Decolonisation and the partition of India
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how the granting of India's independence led to the partition of the country into India and Pakistan, which was a violent process.
Key learning points
- A strong nationalist movement existed in India in the early 20th century; WW2 led to increased calls for independence.
- Tensions between Hindus and Muslims increased after WW2 and India's Muslims demanded their own state: Pakistan.
- In 1947, India was partitioned into two states: India and Pakistan; East Pakistan would become Bangladesh in 1971.
- Partition resulted in mass migration, which displaced 17-18 million people and unleashed a wave of lethal violence.
- Partition created a legacy of mistrust and hostility between India and Pakistan.
Keywords
Nationalist - someone who strongly believes in and supports their own country, placing its interests above those of other nations
Strike - when people stop working as a form of protest
Famine - a severe shortage of food that affects a large number of people, leading to widespread hunger and starvation
Viceroy - someone appointed by a monarch or ruler to govern a territory or colony in their name
Partition - to divide into parts
Common misconception
The borders drawn during Partition were clear and accepted by all.
The Radcliffe Line, which demarcated the borders, was highly contentious and led to significant disputes and confusion, which resulted in violence.
Teacher tip
As pupils work through this unit, they could keep lists of similarities and differences between the process and experiences of decolonisation in the different world regions.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.When was the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland formed?
Q2.What did most Irish nationalists campaign for in the late 19th century?
Q3.Why was there an increase in support for the republican cause after the Easter Rising?
Q4.Who established the Irish Republican Party (IRA)?
Q5.What word means to divide something into parts, especially two parts of a country into new states or countries?
Q6.Put the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why did many Indian people demand independence from British rule in the late 19th century?
Q2.What was the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1921?
Q3.What complicated the creation of an independent India after World War Two (WW2)?
Q4.What is the term for someone appointed by a monarch or ruler to govern a territory or colony in their name?
Q5.When was partition implemented in India?
Q6.Match the following people to their descriptions.
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Decolonisation and the partition of India, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Decolonisation and the partition of India, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Decolonisation: how similar was decolonisation throughout the British Empire? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.