Throughout the early 1900's the people of India worked to gain their independence from Great Britain. Mohandas Gandhi, led many Indians in peaceful marches and boycotts promoting home-rule.

Salt March

In February 1947, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee declares that Britain would turn over the government of India. India's Hindus and Muslims were bitterly divided. The Muslim League said that it would never accept Indian independence if it meant rule by the Hindu-dominated Congress. The Muslim League wanted a partition. Demanding a division of British India into two countries;one Hindu and one Muslim.

At first Britain was reluctant to form two nations based on religion, but they observed that Muslim and Hindus were already causing violence within India. More than 5,000 people died in August of 1946 after four days of religious rioting broke out in Calcutta.

Leaders agreed that the partition was the best way to limit bloodshed between...