British Imperialize India

Vasco De Gama Sets Sail For India

Jan 1, 1497

Vasco De Gama explored the African coast and then the Indian coast in search of spices [pepper and cinnamon], rare silks, and precious gems.

Establishment of Bristish East India Company [EIC]

Jan 1, 1600

EIC set up trading posts at Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta; it governed a very large part of India, which over time became violent.

Decline of the Mughal Empire

Jan 1, 1665

Mughal Empire declined after Aurangzeb's reign because he basically drained all of the resources; spending all the money for war while his country was in a famine. After his death successors fought to be emperor, but it was no longer an empire, but a bunch of small independent states. [Auranzeb pictured]

Industrial Revolution in Britain

Jan 1, 1750

Wealthy landowners bought out many of the farms that the villagers once worked on, this was amazing because it was an agriculteral revolution; they started using fences, testing efficient ways to farm, they started o rotate crops which gave the soil nutrients after that seasons crop were grown.

British Overcome French & Take control of India

Jan 1, 1757

British and French fought for control over India, when the British won they expanded their control over India. They began to govern [directly and undirectly] many parts of India including Bangladesh.

Sepoy rebellion

May 9, 1857

Sepoys [Indian soldier serving under British command] rebelled against using the British gun cartriges because it was rumored that they used pig and pork fat to grease them-- which posed a problem because the cow is very sacred to the Indians. This caused the British government to take direct command of India.

British Colonized India

Jan 1, 1858

Because India was now directly governed by the British, they fought [and won] to gain control of independent states and intensified the hatred and racism towards the Indians.

Creation of the Indian National Congress [INC]

Jan 1, 1885

The INC was calling for a self-government; since it was so large the British split it up for administrated purposes-- a Hindu section and a Muslim section. This had a negative impact because there were now 2 religious groups, making it hard to unite in order to call for independence.

Creation of the Muslim League

Jan 1, 1906

Just like Hindus, the Muslims had democratic ideals, that soon became their commonground when they joined together-- see Monhanda Ghandi's leadership of the INC.

Mohandas Ghandis leadership of the INC

Jan 1, 1919

Ghandi, sometimes referred to as the Great Soul, became leader of the INC. He approached politics in a peaceful manner. The Congress began to enforced civil disobedience, a nonviolent way to achieve independence.

Amritsar Massacre

Jan 1, 1919

10,000 Hindus and Muslims gather together at a major Punjab city [Amristar] tp protest, 400 died, 1,200 were wounded.

Rowlett Acts

Jan 1, 1919

Laws allowing the British to keep Indians in jail for up to 2 years without trial for protesting, this outrageous act led to the Amristar Massacre

Ghandi's Travels Stressing Nonviolent Resistance

Jan 1, 1920

Ghandi began to lead a nonviolent movement in which Indians refused to obey unjust laws, with that came boycotting of British products, like cloth-- Indians began to make their own clothes, and strikes- the British struggled to have the trains and factories continue to run.

The Salt March

Jan 1, 1930

British enforced a law where you could only buy taxed salt from the government. Ghandi, in return, organized the Salt March where he and his followers walked 240 miles to the seacoast, actually making their own salt from salt water.

WWI-Riots between Hindus and Muslims

Jan 1, 1935

The Government of India created tension between Hindus and Muslims because of their different political views, they began to riot. The Muslims outnumbered the Hindus.

Governtment of India Act

Jan 1, 1935

The British gave India an inch by letting them set up a self government with limited Democratic elections. It may not seem like much, but it was better than nothing!

Partition

Jan 1, 1947

To settle the riots and fighting between the Muslims and Hindus the idea of partition was brought up-- basically Pakistan was for Muslims and India was for the Hindis

Indian/ Pakistan Indeprendence

Jan 1, 1947

Independence was given to India and Pakistan but before that could happen everything needed to be divided: the administration of the courts, the military, the railways, and the police, native princes chose whichcountry they wanted to go to.

Ghandi's Death

Jan 30, 1948

Ghandi went to Delgi to beg for the fair treatment of Muslim refugees , a Hindu extremest shot and killed Ghandi.