Indian Independence

Map of colonial India.Soon after World War II ended in Europe, Great Britain's Parliament announced that it was granting independence to India, the "crown jewel" of the British Empire. Although victorious against Germany, the war had devastated Great Britain, and it could no longer afford to hold onto its colonial possessions around the world.

The people of what would soon be India and Pakistan had waged a nationalist struggle that lasted nearly three decades. The British realized that a conflict with the colonial subjects would require too many resources and granted the countries independence in August 1947. The end of British rule in India and Pakistan inspired colonial subjects throughout the world to push for independence from other European powers. In this topic, you will examine some of the leaders of the Indian independence movement, including Mohandas Gandhi, and see how the early post-independence years took shape.

Essential Questions

  • Who was a leader of the Indian independence movement, and what tactics did he use?
  • What were the outcomes of the Indian independence movement?