Consequences of the rebellion Flashcards
What act transferred control of India from the East India Company to the British Crown?
The Government of India Act (1858) transferred control of India from the East India Company to the British Crown.
What major political change happened as a result of the Government of India Act?
The British Parliament took over the governance of India, making it a formal part of the British Empire.
What key political positions were created or restructured under the Government of India Act?
Secretary of State for India (British Cabinet member overseeing Indian affairs)
Governor-General and Viceroy of India (British-appointed official administering India)
Indian Civil Service under the Secretary of State
What was the effect of the Government of India Act on the East India Company’s other territories?
The East India Company’s territories outside India, such as the Straits Settlements (modern-day Malaysia and Singapore), were made Crown Colonies.
What happened to the Mughal Empire after the rebellion?
The Mughal Empire was abolished after Bahadur Shah II was exiled to Rangoon (British Burma), where he died in 1862.
When was the East India Company officially dissolved?
The East India Company was dissolved in 1874.
What title did Queen Victoria adopt in 1877, and why?
Queen Victoria took the title ‘Empress of India’ in 1877, reflecting India’s new role as a central part of the British Empire.
What British policy regarding princely states was abolished after the rebellion?
The Doctrine of Lapse (which allowed Britain to annex states without a male heir) was abolished after 1858.
Why did Britain reinforce the autonomy of princely states?
Most princely states remained loyal during the rebellion, and Britain needed their continued support to maintain control of India.
How much of India’s land and population remained under princely state rule after the rebellion?
40% of India’s land
23% of India’s population
What was the role of Residents and Political Agents in princely states?
Residents were stationed in the largest princely states (e.g., Hyderabad, Mysore, Kashmir, Baroda).
Political Agents oversaw medium-sized states, reporting to British provincial administrators.
What were the two Agencies established to manage smaller princely states?
Rajputana Agency (20 states)
Central India Agency (148 states)
How did Britain change the ratio of British to Indian soldiers after the rebellion?
The ratio was reduced from 9:1 (Indian:British) to 3:1 by the 1860s.
What changes were made to the artillery units in the Indian Army?
All artillery units were exclusively manned by British soldiers, except for a few stationed on the northwestern frontier.
Which groups were designated as ‘Martial Races’ and recruited into the Indian Army?
Pashtuns from the Northwest Frontier Province
Sikh Jats from Punjab
Gurkhas from Nepal and the Himalayan foothills
What reforms were made to the structure of the Indian Army to reduce resentment?
‘Irregular’ regiments were introduced, allowing Indian officers more responsibility.
British officers were fewer in number and encouraged to associate more closely with Indian soldiers.
How did British policies towards Indian society change after the rebellion?
The British Raj abandoned efforts to Westernize Indian society and instead preserved traditional Indian social structures to maintain stability.
What did Queen Victoria’s 1858 proclamation say about religion in India?
The British government disclaimed any intention to impose Christianity on Indians.
It promised protection for all religious faiths.
How did the British try to incorporate Indians into governance after the rebellion?
Indians were recruited into lower ranks of the Indian Civil Service, though higher positions remained practically inaccessible.
What was the impact of administrative reforms on Indian society?
A new Indian middle class emerged, based on government service rather than traditional royal and aristocratic structures.
What role did Anglo-Indian universities play in shaping Indian society?
Universities in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay educated Indians in British ideas, contributing to the rise of future independence leaders.
How did British views on zamindars and peasants change after the rebellion?
Britain reinstated the semi-feudal zamindari system, recognizing that removing zamindars led to social instability and peasant rebellions.
What major infrastructure projects were undertaken in the 1860s?
Railways: Expanded from 288 miles (1857) to 5000+ miles in the 1860s.
Irrigation, road building, and postal/telegraph expansion.
What public health reforms were introduced after the rebellion?
Germ theory-based measures reduced cholera and other diseases.
The Indian population rose to 206 million by 1872.
