British Imperialism Essay

1108 Words5 Pages
Do you agree with the view that, by 1940, the main obstacle to Indian independence was not British imperialism, but the divisions within India? Many historians studying India’s struggle to independence would agree with the statement that by the 1940’s most of India’s problems involving independence was to do with divisions within India itself rather than British imperialism. Primary source 15 seems to mostly agree with the statement and partly contradict the statement, whereas source 16 contradicts the statement, and source 17 shows evidence that both supports and contradicts the statement. Source 15 is a statement made by Viceroy Linlithgow during discussions with Muhammad Ali Jinnah in August 1940, concerning arrangements for the wartime administration of India. The reliability of source 15 can be questioned, although the primary source is a statement by Lintlithglow. One could argue that Linlithglow was perhaps always going to exaggerate the divisions within India to make the British seem right in keeping control of the divided country, but then on the other hand would Linlinthglow need to exaggerate the divisions within India? This source states that, “His Majesty’s Government could not contemplate transfer of their present responsibilities for the peace and welfare of India to any system of Government”. This suggests that the British couldn’t even imagine giving any real power to India. This means the British are withholding peace within India. The British are also withholding Indian’s welfare by reserving the power to the British rather than having a share government or even a self-governing India. From my own knowledge I know that the prince’s determination to preserve their power wrecked the plan in the 1930’s for a federation and self-government for all Indians, which could have encouraged the British’s determination to keep India from self-government. On
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