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Armitsar Massacre
A large but peaceful crowd jammed into a large field. British troops massacre at least 379 unarmed men and women and wounded 1,100. -
Gandhi in England
Gandhi went to England to study law. -
Non-Violence & Civil Disobedience
Gandi used the idea of nonviolence and reverence of life to fight against British rule and used the power of love. He admired Christian teachings about love and civil disobedience, the refusal to obey unjust laws. -
Gandhi Returns to India
After returning to India, he tried to set up his own law practice but soon joined the Indian law firm in South Africa. For 20 years, Gandi fought laws that discriminated against Indains in South Africa. -
The Salt March
According to Gandhi, the government salt monoply was an evil burden on the poor and a symbol of British oppression. Therefore, he had 78 followers when he set out on a 240-mile march to the sea. As he traveled, people listened yo his message and proayed for the protest's success, with some people even joining the march. By the time they reached the sea, there were thousands of marchers. -
Boycotts of British Goods
Gandhi liked to dress in the dhoti, a simple white garment traditionally worn by village Indians. During the 1920s and 1930s, he started a series of nonviolent actions against British rule. Such as, encouraging Indians to boycott British goods and buy Indian goods instead. Also, he wanted to boycott things especially textiles, and urged Indians to wear only cotton grown and woven in India. -
Separate Muslim State
During the 1930s, the Muslim League got an able leader in Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He came from middle class and studied law in England, like Gandhi. First he represented Muslim interests within the Congress party. Then he later threw his support of the idea of a separate state for Muslims, called Pakistan, meaning, "land of the [ritually] pure." -
World War II
India was moving towards independence when WWII broke out. Britain outraged Indian leaders by postponing further action on independence and then bringing India into the war without consulting them. -
After WWII
Independence could no longer be delayed. But a new tragedy unfolded as Hindu-Muslim violence raged on the Indian subcontinent. -
Two States
Muhammad Ali Jinnah insisted that Muslims have their own state, Pakistan. Riots between Hindus and Muslims helped convince Britain to divide the subcontinent into Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan. -
Tragedy Unfolds
Drawing fair borders was impossible because Muslims and Hindus lived side by side. Both started crossing borders. Hindu and Sikh mobs massacred Muslims fleeing into Pakistan. Muslims slaughtered Hindu and Sikh neighbors. -
Gandhi is Killed
Gandhi turned to satyagraha horrified at the violence. He was shot and killed by a Hindu extremist.
