A+-+Group+4+-+Renaissance+Project

=Group 4 - Renaissance= Section 1

Independence Brings Partition
Local activist in British India had demanded self-rule since the late 1800's. When Independence came close, another problem surfaced.

Two New Nations Emerge
Most of the4 leaders and members of the congress Party were Hindus. The party wanted a unified India, that would include both Muslims and Hindus. Th Muslims lead by Muhammad Allie Jinnah, had a different view of liberation, the Muslims demanded a separate nation called Pakistani. It would include parts of British Indian where Muslims formed the majority. In the 1940's tensions between Muslims and Hindu majority in British India led to increasing violence. As violence between these groups threatened to to spiral out of control. Brittan decided the only thing the could agree on was a **partion**. The new nations of Pakistan and India gained independence on August 15, 1947.

Refugees Flee Amid Violence
Hindus and Muslims still live side by side in many cities and Ural areas. As soon as the new borders became known millions of Hindus on the Pakistani side of the borders packed up their belongings and fled to the new India. An estimated ten million people fled their homes mainly on foot. Muslims leaving alone the crowed rows in Pakistani were killed by Hindus and **Sikhs**.

Struggles Over Kashmir
After independence Indian and Pakistan fought a war over **Kashmir.** Its Hindu ruler wanted to join India eventhough much of the state's. Musilim majority wanted to be apart of Packistand in 1940 India and Packistand agreed to stop fighting. To peace between the two nations didn't last long in 1965 Packistand and India fought another war over Kashmir, and had brief clashes. Over the years Muslims Kashmiri separatists supproted by militents from Pakistan have fought Indian troops. then Indain forces, inturn attacked Mulsims Kashmiris.

A Nuclear Arms Race
In the 1970's India lauched a program to devolpe nuclear weapons carrying out its first test explosion in 1974 this prompted Pakastan to launch it's own nuclear weapons program. In 1998 India tested it's first actual nuclear weapon. The emergance of these two new and hostile nuclear powers in south Asia alarmed other nations in Asia and around the world.

**Conflict divides Sir Lanka**
The British coloney of Ceylon an island just south of India gainted independence in 1948. Majority of Sir Lanka's are Buddist who speak Sinhalese. However, a large Camil speaking Hindu minorites live in the north and east. In the late 1970's Tamil rebels began a mitliatry struggle for a seperate nation. After years of fighting at Sir Lanka's government and the Tamil rebels signed a peace agreement in 2002. The rebels agreed to stop fighting and the government agreed to give the Tamil's some freedom, however it was uncertain whether this agreement would hold.

Building a nation in India
Ethnic and religious tentions continued to threaten India's unity, hundereds of milions og Indians stuggled daily for adequate food and shelter.

Nehru Confronts Socoial Problems
From 1947 to 1964 **Jawaharlal Nehru** led Inadi's as its first prime minister. However; rapid population growth hurt Nehru's efforts to improve living conditions. While food output rose, so did India's population. Indians, especially