Britain, India & the Indian Rebellion Flashcards
How did British domination in India begin?
British dominance in India began in the 17th century, after traders from the East India Company were granted a royal charter from Elizabeth 1 in 1600.
How did the East India Company first establish control?
They established a series of trading areas (Surat, Madras, Bombay & Calcutta) and recruited local soldiers known as Sepoys to defend their economic interests.
What was the governing system like when the British arrived?
Indian rule consisted of regional Hindu and Muslim princes. This system was unstable as the princes had too much power and sought independence from the Muslim Maghal Emperor.
When did the drive for British expansion into India take off?
1757 - with the annexation of Bengal. This was shortly after the EIC appointed Robert Clive who brought Bengal and Calcutta under British control.
What happened to the EIC in the late 18th century?
The EIC held a monopoly over European trade with India and held major political power there. The British government criticised the Company and demanded greater regulation.
The company was also suffering with debt, and the government began to doubt it.
How did the British government gain political control in India?
They introduced the India Act in 1774 - the company retained ownership over it’s captured territory and some existing responsibilities.
What were princely states?
States with native rulers which had ended treaty relations with the British.
What was the policy of Westernisation?
English was made the official language of Indian law, administration and education. Several traditional Indian customs were outlawed which disregarded cherished Indian religion and tradition.
What was the primary issue with British officers in India?
They consistently failed to understand the nature of the Indians which led to conflict based largely on cultural misunderstanding.
What was the trigger for the Indian rebellion in 1857?
Sepoys mutinied after refusing to bite gun cartridges because they were said to contain cow and pig grease, which was religiously insensitive to Hindus and Muslims respectively.
What underlying causes were there for the Indian Rebellion?
- underlying economic grievances - India was swamped by cheap British goods and British property developers bought land, imposing high rents.
- territorial expansion and annexation were resented and the policy of westernisation caused concern for people’s daily lives. The British ignored this and failed to recognise their own weaknesses.
What were the events of the Indian Rebellion? (1)
- May 1857 - Sepoys in Meerut rose against their British officers, killing a number of them.
- The Sepoys took control of many Northern cities - including a short lived attempt to resurrect the old Mughal emperor.
- Sepoys were joined by discontented landowners, peasants, and those who lost out under British rule.
- Major battles were fought at Delhi, Cawnpore and Lucknow.
- Massacre of 200 women and children at Cawnpore caused outrage back home - used as evidence to illustrate Indians as savages.
What were the events of the Indian Rebellion? (2)
- 70,000 fresh troops sent to India.
- British conducted swift and brutal revenge - Muslim mutineers sewn into pig skin, forced to lick pigs’ blood.
- Not all regiments joined the rebellion - Gurkhas, Sikhs and Pathan remained loyal to India.
- British rule was not entirely reasserted until June 1858, following the battle of Gwalior.
- Peace was declared on 8th July, 1858.
What was the traditional Indian view of the rebellion?
The mutiny was a nationalist uprising which sought to break free from British rule.
How have Indian attitudes towards the rebellion changed?
Many historians now believe the rebellion was triggered by “religious zealots”. The term “rebellion” is now more commonly used.
It is increasingly seen as backwards looking with the primary policy being to restore tradition against the British policy of westernisation.
