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British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

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Page 1: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

British India : Traders to Rulers

The Crown Jewel

Page 2: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

East India Company

• 1600s British entered Mughal India (Islamic Empire) as traders—economic interest

Page 3: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

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

Page 4: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel
Page 5: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel
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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.

Page 7: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

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

Page 8: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

SATI

Page 9: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

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.

Page 10: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

Nationalism in India

Painful road to Self-Rule

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Page 12: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

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

Page 13: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

Amritsar Massacre

• Large peaceful protesters were shot by the British – Killed over 400– Wounded 1100– Women and children

• It upset the Indians even more

Page 14: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

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

Page 15: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

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.

Page 16: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

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

Page 17: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel

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

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Consequence

• Thousands of Indians were imprisoned, beaten, and killed

• Showed the world the brutality of British Rule

• Indians were gradually given more power

Page 20: British India : Traders to Rulers The Crown Jewel