Impact of Churchill

Impact of Churchill

1. Extreme Imperialist

   • Very anti-reform, likes the empire as it is

2. Strong views on race

3. Sees India as 'Jewel in the crown'

   • Crown = empire, Jewel= India
     • Saw India as most important country in the empire
       • Valued India as he believed that ruling India made the empire look good

4. Very Patriotic

5. Conservative

6. Maverick

   • Bend the rules
   • Holds strong opinions
   • Different and proud of it

7. When he is appointed, SoSI resigns

   • SoSI knew his opinions would clash with Churchill's
     • No point staying in position, will never be able to negotiate with Churchill

8. 1940 Offer

   • Offers Indians dominion status after war
     • Rejected by Congress - wanted purna swaraj
       • Churchill possibly did this on purpose - knew congress would reject it, makes it look like Congress are being awkward whereas Brits are trying to help

9. Atlantic Charter 1941

   • Churchill + Roosevelt agree terms which included support for 'sovereign rights and self government'
     • Interpreted differently
       • Churchill
         • Believed it to only apply to newly created countries - not those currently in empire
       • Roosevelt
         • Believed it to apply to all countried
           • Roosevelt consistently pushed Churchill to make concessions to Indian nationalist demands
             • Roosevelt thought it was needed to make progress, however Churchill saw it as defeat