India: Civil Rights Struggle

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India Civil Rights Struggle

• By
• Chris Castillo

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Thesis

• The British rule over India during the first half
  of the 20th century and the installment of the
  Rowlett Act sparked a reform among the Indians
  because they felt their civil rights were being
  violated and were treated as second class
  citizens.

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British East Company

• Right to trade
• Economic gain
• Obtain spices in Indonesia
• Then spices would be traded for cotton

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• Won battle in 1612 against Portuguese
• Establish factories in India
• Start of British power
• Now had reason to stay in India

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• British were not alone
• Dutch controlled most of East Indies
• British focused attention in India
• Traded for silk, sugar other goods
• Making British more permanent

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British Imperialistic Rule

• British system of government
• Britian put own official in charge
• 1786 Lord Cornwallis (governor of India) raised
  Sepoy army

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• 1813 British monopoly broke
• British citizens now could trade all over India
• The British acquired more land
• Also strengthen their control

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• 1850 British acquired more Indian territory
• British failed to keep Russia out of Afghanistan
• People of India saw Britian was not invincible

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1850 Hindus Oppression

• British went to far
• Assumed the role of God
• Completely disregarded Hindus beliefs

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• Official language English instead of Persian
• Hindu kids will grow up learning English instead
  of Persia
• Hindus infuriated with British

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• British allowed Hindu women to do things
• Against beliefs
• Hindu culture prohibits sutee
• British allowed Hindu women to remarry

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Rowlatt Act

• 1919 A.K.A Black Act
• Silence the press
• Liberties taken away
• Press held there tongue

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• Rowlatt Act imprisoned any political activist
  without trial
• People of India could not protest
• Political leaders arrested

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• Organized peaceful mass demonstrations
• Indian national government
• Civil disobedience
• Had enough of the British

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Amritsar Massacre

• April 13 1919
• First demonstrations held on March 30 and April
  9th
• Two political organizers arrested
• Riots, looting
• 5 British citizens killed

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• British general Dyer issued proclamation
• Under proclamation
• Prohibited possessions and gathering
• People gathered in walled gardenJallianwallah
  Bagh
• Ordered troops to fire into killing 379
• Injured 1000

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• British General Dyer
• Declared martial law
• Beating, floggings, public humiliation
• Executions

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What Happened Next?

• Aug. 15, 1947 India sovereign state
• Own government
• Two states
• 1. India
• 2. Pakistan
• Pakistan becomes Islamic
• India becomes secular

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• As a result of the formation of the two states
  Hindus and Muslims went to their respective
  homelands
• Sparked violence and death
• Fighting between Hindus and Muslims
• Estimated 1 million deaths

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• Mahatma Gandhi appalled by fighting
• Wanted violence to end
• Tried desperately to restore peace
• Jan. 30 1948 Gandhi assassinated by Hindu who
  thought Gandhi favored Muslims

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Conclusion

• People of India hated British rule
• People if India suffered beatings and floggings
• Clearly the Indians suffered under British rule
• The British wanted everybody to be pro-British
  and if not people would be punished