India’s Declaration of Independence
Comment on the significance of India’s declaration of independence, paying attention to the wider imperial context
In the twentieth century, several major events enhanced the decline of the British Empire. Among them, the India’s Declaration of Independence, proclaimed on January 26, 1930. Indeed, public dissatisfaction and protestations illustrated Indian people’s will to take part in ruling their own country. By the same time, similar struggles were taking place throughout the British Empire. Dominions and colonies were more and more defending their right for equality against Britain. In this paper, the wider imperial context of this declaration will first be presented, giving similarities with the Indian case. Then, the background within India, the series of events that resulted in the Declaration of Independence, will be depicted.
Before the First World War, Britain was one of the richest countries of the world, relying on a wide empire, great military forces and a strong banking and financial system. However, the devastating Great War and rising instabilities throughout the Empire were about to weaken Britain’s strength.
In 1919, the frustrations caused by delays to Irish home rule led members of an important pro-independence party (Sinn Féin) to establish an Irish assembly in Dublin. The Irish independence was then declared. At the same time, a guerrilla war began against the British administration, which ended in 1921 with the signing of a treaty. It created the Irish Free State, a Dominion within the British Empire, with effective internal independence but still constitutionally linked to the British Crown.
The ability of the Dominions to set their own foreign policy was recognised in 1923. The previous year, Britain was threatened by Turkish troops, near the Dardannelles neutral zone. As a result, Britain asked for military assistance from the Dominions. This request had been turned down by Canada and South Africa. After pressure from Ireland and
In the twentieth century, several major events enhanced the decline of the British Empire. Among them, the India’s Declaration of Independence, proclaimed on January 26, 1930. Indeed, public dissatisfaction and protestations illustrated Indian people’s will to take part in ruling their own country. By the same time, similar struggles were taking place throughout the British Empire. Dominions and colonies were more and more defending their right for equality against Britain. In this paper, the wider imperial context of this declaration will first be presented, giving similarities with the Indian case. Then, the background within India, the series of events that resulted in the Declaration of Independence, will be depicted.
Before the First World War, Britain was one of the richest countries of the world, relying on a wide empire, great military forces and a strong banking and financial system. However, the devastating Great War and rising instabilities throughout the Empire were about to weaken Britain’s strength.
In 1919, the frustrations caused by delays to Irish home rule led members of an important pro-independence party (Sinn Féin) to establish an Irish assembly in Dublin. The Irish independence was then declared. At the same time, a guerrilla war began against the British administration, which ended in 1921 with the signing of a treaty. It created the Irish Free State, a Dominion within the British Empire, with effective internal independence but still constitutionally linked to the British Crown.
The ability of the Dominions to set their own foreign policy was recognised in 1923. The previous year, Britain was threatened by Turkish troops, near the Dardannelles neutral zone. As a result, Britain asked for military assistance from the Dominions. This request had been turned down by Canada and South Africa. After pressure from Ireland and