The British partitioned India in 1947, dividing it into the largely Hindu nation of India and the predominantly Muslim nations of Pakistan and East Pakistan. This was due to growing nationalism that made British rule too costly to maintain and rising religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims. The partition led to widespread violence and migration along religious lines, with over a million people killed in the process, though a lasting dispute over the region of Kashmir continued between India and Pakistan.

1. The Partition of India
Partition = Division

2. Independence and Conflict
 After WWII Great Britain decided
that keeping control of India (who
had been their colony for 200
years) was too costly.
 Why?
 Nationalism had been growing
since early 1900s.
 Mohandas Ghandi began “Quit
India,” a nonviolence protest to
drive the British out.

3. Religious Conflict &
Partition
 Muslims = 92 million
 Hindus = 255 million
 Feared an
independent,
democratic India
would be dominated
by Hindus.
 Needed separate
nation to protect
rights

4.  As violence between Hindus and Muslims
increased, the British believed a partition was best.
 Great Britain ends rule in 1947 and Muslim West
and East Pakistan and Hindu India were created.

5. Effects of Partition
 Millions migrate to the country of their religion and
violence erupts!
 Over a million people died including Ghandi.

6. War over Kashmir
 Soon after partition,
India and Pakistan
fight over control of
Kashmir.
 Finally in 1949, it was
split into two parts.