IndiaIndia

British colonializationBritish colonialization

The East India CompanyThe East India Company

• The The British East India Company was a trade British East India Company was a trade company that had been in Indiacompany that had been in India since the since the 1600s1600s

• The company’s goal was $$ -- The company’s goal was $$ -- big profitsbig profits!!• The The company had its own armycompany had its own army, led by British , led by British

officersofficers• By the 1800s British officials introduced western By the 1800s British officials introduced western

education and law in India.education and law in India.• The The East India Company and British pushed East India Company and British pushed

for social changes in India – the “caste” for social changes in India – the “caste” systemsystem

British RajBritish Raj

• Britain took control of India from Britain took control of India from France in mid 1700’sFrance in mid 1700’s

• British East India officials became British East India officials became involved in rivalries during involved in rivalries during collapse of Mughal Empirecollapse of Mughal Empire

• British were again able to take British were again able to take advantage of the diversity and advantage of the diversity and lack of unity b/w Hindu & lack of unity b/w Hindu & Muslim princesMuslim princes

““Jewel of the Crown”Jewel of the Crown”

• India was considered the India was considered the most most valuable of all of Britain’s coloniesvaluable of all of Britain’s colonies– Major supplier of raw materials for Major supplier of raw materials for

Britain’s factoriesBritain’s factories– Its 300 million people provided a vast Its 300 million people provided a vast

market for British goodsmarket for British goods

British restricted the Indian economy British restricted the Indian economy from operating on its ownfrom operating on its own

Indian competition with British goods was Indian competition with British goods was prohibitedprohibited

• Cheap clothCheap cloth and clothes flooded the and clothes flooded the Indian market and drove out local Indian market and drove out local producers.producers.

• Many of the raw material produced by Many of the raw material produced by India were India were cash cropscash crops– Tea, indigo, coffee, cotton, opiumTea, indigo, coffee, cotton, opium

Opium was shipped to China and Opium was shipped to China and exchanged for tea which was then exchanged for tea which was then sold in Britainsold in Britain

Positive role of BritishPositive role of British

• Positives:Positives:• Built Built railroadsrailroads—modernized economy, —modernized economy,

connected different regions of India connected different regions of India together.together.

• Telephone/telegraph linesTelephone/telegraph lines• Bridges, irrigation canalsBridges, irrigation canals• Improved SchoolsImproved Schools• Improved Improved

medicine/technology/sanitationmedicine/technology/sanitation• Outlawed Outlawed satisati

Negative role of BritishNegative role of British• Imported cheap textiles to India which Imported cheap textiles to India which

ruined thriving textile industryruined thriving textile industry• Racism and discriminationRacism and discrimination of Indians by of Indians by

British --persecuted Indian subjects (used for British --persecuted Indian subjects (used for cheap labor)cheap labor)

• Conversion of farm land to growing cash Conversion of farm land to growing cash cropscrops led to famines in the late 1800s; loss led to famines in the late 1800s; loss of self-sufficiency of many Indian people.of self-sufficiency of many Indian people.

• Hired Sepoy troops (Indian military Hired Sepoy troops (Indian military made up of Muslims and Hindus) to made up of Muslims and Hindus) to serve in the British armyserve in the British army

• Required Sepoys to serve overseas which Required Sepoys to serve overseas which was against Hindu religionwas against Hindu religion

Negative aspects to Negative aspects to British ruleBritish rule

• The The British also allowed Hindu British also allowed Hindu widows to remarry - also against widows to remarry - also against Hindu traditionHindu tradition

• The Indian people saw these British laws The Indian people saw these British laws as an attack on their culture and religion.as an attack on their culture and religion.

• British British missionaries tried to convertmissionaries tried to convert Indian people to Christianity – mostly Indian people to Christianity – mostly failedfailed

• British ruleBritish rule from 1757 to 1947 was from 1757 to 1947 was called called RAJRAJ

GIVE ONE - GET ONEGIVE ONE - GET ONE

• Give one negative or positive aspect Give one negative or positive aspect of British rule in India. Explain it in of British rule in India. Explain it in YOUR words!YOUR words!

• Get different information from Get different information from someone else in the room.someone else in the room.

The Sepoy RebellionThe Sepoy Rebellion• 1857; Northwest province of India1857; Northwest province of India• Sepoy soldiers angry for many abuses & b/c Sepoy soldiers angry for many abuses & b/c

British used beef and pork fat to seal rifle British used beef and pork fat to seal rifle cartridges – sacred animals in Islamic and cartridges – sacred animals in Islamic and Hindu culturesHindu cultures

• Sepoys massacred British men, women, and Sepoys massacred British men, women, and childrenchildren

• The British Army crushed the revolt and The British Army crushed the revolt and slaughtered thousands of Indian civilians.slaughtered thousands of Indian civilians.

• Result - The British gov’t took control of Result - The British gov’t took control of India away from the East India Company India away from the East India Company and placed India under the rule of the and placed India under the rule of the British crown.British crown.

Indian NationalismIndian Nationalism

• Early 1800s, new demand for greater role Early 1800s, new demand for greater role for Indians.for Indians.

• Leader – Ram Mohun Roy – well Leader – Ram Mohun Roy – well educated in Britain; modern thinker - educated in Britain; modern thinker - wanted to get India away from wanted to get India away from traditional practices and ancient traditional practices and ancient cultural ideascultural ideas

• Supported British reforms - rid India of Supported British reforms - rid India of caste system, caste system, sati sati and child marriagesand child marriages

• India needed to India needed to modernize or it would modernize or it would always be under foreign rulealways be under foreign rule

• Indians began to resent being treated like Indians began to resent being treated like 22ndnd class citizens in their own country. class citizens in their own country.

