Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Impact of the Second World War on Indian politics: threat of invasion; the…
Full specification wording
The road to independence, 1942–48: Impact of the Second World War on Indian politics: threat of invasion; the Cripps Mission; the ‘Quit India Campaign’ and its repercussions; Wavell’s appointment as Viceroy; the Bengal Famine; the failure of the Simla Conference 1945.
The Second World War transformed Indian politics.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The Second World War transformed Indian politics. Japan’s advance to Burma in 1942 created a real threat of invasion, prompting the Cripps Mission, which offered dominion status after the war but failed because Congress demanded immediate self-government and the Muslim League rejected any single post-war union. In August 1942 Congress launched the Quit India Campaign, demanding immediate British withdrawal; the British arrested leaders, suppressed protests and jailed thousands, deepening distrust. Wavell became Viceroy in 1943, facing unrest and the Bengal Famine, which killed over two million people and discredited British administration. In 1945 Wavell’s Simla Conference failed because Congress and the League could not agree on representation, leaving Britain’s post-war plans in doubt.
What earns the marks
- Explains how the threat of Japanese invasion in 1942 pressured Britain to seek Indian cooperation and shaped the Cripps Mission’s offer of dominion status after the war.
- Analyses why the Cripps Mission failed: Congress wanted immediate self-government and control of defence; the Muslim League opposed a single union with a weak centre.
- Assesses the Quit India Campaign’s repercussions: mass arrests, censorship, violence, and the alienation of Congress from Britain, making post-war cooperation harder.
- Evaluates Wavell’s appointment as Viceroy in 1943 as a response to crisis, and his attempts to revive negotiations through the 1945 Simla Conference.
- Examines the Bengal Famine’s causes and impact: wartime rice shortages, cyclone and flooding, poor distribution, and the British government’s inadequate response, which fuelled nationalist criticism.
- Explains why the Simla Conference failed: disagreement over Muslim League representation and Congress’s claim to speak for all Indians, leaving the deadlock unresolved.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating the Cripps Mission as a success because it offered dominion status.
Put it right: Both Congress and the League rejected it, so it failed to secure agreement.
Assuming the Quit India Campaign achieved immediate concessions.
Put it right: It was crushed within weeks, with leaders imprisoned and no immediate British withdrawal.
Blaming the Bengal Famine solely on natural causes.
Put it right: Wartime policy, transport disruption and inadequate relief worsened the death toll.
Confusing Wavell’s role with that of earlier Viceroys.
Put it right: Wavell took office in 1943 and tried to break the political deadlock, including at Simla in 1945.
Exam tips
- Link each event to the changing relationship between Britain and India, rather than narrating events in isolation.
- Use precise dates and names, such as August 1942 for Quit India and 1943 for Wavell’s appointment, to support your argument.
- When discussing the Simla Conference, explain the specific disagreement over representation, not just that it failed.
- Balance political, military and humanitarian factors when assessing the impact of the war.
Try the lesson
The start of the The road to independence, 1942–48: Impact of the Second World War on Indian politics: threat of invasion; the Cripps Mission; the ‘Quit India Campaign’ and its repercussions; Wavell’s appointment as Viceroy; the Bengal Famine; the failure of the Simla Conference 1945. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which British politician was sent to India in 1942 with proposals intended to secure Indian cooperation with the war effort?
Listen
The Second World War transformed Indian politics. Japan’s advance to Burma in 1942 created a real threat of invasion, prompting the Cripps Mission, which offered dominion status after the war but failed because Congress demanded immediate self-government and the Muslim League rejected any single post-war union. In August 1942 Congress launched the Quit India Campaign, demanding immediate British withdrawal; the British arrested leaders, suppressed protests and jailed thousands, deepening distrust. Wavell became Viceroy in 1943, facing unrest and the Bengal Famine, which killed over two million people and discredited British administration. In 1945 Wavell’s Simla Conference failed because Congress and the League could not agree on representation, leaving Britain’s post-war plans in doubt. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains how the threat of Japanese invasion in 1942 pressured Britain to seek Indian cooperation and shaped the Cripps Mission’s offer of dominion status after the war. Analyses why the Cripps Mission failed: Congress wanted immediate self-government and control of defence; the Muslim League opposed a single union with a weak centre. Assesses the Quit India Campaign’s repercussions: mass arrests, censorship, violence, and the alienation of Congress from Britain, making post-war cooperation harder. Evaluates Wavell’s appointment as Viceroy in 1943 as a response to crisis, and his attempts to revive negotiations through the 1945 Simla Conference. A common slip: Treating the Cripps Mission as a success because it offered dominion status. Instead, both Congress and the League rejected it, so it failed to secure agreement. Exam tip: Link each event to the changing relationship between Britain and India, rather than narrating events in isolation.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Japan's advance to Burma created a threat of invasion
- 2. Wavell's Simla Conference failed over representation
- 3. Wavell became Viceroy, facing unrest and the Bengal Famine
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Cripps Mission
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Quit India Campaign
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Bengal Famine
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Simla Conference 1945
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Cripps Mission
- Offered dominion status after the war but failed because Congress demanded immediate self-government and the Muslim League rejected any single post-war union.
- Quit India Campaign
- Launched by Congress in August 1942, demanding immediate British withdrawal; the British arrested leaders, suppressed protests and jailed thousands, deepening distrust.
- Bengal Famine
- Killed over two million people and discredited British administration, with wartime rice shortages, cyclone and flooding, poor distribution and an inadequate British response.
- Simla Conference 1945
- Failed because Congress and the League could not agree on representation, leaving Britain’s post-war plans in doubt.
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