Carnatic Wars Flashcards
when was the First Carnatic War?
1746-8
what were the causes? (first)
ships of the British and French navies sailed into the Indian ocean, they would have been happy with neutrality (Wars of Austrian Succession in Europe) but due to this it was impossible
what were the main events? (first)
1746- French captured Madras after the British withdrew
the French demonstrated how effective the Indian army was under European officers
17646, army sent by the Nawab of the Carnatic
what were the consequences? (first)
1748- Aix-La-Chapelle, Madras was returned in exchange for Louisbourg
the French showed their superiority in India
When was the Second Carnatic War?
1749-54
what were the causes? (second)
Dupleix (French governor) supported Chanda Sahib’s claim for Nawab of the Carnatic (also had the support of the Nawab of Hyderabad)
the EIC supported his rival,Muhammad Ali
what were the main events? (second)
Robert Clive was sent to Arcot with only 500 men, took Arcot by surprise, led to a 50 day seige
1750, Ali took the throne
what were the consequences? (second)
Dupleix sent back to France in 1750
Clive returned to England and spent the money he made trying to become an MP- he returned to India serving the military side of the company
when was the Third Carnatic War?
1756-63
what were the causes? (third)
the Nawab of Bengal died in 1756, he was succeded by his grandson, Siraj-ud-Daulah, he seized and plundered Calcutta
what were the main events? (third)
the Black Hole of Calcutta- 5x4m room, 40C, 123 of the 146 British captured died, Clive sent to negotiate, Nawab withdrew and paid the company
Clive defeated the French in Chandernagore in 1757
Battle of Plassey 1757- Clive led his army of 3000 men against the Bengal Army of 60000
Mir Jafar placed on the Bengal throne
what were the consequences? (third)
largest gains were made out of politics
EIC and private individuals made £3m out of the change of rulers
Mir Jafar gave Clive £234k in cash and the rights to land rents of £27k per year
where and when the French defeated?
Wandiwash 1760, surrendered in 1761
how did Clive win the Battle of Plassey?
targeted the elephants that Siraj’s generals sat
most of the Nawab’s infantry had taken opium
the gunpowder was damp
what were the consequences of Plassey?
drawn into local politics- required a bigger expenditure on the company, 1756- £357k rose to £885k by 1766
Clive was made a ‘jagir’- £28k a year, encouraged privateering
company employees continued to make large profits by exploiting the loopholes in paying internal tax- returned to England as ‘nabobs, drove up the price for a seat in the House of Commons
