HIST 4339

British Responses to Nationalism

Crackdown and Concession

• Crackdown on civil rights

• But also concessions: just enough to dull radical nationalist edge

• 1909: Morley-Minto Reforms (Indian Councils Act of 1909)

• 1911: nationalist pressure forces British to reunite Bengal

The Use of Violence

• 1909: murder of British official in London

• 1912: bomb attack on Viceroy Harding

World War I

• Indian support for war

• Other Congress leaders: Annie Besant (Irishwoman), Muhammad Ali Jinnah (also Muslim League leader)

• Khilafat movement: Congress support for Muslim League on khilafat issue

• 1917: Montagu Declaration: “progressive realization of responsible government”

Themes

• British concept of “natural leaders” led them to look “genuine representatives”

• Division along religious lines did not always have to do with religion per se; economic, political, social factors often also at work

• Nationalism not monolithic; various streams within Indian nationalism

• In 1905 partition, roots of idea that social divisions between various Indian groups should perhaps dictate territorial reality