• Even Indians with European educations Even Indians with European educations were discriminated against.were discriminated against.

• Example: a British engineer on the Eat India Example: a British engineer on the Eat India Railway was paid nearly 20 times more than Railway was paid nearly 20 times more than an Indian engineer.an Indian engineer.

• Founding of 2 nationalist groups Founding of 2 nationalist groups – Indian National Congress 1885Indian National Congress 1885– Muslim League 1906Muslim League 1906

• Nationalist groups were further Nationalist groups were further insulted by insulted by 1905 partition of 1905 partition of Bengal. Bengal.

• Bengal was a large province that the Bengal was a large province that the British thought difficult to manage British thought difficult to manage so they split it off and divided it into so they split it off and divided it into a Muslim and Hindu section.a Muslim and Hindu section.

Religious differencesReligious differences

• Islam:Islam:• One godOne god• All MEN equal All MEN equal

under godunder god• Emphasis on duty Emphasis on duty

to to community/familycommunity/family

• Hinduism:Hinduism:• Several “deities”Several “deities”• Class (caste) Class (caste)

systemsystem• Emphasis on living Emphasis on living

within caste within caste systemsystem

• Other religions:Other religions:• BuddhismBuddhism• ChristianityChristianity• Sikhism (no caste system)Sikhism (no caste system)

GandhiGandhi

• Gandhi believed in Gandhi believed in non-violent non-violent resistance against British resistance against British oppressionoppression

• Began Began boycott of British clothboycott of British cloth• This gained support among Indians as This gained support among Indians as

well as other nationswell as other nations

• India gained independence in 1947India gained independence in 1947

Religious conflictReligious conflict

• Conflict between Hindus and Muslims Conflict between Hindus and Muslims increased during 1940sincreased during 1940s

• Muslims generally were the poorer Muslims generally were the poorer peasantspeasants

• Hindus were landownersHindus were landowners• Worked together for independence, Worked together for independence,

but as they neared their goal, both but as they neared their goal, both groups began to fear being ruled by groups began to fear being ruled by the other.the other.

• conflict became increasingly violentconflict became increasingly violent

Indian IndependenceIndian Independence

• In 1946 the British offered independence to In 1946 the British offered independence to India on the condition that they could form a India on the condition that they could form a gov’tgov’t

• Hindus & Muslims were unable to reach an Hindus & Muslims were unable to reach an agreement; riots broke out; thousands of agreement; riots broke out; thousands of people diedpeople died

• Gandhi wanted a unified India where all Gandhi wanted a unified India where all people of any religion could livepeople of any religion could live

• Finally in 1947, British & Indian leaders Finally in 1947, British & Indian leaders agreed that the only solution was to agreed that the only solution was to partition the subcontinent into separate partition the subcontinent into separate Hindu & Muslim countriesHindu & Muslim countries

Partition – Pakistan for Partition – Pakistan for MuslimsMuslims

India for HindusIndia for Hindus• 1947--Solution was to divide the subcontinent 1947--Solution was to divide the subcontinent

into separate Hindu and Muslim countries—into separate Hindu and Muslim countries—NW & NE – Pakistan NW & NE – Pakistan

• Hindus moved south to India, Muslims Hindus moved south to India, Muslims moved north to Pakistanmoved north to Pakistan

• One of the greatest migrations in human One of the greatest migrations in human history—12 million people moved to avoid history—12 million people moved to avoid being ruled by a majority religion to being ruled by a majority religion to which they did not belongwhich they did not belong

• Many people died from hunger and lack of Many people died from hunger and lack of waterwater

• Approx 1 million died in armed fighting Approx 1 million died in armed fighting between Hindus & Muslimsbetween Hindus & Muslims

• Since independence, India and Pakistan Since independence, India and Pakistan have fought three warshave fought three wars

Bangladesh Bangladesh

• When Pakistan became independent, When Pakistan became independent, it consisted of two regions West and it consisted of two regions West and East PakistanEast Pakistan

• Division: economic, ethnic, linguisticDivision: economic, ethnic, linguistic• War in War in 19711971: India/East Pakistan vs. : India/East Pakistan vs.

West PakistanWest Pakistan• East Pakistan won the war and East Pakistan won the war and

gained independence—became gained independence—became BangladeshBangladesh

Indian Towns/CitiesIndian Towns/Cities

• Are growing due to migration from Are growing due to migration from villagesvillages

• Streets are busy with cows, buses, Streets are busy with cows, buses, dogs, goats, cars, street vendorsdogs, goats, cars, street vendors

• Cities are densely populatedCities are densely populated• N.Y city=24,000 people per square N.Y city=24,000 people per square

milemile• Mumbai= 127,500 people per square Mumbai= 127,500 people per square

milemile

• Everyone in family has role to playEveryone in family has role to play• Very demanding for village womenVery demanding for village women• Modern technology has entered into Modern technology has entered into

many Indian villagesmany Indian villages• T.V.T.V.• MoviesMovies

Economic ImprovementEconomic Improvement

• Government has tried to raise standard Government has tried to raise standard of livingof living

• Better farming methodsBetter farming methods• Expanded industry: Expanded industry:

computers/technologycomputers/technology• Expanded middle classExpanded middle class• Education: literacy on the riseEducation: literacy on the rise• Health care: Life expectancy in 1950 Health care: Life expectancy in 1950

was 32, now 64was 32, now 64