India Defence League facts for kids
The India Defence League was a group in Britain that started in June 1933. Its main goal was to keep India as part of the British Empire. Think of it like a club or organization that tried to influence decisions to make sure India stayed connected to Britain.
Contents
What Was the India Defence League?
The India Defence League was a type of group called a pressure group. This means it was an organization that tried to influence the government and public opinion on a specific issue. In this case, their big issue was keeping India under British rule. They believed it was important for India to remain part of the British Empire.
Who Joined the League?
The League grew from an earlier group called the India Defence Committee. It had a lot of important people supporting it right from the start. These included 10 members of the Privy Council (who advise the King or Queen), 28 peers (members of the House of Lords), and 57 MPs (members of the House of Commons). It also had former governors of Indian provinces and people from the British armed forces and legal system. Eventually, more than 100 peers became members of the League.
Famous Members and Supporters
Some very well-known people were part of the India Defence League. Viscount Sumner was its Honorary President. Other important leaders, called Vice-Presidents, included Lord Carson, the famous writer Rudyard Kipling, and Winston Churchill. Churchill later became a very important Prime Minister during World War II. Other key figures were Sir Henry Page-Croft, the Marquess of Hartington, and Viscount FitzAlan.
What Did the League Do?
The India Defence League worked to promote its ideas and influence political decisions. For example, they helped Admiral Keyes win a special election in 1934. This election was called the Portsmouth North by-election. A "by-election" is a special election held to fill a vacant seat in parliament between general elections.
See Also
- Indian Empire Society
