Summary IB History paper 2 - Independence Movements
100 views 3 purchases
Course
IB History
Institution
Peter Symonds College Winchester
Comprehensive notes on IB History paper 2 topic "Independence Movements" -- looking at India, Ghana and Kenya. I did this on my final exam and got a 7/7. Covers topics like influential leaders, impact of British policy, war, etc.
Role of Leaders
➔ Jawaharlal Nehru
◆ President of INC
◆ Helped develop international connections + foreign allies
◆ Central role in negotiations
◆ One of first to realise that people in princely states were suffering →
included them in nationalist movement
◆ Disagreed that nonviolence was the answer
➔ Mohandas Gandhi
◆ Hartal (countrywide strike/inaction) + satyagraha (nonviolent resistance)
● Still led to violent outbreaks
◆ Spread movement across country through travels - mass movement instead
of just intellectual elite + upper class
◆ 1930 Salt March: televised, gained momentum → effectively used
media
◆ Critics suggest that without nonviolence, independence could have been
achieved much sooner (Dennis Dalton)
◆ 1942 Quit India Movement
● Civil disobedience on a large scale → shops, schools,
workplaces closed
● Population was extremely involved
➔ Muhammad Ali Jinnah
◆ 1916: became president of Muslim League → united front with INC
◆ Initially moderate but became more radical after British didn't grant
independence after WWI
● Along with Tilak + Annie Besant, he supported British war efforts in
hope that India would be rewarded with political freedoms
● 1916 All India Home Rule League
○ Lots of pressure on British, widespread protests, spread
political awareness throughout country
◆ Resigned after Gandhi’s non-cooperation campaign in 1920
◆ Promoted two-state solution unlike INC; supported British during WWII to
strengthen their position
, ◆ 1946: called for ‘direct action’ → strikes, protests, violence
◆ His pressure on Cripps for two-state solution helped British exploit tensions
● Motivated Britain to leave due to rising tensions + division
➔ Vallabhbhai Patel
◆ Driving force of independence, organised + directed civil disobedience
movements
➔ Subash Chandra Bose
◆ Helped incite nationalism but ties to Nazi Germany were poorly received
◆ Turned to Hitler to help liberate India
◆ Indian National Army → violent protests
● Disagreed with ahimsa
Impact of Wars + Other Factors
➔ World War I
◆ Judith Brown !!
◆ 1.5 million Indians involved during the war → heavy casualties
◆ It highlighted that Britain was not invincible or very powerful
◆ Undermined moral high ground of Western superiority who were fighting for
self-determination + independence too
◆ Moderates like Jinnah turning more radical → had supported British
hoping for more political freedom / independence
◆ 1917: announced they would encourage gradual development of self-
governing institutions
● They didn't → once crisis was over, less incentive to do so
● Britain was dependent on India for war - pressure to meet demands +
provide autonomy
● By end of WWI, change is speeding up BUT lack of legislation made
nationalist leaders more radical
➔ Economic impact
◆ 146 million pounds of Indian revenue contributed to war effort →
ordinary Indians taxed
◆ Price of grain increased 93% + imported goods by 190% → soaring
inflation rates
◆ Failure of monsoons + grain shortages exacerbated famine + economy
, ◆ Disruption of trade
➔ Underlying factors
◆ Indian population rapidly rising
◆ Education + literacy increasing
◆ Great Depression affecting world economic conditions
● India’s economy developing independently of Britain
◆ Industrialisation → India has surplus trade with Britain
◆ Influenza pandemic - 12 million dead
◆ Urbanisation → easier to organise around towns
◆ India is very far from Britain → hard to control
◆ Running India is less profitable to British
➔ World War II
◆ Britain committed India to fight without consultation →
strengthened nationalist movement
◆ Sped up independence → British empire weakening, need for
decolonisation
● Many undergoing independence movements
◆ India had a large army → Britain needed to come to an agreement
with them
● Influential leaders like Nehru were opposed to fighting without being
independent
◆ Britain did not have resources to suppress potential uprisings →
made concessions
◆ Japan’s victories → they needed India
● Cripps makes an agreement: fighting in return for independence after
war
● Britain now owed India money due to economic resources
◆ 1943 Bengal famine
◆ British mismanagement → partition
Government Figures + Policies
➔ Mountbatten
◆ Commander of forces + viceroy
◆ Brought date of independence forward because Hindu/Muslim tensions were
so bad
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller db2703. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $15.04. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.