India’s Road to Freedom India’s Road to Freedom

How and Why They Got Their How and Why They Got Their IndependenceIndependence

The British Take OverThe British Take Over

The start of what became British India was The start of what became British India was done by the British East India Company done by the British East India Company which began trading with India in the 1600.which began trading with India in the 1600.

By the 1850’s the East Indian Company By the 1850’s the East Indian Company ruled most of India for Britain.ruled most of India for Britain.

The population of India in the 20th century The population of India in the 20th century was about 300 million and most of them was about 300 million and most of them where ruled by only a few thousand British where ruled by only a few thousand British officials. officials.

Building TensionsBuilding Tensions

Since India was under British rule the Since India was under British rule the people of India did not have any say in people of India did not have any say in government and thus they were government and thus they were suppressed and made into second class suppressed and made into second class citizens. citizens.

As British power was consolidated in the As British power was consolidated in the 19th century, many changes took place 19th century, many changes took place which deeply affected the social and which deeply affected the social and economic structure of India. economic structure of India.

ModernizationModernization

The gradual destruction of the Indian The gradual destruction of the Indian textile industry to the advantage of British textile industry to the advantage of British cloth manufacturers destroyed the cloth manufacturers destroyed the economic base in the Indian villages. economic base in the Indian villages.

But under British rule India also got many But under British rule India also got many of the modern western artifacts such as, of the modern western artifacts such as, “railroads, harbors, modern cities, and “railroads, harbors, modern cities, and cotton and steel mills, as well as an active cotton and steel mills, as well as an active and worldly middle class. (Bulliet p. 838) and worldly middle class. (Bulliet p. 838)

Movement Towards Independence Movement Towards Independence

The movement towards India’s independence The movement towards India’s independence began as soon as the British took power in the began as soon as the British took power in the middle of the eighteenth century, and it was middle of the eighteenth century, and it was started not by the Indians, but by the British started not by the Indians, but by the British themselves because they came to India to make themselves because they came to India to make money, not get new land. money, not get new land.

To the East India Company, governing Indian To the East India Company, governing Indian was not something that they wanted to do, was not something that they wanted to do, because in order to govern India it would cost because in order to govern India it would cost them more money.them more money.

Increase of the Middle Class Increase of the Middle Class

The British began to lose their grip on India as a The British began to lose their grip on India as a colony due to the increase of the middle class, colony due to the increase of the middle class, which was now more educated and aware of the which was now more educated and aware of the injustice that went on all over the world and in injustice that went on all over the world and in their homeland. their homeland.

Hindu middle class citizens founded a political Hindu middle class citizens founded a political organization called Indian National Congress, organization called Indian National Congress, which tried petitioning the government countless which tried petitioning the government countless times for access to higher administrative times for access to higher administrative positions and for a voice in government.positions and for a voice in government.

World War I World War I

During World War I, India supported the British During World War I, India supported the British with more than 1.2 million troops, and millions with more than 1.2 million troops, and millions more willingly gave money and supplies. more willingly gave money and supplies.

By the 1920’s, the British reluctantly began to By the 1920’s, the British reluctantly began to give power to the Indian National Congress and give power to the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. They handed over control of the Muslim League. They handed over control of national areas such as education, the economy, national areas such as education, the economy, and public works. and public works.

They also began to let more and more Indians They also began to let more and more Indians into civil service.into civil service.

World War II World War II

India began to industrialize during the first and India began to industrialize during the first and second World Wars. second World Wars.

It was greatly divided by World War II because It was greatly divided by World War II because most Indian soldiers felt like they were fighting to most Indian soldiers felt like they were fighting to defend their nation, not to support the British defend their nation, not to support the British Empire. Empire.

As in World War I, India put in millions of people As in World War I, India put in millions of people to fight the war but some were so anti-British to fight the war but some were so anti-British that they joined the Japanese side. that they joined the Japanese side.

British Relinquishes Power British Relinquishes Power

After WWII ended, “Britain’s new Labor After WWII ended, “Britain’s new Labor Party government prepared for Indian Party government prepared for Indian independence, but deep suspicions independence, but deep suspicions between Hindus and Muslims complicated between Hindus and Muslims complicated the process.” (Bulliet p. 844) the process.” (Bulliet p. 844)

By early 1947 the Indian National By early 1947 the Indian National Congress had agreed to separate India in Congress had agreed to separate India in to two states one being ruled by the to two states one being ruled by the Hindus and the other by Muslims. Hindus and the other by Muslims.

New India and Pakistan New India and Pakistan

On August 15 British India became new On August 15 British India became new India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan.

The celebration of independence was The celebration of independence was ruined by bitter religious fighting between ruined by bitter religious fighting between the Muslims and the Hindus which still the Muslims and the Hindus which still continues today. continues today.

ConclusionConclusion

The road that India took to get its independence The road that India took to get its independence shows how nations and its people change in shows how nations and its people change in order to adjust to the world and make things at order to adjust to the world and make things at home as just and favorable as possible, even if it home as just and favorable as possible, even if it means separating their nation in half to do it. means separating their nation in half to do it.

The Indian people involved during their The Indian people involved during their independence movement suffered a great deal independence movement suffered a great deal in order to have their freedom, although it took in order to have their freedom, although it took two World Wars for them to get enough two World Wars for them to get enough momentum to win their independence. momentum to win their independence.

BibliographyBibliography

Bulliet, Richard W. Bulliet, Richard W. The Earth and Its Peoples: A The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History, Tihird Edition. Global History, Tihird Edition. Boston, MA: Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 2005.Houghton Mifflin, 2005.

Read, Anthony. Read, Anthony. The Proudest Day: India’s Long The Proudest Day: India’s Long Road To Independence. Road To Independence. New York, London: W. New York, London: W. W. Norton & Company 1998.W. Norton & Company 1998.

Visram, Rozina. Visram, Rozina. Women in India and Pakistan: Women in India and Pakistan: The Struggle from independence from British The Struggle from independence from British Rule. Rule. New York, NY: Cambridge press 1992. New York, NY: Cambridge press 1992.