Effects of war on British rule: the impact on the Raj; the Montagu…

The idea

The First World War strained British rule in India. The Raj relied on Indian troops and resources, but wartime inflation, taxation and the 1918 influenza pandemic caused hardship, while promises of reform raised expectations. In 1917 the Montagu Declaration promised responsible government. The 1919 Rowlatt Acts allowed detention without trial, provoking protests. At Amritsar in April 1919, General Dyer ordered troops to fire on an unarmed crowd, killing hundreds. The massacre and subsequent lenient treatment of Dyer caused outrage. The Montagu-Chelmsford Report and the 1919 Government of India Act introduced dyarchy in the provinces, but retained British control at the centre. 1919 was significant because it combined reform with repression, undermining trust and strengthening nationalism.

What earns the marks

• Explains how the First World War affected the Raj: increased demands on Indian manpower and finance, inflation, and the 1918 influenza pandemic, which caused hardship and unrest.
• Describes the Montagu Declaration of 1917 as a promise of responsible government, and explains how it raised Indian political expectations.
• Explains the Rowlatt Acts of 1919 as emergency powers allowing detention without trial, and how they provoked widespread protests.
• Narrates the Amritsar massacre: General Dyer ordered troops to fire on an unarmed crowd in April 1919, killing hundreds and wounding many more.
• Analyses the political aftermath of Amritsar: official inquiries, Dyer's treatment, and the resulting Indian outrage and British division.
• Explains the Montagu-Chelmsford Report and the 1919 Government of India Act: dyarchy in the provinces, limited franchise, and continued British control at the centre.
• Assesses the significance of 1919 for British rule: reform and repression together eroded trust and strengthened Indian nationalism.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing the Montagu Declaration (1917) with the Montagu-Chelmsford Report (1918).

  Put it right: The Declaration was a short statement of intent; the Report was a detailed scheme that led to the 1919 Act.

• Stating that the Rowlatt Acts were passed after the Amritsar massacre.

  Put it right: The Acts were passed in March 1919, before the massacre in April 1919.

• Claiming that the 1919 Government of India Act granted full independence or full democracy.

  Put it right: It introduced dyarchy in the provinces but kept the central government under British control and retained a limited franchise.

• Describing the Amritsar massacre as a riot or a battle.

  Put it right: It was the shooting of an unarmed crowd by troops under General Dyer's orders.

Exam tips

• Build a clear chronological framework for 1917–1919: Montagu Declaration, Rowlatt Acts, Amritsar, Montagu-Chelmsford Report, Government of India Act.
• For causation questions, link wartime pressures to the Montagu Declaration and to the Rowlatt Acts, and link Amritsar to the political aftermath.
• Use precise terms such as dyarchy, responsible government, and detention without trial, and explain what they meant in practice.
• When assessing significance, weigh reform against repression and show how the combination affected Indian trust in British rule.