British in India 1829-58 Flashcards
What trading status was given to the East India Company in 1600 and lasted to 1813?
Royal Charter gave them a monopoly on trade in India.
Which group ruled India for much of the 16th to 19th centuries whose empire collapse enabled EIC to step in?
Mughals
When was the Indian Rebellion?
1857
What trading monopolies remained with EIC after 1813 Charter Act?
trade with China and tea
When did EIC rule in India end?
1858
What Act ended EIC rule in India?
1858 Government of India Act
When and how did EIC gain India?
1757 through Battle of Plassey
What did the 1773 Regulating Act do?
brought political and administrative functions of EIC under government control via a five-person governing council with majority appointed by parliament
What did the 1784 East India Company Act do?
It made EIC a regularised subsidiary of the Crown, so government had control of commercial interests as well as political/admin functions.
When was India’s monopoly on trade with China removed, with EIC’s focus then becoming administrative rather than commercial?
Charter Act 1833
Name the three company presidencies of EIC.
Bengal, Madras and Bombay
From 1774, which president was the head of the company presidencies?
governor and president of Fort William (in Calcutta, Bengal)
What did the 1784 Act say about war in India?
Other presidencies could not make war or peace unless directed to by governor of Bengal
What meant that, even though technically overseen by the Board of Control in London, the governor general of Bengal and his council had high autonomy?
slow communication between India and London
What powers did the 1833 Government of India Act give to the governor general?
“superintendence, direction and control of the while civil and military Government”
How many private armies did EIC have?
three (one for each company presidency)
How many troops did EIC have by 1820?
200,000
What % of the EIC soldiers were Europeans (with rest being Indian)?
about 20%
