Impact of ww2

• Britain's relationship with USA

  Strengthened as Britain became financially dependent via Marshall aid
• USA's stance on British empire


  Did not support empire, tried to reason with Britain to give India a level of independence
• Britain's need for US help

  Cannot sustain without US help, so need to listen to an extent
• India's status for Britain

  No longer seen as the "jewel of the crown", the cost of upkeep is more expensive than the benefit Britain receive
• In 1929, Britain lost 44 million in decline in exports from India
• Keyes cost Benefit analysis showed it would cost Britain 1 billion per year to upkeep India
• In 1946, Britain had 64,000 troops left vs 389,000 sepoys
• British defeat in Singapore in 1942


  Gave other nationalists confidence as Britain is not strong enough
• In 1946, on "action day", 5,000 Muslims and Hindus died in Calcutta
• In 1947, there were 255 million Hindus vs 92 million Muslims in India, creating a threat of civil war
• Britain owed 1.3 billion to India as Britain was dependent on Indian banks, and Britain's economic instability meant it could not afford to upkeep India