backround to india and the east india company Flashcards
when did the east india company have significant presence
from 1757 (post 7 year war) to 1857 (indian rebellion)
how did the east india company have military control
through their own private army of indian soldiers
fortifications in bombay, calcutta and madras establishing law and order
what did the east india company’s governing role entail
public administration
tax collection
this encouraged british to migrate for work and money
what items did the east india company trade from india
opium- china
jute-world wide post crimean war
cotton- world wide post american civil war
what trade laws did the east india company introduce to india
forbid india from trading with other countries on its own
india could only sell raw materials
finished products should be bought from britain
not competition with britan
what was the impact of the harsh trade laws the east india company set on india
the indian industry died out
many farmers couldn’t feed themselves as they were made to grow cash crops making famines worse
what did the paternalistic attitude of the east india company lead to
attempts to change indian culture and religious beliefs to be ‘more civilised’
westernisation
what religious practices did the east india company ban and when
sati- when the widow throws herself onto the cremation prior criminalised in 1829
thuggee- when people would stab random people and kill them banned from 1837
what social structures were built and what was their problems
education systems, railways and telegram
no regard of local concerns of pace of change
what did the east india company make the official language
english for law administration and government
what was the policy of annexation (doctrine of lapse)
if a ruler of an indian state dies without an heir then the province was declared british territory
what is the indian rebellion also known as
indian mutiny
first war of indian independence
what were some of the main causes of the indian rebellion
doctrine of lapse- caused resentment and job loss
frustration with taxes and annexation
army conditions
religious tensions- mixed caste railways/ attempts to end religious customs
what was the final spark of the indian rebellion (last cause)
sepoys outraged by rumours that the new cartridges were greased by pork(islam) and beef(hindus)
explain the events of the indian rebellion
85 sepoys court marshalled
5 month siege at lucknow with 3000 british reports of rape and abuse
when was order restored after the indian rebellion
june 1858 at gawliar
what were the consequences of the indian rebellion
retribution for fear
entire villages massacred
indians forced to lick blood off walls eat pork/beef then hung
indians strapped to cannons then blown up
reduction of sepoys in the army
sepoys given choice of grease
systems for quick communication built
what was the biggest consequence of the indian rebellion
it led to the british raj
why did the mutiny fail
unorganised
mughal emperor didn’t help
no clear/consistent leadership
sikh army was loyal
princes didn’t take part in
why was the british raj set up
as the east india company was deemed too powerful and badly managed
how did the british raj divide india
into 11 provinces and 250 districts
what did the government of india act of 1858 do
gave the east india company’s administrative duty’s to the queen
created a secretary of state, indian council and viceroy
