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In 1757, the battle of Plassey confirmed British supremacy, although the British avoided exercising direct political power in India even as senior civil servants began to play an ever-increasing role.

In 1757, the battle of Plassey confirmed British supremacy, although the British avoided exercising direct political power in India even as senior civil servants began to play an ever-increasing role.

The disastrous defeat of France in the Seven Years War (1758-63), the decline of French influence in India, and the growing British predominance there led France in 1778 to plan a new war against Britain in coordination with the [[American Revolution]].  The strategy included an expedition against British spheres of influence in India, which was intended to draw a large part of the British navy into the Indian Ocean. France found an ally in Hyder Ali, ruler of Mysore and a leader of the princes opposed to the growing domination of the British. France sent a military assistance group to Hyder Ali to reinforce his artillery and his cavalry, but in a series of campaigns he failed to inflict a decisive defeat upon the British. Although the war between Britain and France ended in 1783, the French continued to assist Tipu Sultan, the son and successor of Hyder Ali, until he was defeated by the British and died in 1799.  

The disastrous defeat of France in the Seven Years' War (1758-63), the decline of French influence in India, and the growing British predominance there led France in 1778 to plan a new war against Britain in coordination with the [[American Revolution]].  The strategy included an expedition against British spheres of influence in India, which was intended to draw a large part of the British navy into the Indian Ocean. France found an ally in Hyder Ali, ruler of Mysore and a leader of the princes opposed to the growing domination of the British. France sent a military assistance group to Hyder Ali to reinforce his artillery and his cavalry, but in a series of campaigns he failed to inflict a decisive defeat upon the British. Although the war between Britain and France ended in 1783, the French continued to assist Tipu Sultan, the son and successor of Hyder Ali, until he was defeated by the British and died in 1799.  

[[File:India1795.jpg|thumb|280px|India in 1795]]

[[File:India1795.jpg|thumb|280px|India in 1795]]

Beginning in 1920, Gandhi transformed the Indian National Congress political party into a mass movement to campaign against British colonial rule. The party used both parliamentary and nonviolent resistance and non-cooperation to agitate for independence.  

Beginning in 1920, Gandhi transformed the Indian National Congress political party into a mass movement to campaign against British colonial rule. The party used both parliamentary and nonviolent resistance and non-cooperation to agitate for independence.  

By the mid-1930s, India was still the cornerstone of the world's largest colonial empire, but tghe Empire had been badly shaken by World War I, the Great Depression, and the effective independence of the dominions such as Canada.  The empire was costing Britain heavily. To facilitate the inevitable trnasition, London organized the first true elections, sparking the confrontation of two great leaders - [[Mohammed Ali Jinnah]] (who founded Pakistan) and [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] (who led independent India).   

By the mid-1930s, India was still the cornerstone of the world's largest colonial empire, but the Empire had been badly shaken by World War I, the Great Depression, and the effective independence of the dominions such as Canada.  The empire was costing Britain heavily. To facilitate the inevitable trnasition, London organized the first true elections, sparking the confrontation of two great leaders - [[Mohammed Ali Jinnah]] (who founded Pakistan) and [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] (who led independent India).   

==Social history==

==Social history==

In November 1997, the Congress Party again withdrew support from the United Front. In new elections in February 1998, the BJP won the largest number of seats in Parliament--182--but fell far short of a majority. On March 20, 1998, the President approved a BJP-led coalition government with Vajpayee again serving as Prime Minister. On May 11 and 13, 1998, this government conducted a series of underground nuclear tests, spurring U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]] to impose economic sanctions on India pursuant to the 1994 Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act.  

In November 1997, the Congress Party again withdrew support from the United Front. In new elections in February 1998, the BJP won the largest number of seats in Parliament--182--but fell far short of a majority. On March 20, 1998, the President approved a BJP-led coalition government with Vajpayee again serving as Prime Minister. On May 11 and 13, 1998, this government conducted a series of underground nuclear tests, spurring U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]] to impose economic sanctions on India pursuant to the 1994 Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act.  

In April 1999, the BJP-led coalition government fell apart, leading to fresh elections in September. The National Democratic Alliance--a new coalition led by the BJP--won a majority to form the government with Vajpayee as Prime Minister in October 1999. The NDA government was the first in many years to serve a full five year term, providing much-needed political stability.  

In April 1999, the BJP-led coalition government fell apart, leading to fresh elections in September. The National Democratic Alliance--a new coalition led by the BJP--won a majority to form the government with Vajpayee as Prime Minister in October 1999. The NDA government was the first in many years to serve a full five-year term, providing much-needed political stability.  

