READING 1: Sepoy Rebellion
Even though the British had helped India in many
ways, many Indians were still resentful about British
control. The British treated Indians as inferiors, and
often held the best positions in government. For
example, in the British East India Company’s army,
Indian soldiers held the lowest positions. These soldiers
were called sepoys, and could never have a commanding
officer position.
In 1857, they rebelled. The immediate cause was
that the cartridges their guns used were oiled with
animal fat. They didn’t know what kind of animal fat was
used, but both Hindus and Muslims have certain
restrictions about what animals they can and can’t eat.
However, the long-term cause was the mistreatment they
had to endure and the fact they could never advance in
rank. The sepoys killed many British officers and
civilians, and even took control of two major cities.
The Sepoy Rebellion was the first large-scale attempt
by Indians to drive out the British. Even though it was
harshly defeated by the British and the rebelling soldiers
executed, it became a symbolic victory. Indians called it
the “First War of Independence,” and often used it to
point out British oppression.
11
12
Assignment 3: Important Events in the Indian Independence Movement
Reading 1: Sepoy Rebellion
RIGHT THERE: Name two reasons why the sepoys rebelled against the British
(a.) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(b.) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THINK AND SEARCH: In your own words, why was the sepoy rebellion important to the Indian
Independence Movement?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THINK AND SEARCH: Look at the British political cartoon. How does it show a biased view of the
sepoys who were rebelling?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reading 2: Amritsar Massacre
RIGHT THERE: Why were Indians protesting in Amritsar?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
RIGHT THERE: What did General Dyer order his troops to do?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THINK AND SEARCH: Why does the Amritsar Massacre show that violent resistance to the British was
probably not possible for Indians?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6
READING 2: Amritsar Massacre
In 1919, a British army officer named General
Reginald Dyer passed a law that any native who came
within 10 feet of a British policeman could be whipped
publicly.
On April 13, 1919, a group of Indians gathered in a
park in Amritsar to protest this law. The group, penned
in a narrow space, had been peacefully listening to
people who had been whipped under the new law.
Soon, the army and General Dyer appeared at the
entrance of the park. Giving no word of warning, Dyer
ordered 50 soldiers to fire into the gathering.
For 10 to 15 minutes 1,650 rounds of ammunition
were unloaded into the screaming, terrified crowd,
some of whom were trampled by those desperately
trying to escape. Others jumped into a well to avoid the
bullets and were killed by the fall. Dyer then marched
away, leaving 379 dead and over 1,500 wounded.
The Amritsar Massacre had the effect of pushing
Indian politicians, like Gandhi, toward outright
rebellion. It also created a feeling of hostility between
British and Indians that would get worse throughout
the twenty-five-year march to independence.
13
READING 3: Formation of the Indian National Congress
In 1885, a group of Muslim and Hindu leaders formed
the Indian National Congress. Their goal was to get Indians
a greater say in government, and unite Indians of different
backgrounds. They organized many protests and
movements against the British. Below is an excerpt from a
pledge put forth by the INC in 1930.
India has been ruined economically. The taxes collected
from our people is out of all proportion to our income. Our
average income is less than two pence per day, and yet of
the heavy taxes we pay 20 percent. Village industries, such
as making cloth, have been destroyed, leaving farmers with
nothing to do for at least four months of the year. For the
most part, we are only allowed to buy British manufactured
goods. Taxes clearly favor British companies, and the tax
money is not used to help the masses but used to spend on
British administration.
As a result, our only course of action is complete noncooperation. We shall not give them assistance to collect
taxes and keep peace. We shall not assist them in fighting
beyond the frontiers or outside India with Indian blood and
money. We shall not assist them in carrying on the
administration of justice. We shall have our own courts,
and when time comes we shall not pay taxes. Can you do
that by your united efforts? If you can, you are free from
tomorrow.
14
Reading 3: Formation of the Indian National Congress
RIGHT THERE: What were two problems the INC had with British policies in India?
(a.) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(b.) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
RIGHT THERE: What were two things they called on Indians to do to resist the British?
(a.) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(b.) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reading 4: Salt March
RIGHT THERE: Why did the British impose a tax on salt?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
RIGHT THERE: Why did Gandhi decide to resist the Salt Tax?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THINK AND SEARCH: Why do you think Gandhi chose to protest non-violently?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7
READING 4: Salt March
In 1930, the British passed the Salt Tax in India. The
Salt Tax essentially made it illegal to sell or produce
salt. Since salt is necessary in everyone's daily diet,
everyone in India was affected. The Salt Tax made it illegal
for workers to freely collect their own salt from the coasts
of India, making them buy salt they couldn't really afford.
This was to ensure that Indians were only buying salt from
British companies.
Gandhi decided it would be a good idea to resist the
salt tax. He thought it would be an important symbolic
move, since it affected every single person in India. He
believed that if he could get lots of people to resist the tax,
it would show the British that the Indian people were
united against them. He also believed it would be a simple
way to demonstrate resistance that anybody could do.
In open resistance to the tax, Gandhi organized the
“Salt March.” He and 200 followers set off from the middle
of India on a march to the ocean. As Gandhi and his
supporters crossed hundreds of miles, they were joined by
thousands of people. When they reached the coast, they
boiled the seawater to produce salt that was illegal under
the new tax. The salt march inspired millions of other
Indians to openly defy the tax and produce their own salt.
Gandhi was imprisoned for his actions.
15