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First Indian War of Independence
Also known as the "Sepoy Rebellion" in the west, the First Indian War of Independence was triggered when the Sepoys, Indian mercenaries employed by the East India Company, learned that their rifle cartridges were soaked in the fat of pigs and cows. The Sepoys were outraged because they were largely Hindu or Muslim. They conquered British forts one by one, slowly reclaiming Indian land. -
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The British Raj
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Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC) was formed to pressure the British to grant further autonomy to the Indian Government. The INC played a key role in the Indian Independence Movement, and is a political party in Indian politics to this day. -
First Indians Appointed to India Council
Two Indians were appointed to the Secretary of State’s Council, also known as the India Council. This was the first time any Indian had been appointed to the Council. The Government Act of 1935 ended this council. -
Rowlatt Act
Rowlatt Act is passed, which extended the laws during the First World War, meaning no freedom of speech, assembly, etc. It also allowed the government to imprison a civilian for up to two years if they were suspected of terrorism without trial. -
Non Cooperation Movement
The Non Cooperation Movement was an initiative started by Mohandas K. Gandhi. The movement encouraged civil disobedience, which meant actively resisting British rule and regulation in a peaceful manner. The movement also supported swaraj, a Hindi word for "self rule." -
Worker's Compensation Act
The Worker’s Compensation Act was established, where if workers were to have an accident due to their specific employment, such as injury or death, they were provided a payment to compensate them. Only certain professions were offered this, and depending on which job, one may have gotten paid more then one with a lower paying job. -
Salt March
Gandhi led many followers to the seashore near Dandi, where in an act of civil disobedience, broke the law and took salt from the shore, which the British had forbidden, when they instilled the salt tax. -
Government of India Act
The Government act of India was established which allowing the provinces of British India to have many aspects of autonomy. The Government Act of India also established a Federal Court. -
Indian Independence Act
The Indian Independence Act was established, which formally split India into Pakistan and India. This Act was instilled by the British Parliament and officially gave India their Independence.
