Morley-Minto Reforms

-John Morley - Secretary of State for India - proposed limited reforms to appease Indian opposition

-Influenced by moderate contact w/Indians - i.e Gokhale

-Unrest broke out - Punjab imminent army mutiny appeared

-Lord Minto target of terrorist attack

-Morley-Minto reforms = 1909

-Number of members of Imperial Legislative Council increased to 60 - 27 to be elected

-Indians allowed to sit on Imperial Legislative Council

-Direct elections - seats- introduced - gave Indians greater voice in Provincial govt

-Muslim organisations campaigned special representation- led to separate representation of Muslims + other minorities

-6 muslim representatives on Imperial Legislative Council 

-Morley appointed 2 Indians to Council in London

-Minto appointed Indians to key Indian posts

-Did not give Indians real influence

-Tended to divide Hindus & Muslims - treated them as separate communities

-Established prinicple of communalism 

-Very few Indians could vote - franchise restricted wealthy + privelleged likely to support British rule

-INC claimed to represent all Indians - majority Hindu

-Objected to communalism 

-Protested qualifications to vote - lower for Muslims than Hindus

-INC had 1 victory - Bengal reunited 1911, Hindu majority was restored