British Empire 1857-90 Flashcards
1
Q
Indian Mutiny causes
A
- Anglicisation of Indian Customs
- New Enfield rifles were greased with animal fat, offended both Muslims and Hindus
- Servants rose up and killed British families
- The British did not have the manpower to suppress and stop spread of rebellion
- Cholera broke out due to bad conditions
- British relief forces took 4 months to arrive but met rebels with extreme violence
2
Q
Indian mutiny suppression
A
- The Government of India Act 1858 (official rule)
- Used cruel methods to kill the rebels, branding them before shooting them, made examples of them
- Shattered Indian Confidence to rebel
- Emperor’s sons were executed so that remaining rebels lost any hope of restoring Mughal Dynasty
- Delhi was left devasted
- After regaining control, British rulers used India as a means of compensation for rebellion costs (lead to the expansion of railway network)
3
Q
governing post indian mutiny
A
- Decided that after the Mutiny, change in rule was needed. They dissolved EIC and rule went to the Government
- The queen claimed to ‘pardon the offences of the misled’
- Appointed a Viceroy to replace the governor general
- Appointed Queen Victoria as Empress in 1877 to remind of Imperial power + Delhi Durbar attended by 68,000
- British officials in government were virtually all white
- Up until 1858, the DOCTRINE OF LAPSE ensured princely states fell under British rule after the rulers line of descent ended. The removal of this doctrine helped ensure the princes’ loyalty, something that the Viceroy relied on (cooperation of native rulers)
- In the following years, greater respect was shown for traditional Indian customs within law
- Some sections of the population showed increasing political awareness, evidenced by the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885, members discussed political affairs. it only had limited power but it offered a forum for debate.
- Evident risk to British interests posed by the mutiny led to: efforts were made to strengthen the British Indian Army which initially had fewer than 40,000 troops, proportion of British to Indian troops raised to 1:2, Army of 70,000 Britons by 1880s.
- Indian troops were mixed by caste and religion to prevent any sense of unity, moreover, Indians were placed under British commanders and denied officer ranking
4
Q
Indian mutiny effects on natives
A
- The British made markets for Indian produce, but this created specialisation in the higher value cash-crops (rice) and drove up everyday, low value crops (barely rye millet) which were everyday staples
- Building of 3000 miles of railway networks but these were more geared towards control, most villages did not even have roads
- Indian people were able to get jobs on railways and
- They provided schools and universities, (established in Bombay and Calcutta in 1858), many went on to work in the government. but only the privileged few could benefit; illiteracy remained widespread.
- poverty continued and death rates from famine were high
- majority of India remained unirrigated and in areas where irrigation was introduced, it was to support British economic interest
