Imperial and Colonial Policy 1857 - 1890 Flashcards
The Bengal Famine
1769 - 1773, roughly 15% of the population died.
EIC increased taxes from 10-15%
Local pop. had lower food and financial reserves in years with bad harvests
Tax rose again as more people died, supposedly because of EIC’s increased share price in 1769 of £269
The Indian Mutiny
By 1857, expansionist and insensitive policies met with nationalist agitation in the Indian Mutiny
Local people resented taxation and their efforts to westernise indian society.
85 sepoys refused to use bullet cartridges covered in pork and beef fat.
Sepoys were imprisoned, leading to a rebellion to free them. Bahadur Shah appointed as the leader.
EIC lost control of 1/6 of India and the mutiny took a year to suppress.
Once Britain regained control in 1858, power shifted from the dissolved EIC to British government
Indian Economy
Britain gained economically.
All indian railway construction was tendered to British businesses
Colonial tariff with Britain of 0% rather than 20% with US. Biased business towards Britain
EIC’s benefit was to private individuals, rather than British businesses and people. the only people to benefit were the shareholders who owned IEC shares and received their dividend payments
Government of India Act 1858
nationalised the EIC to give British government and crown control of India, instead of a private company
queen vic. granted control over EIC territories.
created position of Viceroy (Governor-General). ran government affairs in india through a legislative council of five (finance, law, army, economy, home affairs)
Position of SOS created
founded the india council (15 members) to assist the SOS
in 1877, Benjamin Disraeli, the British PM named Queen Vic. as empress of india, formalising the connection between the British crown and direct rule in India
India’s military and defence
Britain’s military focus was maintaining British control and avoiding another mutiny by Indian troops
all officer rankings were reserved for British soldiers
Native Indian troops were mixed deliberately by caste and religion (Hindus, sikhs and muslims)
More Gurkhas and Sikhs recruited
62/74 Bengali regiments disbanded.
Native regiments not given artillery
Indian troops were deliberately deployed abroad. For example, they were used by Britain to put down Arabi Pasha’s 1882 rebellion in Egypt. made them look like pawns rather than defenders of india
railroads in india
1853 - first passenger train launched between bombay and thane
1873 - first domestic tram system built in calcutta
the great indian peninsular railway (GIPR) was one of the first railway companies in India. built 4000 miles of railway line
railways not as accessible to the local population. helped improve the mobilisation of british-controlled soldiers
most investment came from private individuals investing in private companies
71% of british money channeled towards railway buildings in settlements such as india
although britain had improved india’s infrastructure, most of the contracts for providing the railway equipment and rolling stock went to British companies
