1850-1885

Question 1

Causes of 1857 Revolt (Economic)

Answer 1

1 ) High revenue demand worsened the situation of peasants
2 ) Commodification of land
3 ) Displacement of peasants
4 ) Displacement of zamindars

Question 2

Causes of 1857 Revolt (Political and Army)

Answer 2

1 ) Policy of Annexation by Dalhousie
2 ) Doctrine of Lapse ( No biological successor)
3 ) Misgovernance annexation- Awadh
4 ) Discontent among sepoys
5 ) Use of Army ( Indian) to suppress rebellion in the same region fueled discontent
6 ) Racial discrimination when considered for promotion
7 ) Less salary
8 ) Not allowed to use religious symbols
9 ) Crossing the seas meant the loss of caste
10) New Enfield rifle bullets were rumored to be greased with beef or pork

Question 3

Causes of 1857 Revolt (Social)

Answer 3

1 ) Abolition of law of Sati
2 ) Widow re-marriage Act
3 ) Support to Women’s Education
4 ) Decision to Tax Mosque and Temples

Question 4

Reasons for Failure of the revolt of 1857

Answer 4

1 ) Limited territorial spread of revolt ( North and central India
2 ) Absence of strong effective central leadership except for Laxmibai
3 ) Absence of strong cohesive political ideology to bind the movement
4 ) Technological inferiority
5 ) Telegraph- Communication between British soldiers

Question 5

Nature of Revolt of 1857

Answer 5

1 ) No Pan-Indian spread
2 ) No plan to establish democracy
3 ) Not the first armed revolt as a number of tribal revolts were there
It continued to inspire the future generation

Question 6

Mutiny or revolt (1857)

Answer 6

not just mutiny

Question 7

Impact of the revolt of 1857

Answer 7

1 ) Policy of Annexation ended provided princely states recognize paramountancy of British crown
2 ) Administrative responsibility of the country was assumed by the British crown and EIC was nationalised
3 ) GoI Act 1858- Secretary of state for India appointed
4 ) Governor general acquired title of “Viceroy”
5 ) People were promised freedom of religion
6 ) Number of indian soldiers were decreased and europeanization of soldiers
7 ) Divide and rule-separate units based on caste/community/region
8 ) ‘Martial’ races of Punjab, Nepal, North west frontier were recruitedwho had proved to be loyal to British
9 ) High posts only for Europeans

Question 8

Indian Renaissance (Brahmo Samaj 1828)

Answer 8

1 ) Denounced Polytheidm and idol worship
2 ) Denied any scripture could enjoy the ultimate status
3 ) No stand on the doctrine of karma and transmission of soul
4 ) Against Priestly class
5 ) The abolition of untouchability
6 ) Discouraged caste endogamy
7 ) Against Sati
8 ) Against Polygamy
9 ) Demanded right to inheritance of property to women
10 ) Legislation of widow re-marriage
11 ) Against child marriage
12 ) Education for women
13 ) Abolition of female infanticide