First war of independence Flashcards
Political causes
- Policy of expansion by outright wars
- Policy of annexation
- subsidiary alliance system (lord Wellesley)
- doctrine of lapse (lord Dalhousie)
- maladministration (awadh/ oudh)
- disrespect shown to Bahadur Shah
- ill treatment given to Nana Sahib and Rani Laxmi Bai
- absentee sovereignty of the British
Socio-Religious causes
Interference with social customs
- abolition of sati
- introduction of widow remarriage act (1856)
- opening of western education to girls
- female infanticide
Apprehension about modern innovations
Policy of racial discrimination
Corruption in administration
Oppression of the poor
Activites of missionaries
Fears regarding western education
Taxing religious places
Law of property
Policy of expansion by outright wars
Battle of Plassey (1757)
Battle of Buxar (1764)- masters of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha
Anglo-Mysore wars (1767-1799) - annexed most of the territories of Mysore
Maratha wars (Peshwa’s dominion and entire Maratha territory north and south of Narmada river we’re acquired)
Sikh wars- punjab was annexed
Subsidiary alliance system (lord Wellesley)
Accepting British as supreme power
Surrendered their foreign relations to the east india company
Accept British resident at their headquarters
Not to employ any European without consulting the Company.
Agree to maintain British troops at their own cost
Virtually lost their independence
Doctrine of lapse (lord Dalhousie)
Under this policy heirs adopted without the consent of the Company, could inherit only the private property of the deceased ruler and not his territory, which would come under the company’s rule.
Satara, jhansi, Jaitpur, sambalpur, Udaipur and Nagpur were the victims of this doctrine
Maladministration and effects of annexation
Lord Dalhousie annexed awadh in 1856 on the pretext of alleged misrule
Effects
Thousands of nobles , officials and soldiers were thrown out of employment
They had to pay higher land revenue and additional taxes on food, houses and ferries
The British confiscated the estates of the taluqdars or zamindars
Apprehension about modern innovations
People were suspicious about introduction of modern innovations like telegraph and railways
There were rumors that telegraph poles were erected to hang those Indians who were against the British rule
Similarly they believed that in railway compartments the higher castes and lower castes were made to sit side by side
Economic causes
Exploitation of economic resources
Drain of wealth
Decay of cottage industries and handicrafts
Economic decline of peasantry
Growing unemployment
Inhuman treatment of indigo cultivators
Poverty and famines
Decline of landed aristocracy
Military causes
Ill treatment of Indian soldiers
General service enlistment act 1856
Large proportion of Indians in British army
Bleak prospects of promotion
Deprivation of allowances for Indian soldiers
Faulty distribution of troops
Lower slaries
Immediate causes
In 1856, ‘Brown Bess’ was replaced by new Enfield rifle.
The loading process of the Enfield rifle involved bringing the cartridge to the mouth and biting off the top greased paper with the teeth
In Jan 1857 there was rumors that the greased cartridges had the fat of cow and pig
Cow is scared to hindus and pig is taboo to Muslims
Consequences
- End of company’s rule
- Queen Victoria’s proclamation
- end of mughals and Peshwa’s
- Relations with princely states
- Policy of divide and rule
- Racial antagonism
- Foreign policy
- Increased racial bitterness
- Religious changes
- Changes in the army
- Economic exploitation
- Rise of nationalism
- Widening the gulf between hindus and Muslims
End of company’s rule
It was done by Government act of 1858 :
It transferred the power to govern india from the east india company to the British crown.
The company’s board of control and court of directions were abolished. The power was to be exercised by the secretary of state, aided by a 15 member council. The secretary of State was a member of British Cabinet and was responsible to the Parliament.
Actual governance was to be carried on, as before by the governor-general who was also given the title of viceroy, that is a personal representative of the crown. Lord canning was appointed as the first viceroy under this act.
Appointment to civil services were to be made by open competition under rules made by the secretary of State
When was declared and by whom
The queen’s proclamation incorporating the transfer of governance from east india company to the British crown was made public at allahabad on 1st November 1858 by lord canning
Queen Victoria’s proclamation
Follow a policy of non-intervention in social and religious matters of all Indians
Treat all subjects Indians and Europeans as equal, education and ability would be the basis of all appointments
Grant a general pardon to all those who had taken part in the war except those who guilty of murder of British subjects
Do it’s best to advance the industries in india and
Promote work of public utility in india so as to ensure the material as well as the moral progress of the people
Changes in the army
- The strength of Europeans troops was increased
- European troops were kept in key geographical and military positions
3.To desist the indian soldiers from rising again against the British rule , the sophisticated weapons and ammunition were never placed under the charge of the Indians - Discrimination on the basis of caste , region and religion was practised in the recruitment to the army
- In order to discourage nationalism , ,ensure such as introduction of caste and community in most regiments were taken
- Newspapers , journals were prevented from the reach of Indian soldiers to keep them separated from the rest of the population.
