to communism - British Empire was best means of keeping it in check. Weakening Empire in India would be a significant blow to its power, India = strategic location

Question 12

When + what was the Salt March?

Answer 12

major nonviolent protest led by Gandhi
(March / April 1930) - about salt taxes

Question 13

By the end of 1930, how many people involved in the Salt March had been jailed?

Answer 13

60,000

Question 14

When + what were the Round Table Conferences?

Answer 14

November 1930 - December 1932

The next stage of India’s constitutional development
* influenced the passing of the (1935) Government of India Act

Question 15

Who was Secretary of State for India from 1931-1935?

Answer 15

Sir Samuel Hoare

Question 16

What did Churchill do in January 1931?

Answer 16

Resigned from shadow cabinet over his party’s India policy so he could speak freely

Question 17

What did Churchill do in the spring of 1933?

Answer 17

Publicly split with Stanley Baldwin over India policy

Question 18

When did the Government of India Act passed + come into effect?

Answer 18

Passed: 1935
come into effect: 1937

Question 19

What did Churchill call Ghandi

Answer 19

“a half naked Fakir

Question 20

when was ghandi released from prison

Answer 20

26th January 1931 (after salt march)