Reforms/Acts/Pacts

Reforms/Acts/Pacts

1. MORLEY-MINTO REFORMS/INDIAN COUNCILS ACT 1909

   • WHAT
     • Changes made to central, provincial and executive councils.
       • 60 Indian representatives elected to serve on Viceroy's Executive Council.
         • 27 of these from territorial constituencies/special interest groups.
       • Provincial councils enlarged to create non-official majorities.
       • Separate electorates provided for Muslims and Hindus - allowed minority Muslims to have voice in councils.
     • Indians involved in policy making
   • CONSEQUENCES
     • Extremists were isolated - saw reforms as 'window dressing'.
     • British administrators disappointed as changed diluted their power.
     • ICS believed they represented everyone - their influence was removed
     • Congress regretted that the reforms balanced minority interests
   • WHY
     • More concessions needed to be made to the Indian people - became clear that politically active Indians could potentially sway the masses.

2. HOME RULE LEAGUES 1916

   • WHY
     • Wanted Home Rule for India.
   • WHO
     • TILAK
       • Popular - 32,000 supporters
     • ANNIE BESANT
       • Less popular but more widespread
     • Groups ended up joining.
   • CONSEQUENCES
     • British government have Home Rule campaigners arrested.

3. MONTAGU DECLARATION 1917

   • Appeared to promise eventual self-government.
   • MONTAGU-CHELMSFORD REFORMS/GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1919
     • WHAT
       • Changes to councils and electorates
         • Elected members in majority councils
         • Imperial Executive Council increased to 6 members (3 Indians)
       • Self government in the future
       • Division of government responsibility
         • Dyarchy
         • PROVINCIAL COUNCILS responsible for..
           • Collecting tax
           • Irrigation works
         • CENTRAL GOVERNMENT responsible for..
           • Income
           • Custom duties
           • Foreign affairs
           • Defence
           • Postal communications & railways
     • CONSEQUENCES
       • Act was quite complex so many were confused by it
       • Encouraged nationalists to demand more

4. LUCKNOW PACT 1916

   • Hindu's and Muslims agree to work together towards self-government.
     • Set out precise details of future electorates once India became self-governed.

5. DOMINION DECLARATION 1929

   • WHY
     • Result of the Simon Commission & Nehru Report
   • WHAT
     • New Labour Gov. stated that British control would remain over executive/military matters but ALL provincial admin would be entirely Indian.
   • CONSEQUENCES
     • British concerned as declaration went against Simon Commission

6. GANDHI-IRWIN PACT

   • WHAT
     • GANDHI'S concessions
       • End civil disobedience
       • Congress to participate in Round Table conferences.
     • IRWIN'S concessions
       • Political prisoners released.
       • Remove bans from organisations, cancel fines, lift restrictions etc.
       • Peaceful picketing permitted.
       • Government promise all future political changes to benefit India.
   • CONSEQUENCES
     • British angry - Irwin conceding to a 'trouble maker'.
     • Churchill resigns and starts Indian Defence League - campaigned for Indian to always remain as a subordinate member of the British Empire.
     • Congress annoyed that civil disobedience had to stop - seemed to be working.

7. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1937

   • WHAT
     • Eventual federation at a national level. Provincial autonomy with special responsibilities.
       • ABOLISHED DYARCHY
       • Electorate expanded to 35 million
       • Emergency powers available for Central Gov. to use in times of emergency.
       • Full provincial governments created.
   • CONSEQUENCES
     • Congress split between opposing Act out of principle or taking whatever gains they can get.

8. LAHORE RESOLUTION 1940

   • WHAT
     • Set out by Jinnah to establish the Muslim position.
       • Very unclear - could be interpreted as first call for Pakistan.
   • CONSEQUENCES
     • Divided Hindus and Muslims further - Congress argued they were standing for Indians whereas Muslim League were just preserving Muslim interests.

9. SIMLA CONFERENCE 1946

   • WHAT
     • Held as a result of the Cabinet Mission
       • British determined to leave India so proposed...
         • a) 1 single state
         • or b) 2 separate states - Hindustan and Pakistan
   • CONSEQUENCES
     • Failed to reach an agreement - confusion and fear led to CALCUTTA KILLINGS

10. PLAN BALKAN & MENON PLAN 1947

    • WHAT
      • Set out how India was going to be partitioned.
        • Mountbatten showed plan to Nehru who believed it would create a fragmentary division.
        • Plan was amended - some councils given chance to choose which state to be a part of. (British Cabinet approve).

11. INDEPENDENCE ACT 1947

    • WHAT
      • Designed to split India into two states and remove British involvement.
      • Partition Council was established to divide up ALL assets belonging to the English.
      • Border decisions made by Sir Cyril Radcliffe

12. INDEPENDENCE DECLARED AUG. 1947

    • MIDNIGHT between Aug 14th and15th
    • CONSEQUENCES
      • Included rioting, mass-rape, migration and political problems etc