End of war - 1919

End of war - 1919

1. Amritsar Massacre

   • Events
     • Gandhi Declares National hartal 8 April 1919
       • Led to violent attacks on buildings and people
         • Indian mob killed 5 Englishmen and 1 woman, Punjab Govt requests English Military help
           • 11 April, Dyer arrives in Amritsar with troops
             • Bans Public meetings and arrests Local Politicians
               • 13 April, public meeting in Jallianwala Bagh 10000-20000 people
                 • Dyer arrived with Indian Soldiers, open fired on people
                   • Stopped firing when bullets ran out, 379 dead, 1200 wounded
                     • In following days Dyer imposes martial law
                       • Indians suspected of violence were publicly humiliated - flogging etc
   • Aftermath
     • Hunter Inquiry
       • Dyer stated actions were necessary
         • This view was supported by Brit Public - House of Lords pass vote of thanks
           • Result - Dyer responsible - censure him
             • British can no longer claim to be ruling India with the aim of making them more civilised

2. 1919 Rowlatt Act

   • Wartime Controls After War
     • No Political Meetings
     • Censorship of Media
     • Curfews/travel Restrictions
     • Imprisonment without trial
     • Arrest Without Charge
   • Reaction
     • Indians fought for Britain in WW1
       • Expected more rights and rewards -Britain does opposite
         • Indian's very disappointed and angered by Rowlatt Acts

3. End of WW1 - Insecurity and Repression

   • US influence
     • US forces essentially won the Allies the war - shows that British are no longer superpower
       • President Wilson felt powerful enough to declare his 14 points of international policy
         • Included principle of independent nationhood (no empires)
           • The constant US pressure on the British to apply this principle had a major significance in following years
   • Russian Revolution
     • Resulted in Bolshevik govt
       • Which had executed entire imperial family to come into power
         • European powers feared spread of Bolshevism
           • Lead to secret police reporting on Indian independence campaigners - paranoid about Russian situation
   • Flu pandemic
     • took more lives in the winter of 1918-19 than the 4 years of war