World War I

Why did British victory in WWI lead to

the repressive Rowlatt Acts in 1919?

Main points

• Economic and political effects of WWI on India.• Congress and the Muslim League.• The Government of India Act• The Rowlatt Acts

Economic effects of WWI

• India’s contribution: 1.5 million recruits and £146,000,000, mainly through increased taxation.

• Disrupted trade: price rises, e.g. Food grains rose by 93%.

• Expansion of Indian manufactures: cotton, iron and steel, sugar, engineering and chemicals. Huge profits – class divisions increased.

• Inflation led to strikes and food riots. British concerns about losing a vital part of empire. Russian influence.

Political effects of WWI

• Increased Indian expectations of Home Rule. • Effect of war time propaganda and the Peace

Treaties in Europe.• Lucknow Pact of 1916 united Hindus and

Muslims. Fixed number of seats for minorities.• Home Rule Leagues: Bal Tilak and Annie

Besant. Popular politics. 60,000 recruits led to British repression.

The Government of India Act, December 1919

• Edwin Montagu: Secretary of State for India.• Declaration spoke of more Indians in ‘every

branch of administration’...’with a view to self-government’ ...within the British Empire’.

• Was this concession just a tactic to maintain control, or a just reward for war time service?

The terms of the 1919 Act. ‘Dyarchy’.

• 1/2 advisors on Viceroy’s council to be Indians.• Viceroy retained power to enforce laws.• Provincial Councils given extended powers

over local government, e.g. Health and education, agriculture and roads.

• British retained control of state policies.• Extension of suffrage: 10% adult males.• ‘Reserved seats’ in provincial assemblies.

Reaction to the 1919 Act.

• ‘A step to self-government’: divided opinion in Britain and India.

• Indian Civil Service felt undermined.• Indians expecting Home Rule were bitterly

disappointed: riots in Punjab and boycott of the first elections held under the Act by the Indian National Congress.

Rowlatt Acts, March 1919

• The Rowlatt Acts were passed ‘with extreme reluctance’ by Montagu before the Govt. Of India Act in December.

• Provisions included: imprisonment without trial; trial without jury; censorship; and house arrest of suspects.

• An iron fist in a velvet glove?