Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
British response: control and concession; reasons for and reception of the…
Full specification wording
Changing political relationships, 1920–30: British response: control and concession; reasons for and reception of the Simon Commission; the Labour government and the significance of the Irwin Declaration.
British policy in the 1920s combined control with concession: repression of unrest alongside reforms such as the 1919 Government of India Act.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
British policy in the 1920s combined control with concession: repression of unrest alongside reforms such as the 1919 Government of India Act. The Simon Commission (1927) was sent to review that Act, but because it contained no Indian members it was boycotted and met with protests, uniting Congress and the League in opposition. The minority Labour government from 1929 favoured conciliation, and the Irwin Declaration (1929) promised dominion status and a Round Table Conference. This concession split opinion: Indian nationalists wanted immediate progress, while British conservatives feared surrender. The Declaration therefore showed both the limits of British control and the potential of negotiated concession, setting the agenda for the 1930s.
What earns the marks
- Explains how Britain balanced control with concession in India during the 1920s, using examples of repression and reform.
- Analyses the reasons for the Simon Commission and why its all-British membership caused protest and boycott.
- Assesses the reception of the Simon Commission by Indian political groups and its effect on nationalist unity.
- Evaluates the Labour government’s approach and the significance of the Irwin Declaration for British-Indian relations.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the Simon Commission with the Round Table Conference.
Put it right by separating the 1927 review from the 1930–32 talks.
Treating the Irwin Declaration as immediate independence.
Put it right by explaining it promised dominion status as a goal, not a settled outcome.
Ignoring Indian reactions; correct by including boycott, protest and cross-party opposition as evidence of reception.
Exam tips
- Balance British motives with Indian responses to show interaction rather than one-sided policy.
- Use the terms control, concession, dominion status and boycott precisely to demonstrate secure knowledge.
- Judge the Declaration’s significance by weighing what it promised against what it delivered.
Try the lesson
The start of the Changing political relationships, 1920–30: British response: control and concession; reasons for and reception of the Simon Commission; the Labour government and the significance of the Irwin Declaration. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Why was the Simon Commission of 1927 widely opposed in India?
Listen
British policy in the 1920s combined control with concession: repression of unrest alongside reforms such as the 1919 Government of India Act. The Simon Commission (1927) was sent to review that Act, but because it contained no Indian members it was boycotted and met with protests, uniting Congress and the League in opposition. The minority Labour government from 1929 favoured conciliation, and the Irwin Declaration (1929) promised dominion status and a Round Table Conference. This concession split opinion: Indian nationalists wanted immediate progress, while British conservatives feared surrender. The Declaration therefore showed both the limits of British control and the potential of negotiated concession, setting the agenda for the 1930s. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains how Britain balanced control with concession in India during the 1920s, using examples of repression and reform. Analyses the reasons for the Simon Commission and why its all-British membership caused protest and boycott. Assesses the reception of the Simon Commission by Indian political groups and its effect on nationalist unity. Evaluates the Labour government’s approach and the significance of the Irwin Declaration for British-Indian relations. A common slip: Confusing the Simon Commission with the Round Table Conference. Instead, separating the 1927 review from the 1930–32 talks. Exam tip: Balance British motives with Indian responses to show interaction rather than one-sided policy.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Simon Commission
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Irwin Declaration
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boycott
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dominion status
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Simon Commission
- Sent in 1927 to review the 1919 Government of India Act, it contained no Indian members, so it was boycotted and met with protests.
- Irwin Declaration
- Made in 1929, it promised dominion status and a Round Table Conference, showing both the limits of British control and the potential of negotiated concession.
- boycott
- The response to the Simon Commission because it contained no Indian members, uniting Congress and the League in opposition.
- dominion status
- The goal promised by the Irwin Declaration, which Indian nationalists wanted immediate progress towards while British conservatives feared surrender.
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