How did the indigenous peoples respond to British rule: 1857-1890

Question 1

Causation of the Indian Rebellion/Mutiny

Answer 1

Grievances about pay and enfield rifle ammunition being dipped in animal fat (short term), Governor-General Dalhousie takes nobles and landlords of land

Question 2

Events of the Indian Rebellion/Mutiny

Answer 2

• Sepoys turn on British officers and mob against Europeans
• Emperor’s son executed so rebels can’t restore Mughal dynasty
• Mutineers tortured and British officers and their families murdered

Question 3

Social impact of the Indian Rebellion/Mutiny

Answer 3

• Questions over if Indians could be ‘westernised’
• land and titles were given back to some native Indians
• Star of India medals introduced and positions in Civil Service given to Indian Nobility
• missionaries told to stop spreading in India
• Establishment of Universities in Bombay, Madras and Calcutta

Question 4

Economic impact of the Indian Rebellion/Mutiny

Answer 4

• Railways built (for control and trade: 20,000 miles in 1900)
• Tea plantation numbers rose (1 in 1851 to 295 in 1871)
• Irrigation schemes and land improvement (supported British interest and only covered 6% of land)
• Provided cheap manufactures which led to dependence and lack of development from Indian industry

Question 5

Relationship with the Boers

Answer 5

• Annex Transvaal to protect from Zulu and Pedi tribe in 1877 (leads to Zulu war which British win in 1879)
• Boer want independence in 1880 (due to elimination of Zulu threat) however British doesn’t allow it so Boers turn on British (First Boer War including victory at Majuba Hill) and force Britain to sign Pretoria Convention (ends Boer War 1881)
• British annex Bechuanaland and make Crown Colony in 1885 to prevent Boers and German-West Africans uniting
• 1890 Cecil Rhodes founds Fort Salisbury

Question 6

Indigenous people in Dominions: Australia

Answer 6

Aborigines were outcasts

Question 7

Indigenous people in Dominions: Canada

Answer 7

Native Tribes were ‘encouraged’ to live on reservations

Question 8

Indigenous people in Dominions: New Zealand

Answer 8

Maoris lost land to settlers

Question 9

Britain in Sudan

Answer 9

• Charles Gordon was sent to act as Governor-General of Sudan between 1877-1880
• Faced opposition in June 1881 (declared himself as the Mahdi and created jihadist army)
• Gladstone ordered retreat for from Khartoum in 1884 but Gordon stayed but was overran in 1885 and was beheaded