Ch. 30 Independence:

India & Latin America

(1900–1949)

I. Africa

A. Colonial Africa:1. Africans forced to work in European-owned

mines and plantations under harsh conditions for little or no pay

2. Religious changes: both Christianity & Islam spread

3. Colonialism provided little modernization:

– worsened public health– undermined the African family– gave rise to large segregated cities

B. Early Nationalists

1. Nationalist leaders & movements little influence until after WW II

– Africans had served in Allied forces– the African National Congress in

South Africa– “Pan-Africanists”

II. Indian Independence

(1905–1947)

A. Land & People

1. Indian pop.: 250 mill. in 1900…389 mill. 1941

2. Indian society diverse:

– peasants– wealthy property owners– urban workers– over 30 languages (English for Western-

educated)– majority practice Hinduism– large Muslim minority (Bengal province)

B. British Rule

1. Colonial India: ruled by viceroy & Indian Civil Service (ICS)

2. A few thousand members of the ICS controlled all technology into India:

– for political control– to prevent economic development – to maximize British profits

C. Indian Nationalism

1. By 1900: most Indians accepted British rule

2. But racism & discrimination inspired political groups:

– Hindus established the Indian National Congress (1885)

– Muslims founded the All-India Muslim League (1906)

– India had two independence movements…

D. Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948)

1. English-educated lawyer

2. Practiced law in South Africa & returned to India

– joined Indian National Congress

3. Political ideas:

– Nonviolence: ahimsa– The search for “soul truth”: satyagraha

Gandhi’s Life• Gandhi dressed & lived simply

• Love for the poor, the illiterate, and social outcasts

• Gandhi was a brilliant political strategist through tactician passive resistant demonstrations:

– 80 mile “Walk to the Sea” to make salt (in violation of the government’s salt monopoly)

– several fasts “unto death”– repeated arrests & prison sentences

Mahatma Gandhi

E. Move To Independence

1. 1920’s: British slowly give Indians control of:

– Education– The economy

2. Indians contributed heavily to the war effort

3. Lack of industrialization

– But, some wealthy Indians who looked to the INC

F. Partition & Independence

1. 1940: Muhammad Ali Jinnah demands Muslim independence (to create Pakistan)

2. 1947: Indian independence & “Partition” of (India & East-West Pakistan)

– violence between Muslims & Hindus – massive refugees– Gandhi assassinated 1948