The Kargil conflict in 1999 and an attack by terrorists on the Indian Parliament in December 2001 led to increased tensions with Pakistan.  

The Kargil conflict in 1999 and an attack by terrorists on the Indian Parliament in December 2001 led to increased tensions with Pakistan.  

====Hindu-Muslim violence====

====Hindu-Muslim violence====

Hindu nationalists supportive of the BJP agitated to build a temple on a disputed site in Ayodhya, destroying a 17th century mosque there in December 1992, and sparking widespread religious riots in which thousands, mostly Muslims, were killed. In February 2002, 57 Hindu volunteers returning from Ayodhya were burnt alive when their train caught fire. Alleging that the fire was caused by Muslim attackers, anti-Muslim rioters throughout the state of Gujarat killed over 900 people and left 100,000 homeless. This led to accusations that the BJP-led Gujarat state government had not done enough to contain the riots, or arrest and prosecute the rioters.  

Hindu nationalists supportive of the BJP agitated to build a temple on a disputed site in Ayodhya, destroying a 17th-century mosque there in December 1992, and sparking widespread religious riots in which thousands, mostly Muslims, were killed. In February 2002, 57 Hindu volunteers returning from Ayodhya were burnt alive when their train caught fire. Alleging that the fire was caused by Muslim attackers, anti-Muslim rioters throughout the state of Gujarat killed over 900 people and left 100,000 homeless. This led to accusations that the BJP-led Gujarat state government had not done enough to contain the riots, or arrest and prosecute the rioters.  

The ruling BJP-led coalition was defeated in a five-stage election held in April and May of 2004, and a Congress-led coalition, known as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), took power on May 22 with [[Manmohan Singh]] as Prime Minister. The UPA's victory was attributed to dissatisfaction among poorer rural voters that the prosperity of the cities had not filtered down to them, and rejection of the BJP's Hindu nationalist agenda.  

The ruling BJP-led coalition was defeated in a five-stage election held in April and May of 2004, and a Congress-led coalition, known as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), took power on May 22 with [[Manmohan Singh]] as Prime Minister. The UPA's victory was attributed to dissatisfaction among poorer rural voters that the prosperity of the cities had not filtered down to them, and rejection of the BJP's Hindu nationalist agenda.  

* Thapar, Romila. ''Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300'' (2004)  [http://www.amazon.com/History-India-Penguin/dp/0140138358/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189741409&sr=8-3 excerpts and online search from Amazon.com]

* Thapar, Romila. ''Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300'' (2004)  [http://www.amazon.com/History-India-Penguin/dp/0140138358/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189741409&sr=8-3 excerpts and online search from Amazon.com]

* Wolpert, Stanley. ''A New History of India'' (7th ed. 2003) 544pp [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0195166779/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-4827826-5463040#reader-link excerpt and online search from Amazon.com]

* Wolpert, Stanley. ''A New History of India'' (7th ed. 2003) 544pp [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0195166779/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-4827826-5463040#reader-link excerpt and online search from Amazon.com]

*Jackson, A.V. et al, eds. ''History of India'' (1906-1907)

*Jackson, A.V. et al., eds. ''History of India'' (1906-1907)

**''v.l. From the earliest times to the sixth century B.C.,'' by R.C. Dutt. [http://www.archive.org/details/historyofindia01jackiala online edition]

**''v.l. From the earliest times to the sixth century B.C.,'' by R.C. Dutt. [http://www.archive.org/details/historyofindia01jackiala online edition]

**''v.2. From the sixth century B.C. to the Mohammedan conquest,'' by V.A. Smith. [http://www.archive.org/details/historyofindia02jackiala online edition]

**''v.2. From the sixth century B.C. to the Mohammedan conquest,'' by V.A. Smith. [http://www.archive.org/details/historyofindia02jackiala online edition]

===Primary sources===

===Primary sources===

*Jackson, A.V. et al, eds. ''History of India'' (1907) ''v.9. Historic accounts of India by foreign travellers, classic, oriental, and occidental,'' by A.V.W. Jackson [http://www.archive.org/details/historyofindia09jackiala online edition]

*Jackson, A.V. et al., eds. ''History of India'' (1907) ''v.9. Historic accounts of India by foreign travellers, classic, oriental, and occidental,'' by A.V.W. Jackson [http://www.archive.org/details/historyofindia09jackiala online edition]

====references====

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