Indian Rebellion of 1857

Study Notes

Causes:
- Heavy taxation
- British exploitation of Indian resources
- Social and cultural changes
- Discontent among Indian soldiers (Sepoys)
Key events:
- The rebellion began in Meerut on May 10, 1857
- The last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was declared the Emperor of India
- The rebellion spread across North India, but was eventually suppressed by the British
Consequences:
- The British Crown took over the administration of India from the East India Company
- The Indian Army was reorganized
- The British began to adopt a more cautious approach to Indian politics and society

Founded by:
- A.O. Hume, a British civil servant
- Indian nationalists, including Dadabhai Naoroji and W.C. Bonnerjee
Objectives:
- To promote Indian interests and demands
- To bring together Indians from different regions and backgrounds
- To press for Indian representation in the government
Early years:
- The Congress was initially moderate and loyal to the British
- It demanded greater Indian participation in the government, but not independence

Factors contributing to the rise of extremism:
- The partition of Bengal in 1905
- The British suppression of the Swadeshi movement
- The influence of Western nationalist ideologies
Key figures:
- Lala Lajpat Rai
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- Bipin Chandra Pal
Extremist demands:
- Swaraj (self-rule) or complete independence from British rule
- The use of boycotts and non-cooperation to achieve goals

Mahatma Gandhi's influence:
- He introduced non-violent resistance and civil disobedience as a means of protest
- He emphasized the importance of Indian self-reliance and self-sufficiency
- He led the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) and the Salt March (1930)
Key events:
- The Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919
- The Round Table Conferences (1930-1932)
- The Quit India Movement (1942)

The final push for independence:
- The Indian National Army (INA) was formed in 1942
- The INA, led by Subhas Chandra Bose, fought against the British in Southeast Asia
- The British government began to consider granting independence to India
The Mountbatten Plan (1947):
- The plan proposed the partition of British India into India and Pakistan
- The plan was accepted by the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League
- India and Pakistan gained independence on August 15, 1947

Heavy taxation, British exploitation of Indian resources, and social and cultural changes caused discontent among Indian soldiers (Sepoys) leading to the rebellion
The rebellion began in Meerut on May 10, 1857, and spread across North India before being suppressed by the British
Last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was declared the Emperor of India during the rebellion
British Crown took over the administration of India from the East India Company as a consequence
Indian Army was reorganized, and the British adopted a more cautious approach to Indian politics and society

Founded by A.O. Hume, a British civil servant, and Indian nationalists, including Dadabhai Naoroji and W.C. Bonnerjee
Objectives included promoting Indian interests and demands, bringing together Indians from different regions and backgrounds, and pressing for Indian representation in the government
Initially, the Congress was moderate and loyal to the British, demanding greater Indian participation in the government but not independence

Factors contributing to the rise of extremism included the partition of Bengal in 1905, British suppression of the Swadeshi movement, and the influence of Western nationalist ideologies
Key figures of the extremist movement included Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal
Extremist demands included Swaraj (self-rule) or complete independence from British rule, and the use of boycotts and non-cooperation to achieve goals

Mahatma Gandhi introduced non-violent resistance and civil disobedience as a means of protest
Gandhi emphasized the importance of Indian self-reliance and self-sufficiency
Led the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) and the Salt March (1930)
Key events included the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919, the Round Table Conferences (1930-1932), and the Quit India Movement (1942)

The Indian National Army (INA) was formed in 1942, led by Subhas Chandra Bose, and fought against the British in Southeast Asia
The British government began to consider granting independence to India
The Mountbatten Plan (1947) proposed the partition of British India into India and Pakistan
India and Pakistan gained independence on August 15, 1947