India Flashcards
Why was there a political vacuum 1707
Mughal Empire collapsed 1707 due to over extension/ weak successors
How did the political vacuumncontribute to growth in EIC?
India fell into CHaos/ civil war
France/ EIC took advantage of Vacuum, backing differed nawabs against each other in proxy war
1757 EIC victorious in Battle of Plassey which gained them important territory and removed french from area
1) Regulating Act 1773
Created a governing council w/ parliamentary majority
Appointment of GG subject to approval of a council nominated by the crown
Why did British gov take more control of EIC?
EIC almost went bankrupt due to poor management/ corruption
LEd to tea act
1784 Act
EIC subordinate to crown
Can’t declare war/ make peace unless directed by bengal
Charter Act 1813
Followed end of mercantilism to Capitalism
Ended EIC monopoly (except tea/ CHina
Accept work of missionaries in India
1833 Act
Ended commercial activities + reorganised administrative system
How did free trade change the function of the EIC
INow saw themselves as ruling territory rather than just engaging n it
Abilities to use armies increased role as tax collector
Increased expansion- revenue from tax became principle source of finance
Tax raised £18 Mill a year- 1/3 of British peacetime rev
Increasing role of the COmpany Army
By 1820 200,000 troops- more than most European states
Ensures local leaders signed treaties wiyh EIC
Why/ where did British territory grow? Where they successful? (3)
Wanted to expand North West frontier due o fear of russian invasion through Afghan or Persia
1st Afhgan war 1838-42: disaster as meddled with internal politics without promised support of local ruler in Punjab- cost 15M
Sind annexed 1843
COnquered punjab most of 1840’s but Sikhs later help in the rebellion
WHy was the Bengal presidency so important?
The annexation of Bengal basically secured EUC control/ removed french
The administrative structure of Bengal (designed by Cornwallis - 1793) was the framework of the indian gov for almost 2 centuries
Bengal presidency amy was X2 size of other 2 armies
Calcutta - centre of British India in Bengal
Governor General of Bengal = GG of India
What was the campaign against Thagi?
Led by Sleeman 1836-48
Outlawed thagi (1836) - highway robbery/ ritual murder
Highly publicised campaign
1000 transported/ hung, 3000 punished
Intended to protect native Indians from the ‘menace’
not widely resented and Britain saw it as reason for other ‘necessary’ social reforms/ modernisation
What was the campaign against Sati?
Tradition of self-immolation by Hindi Widowns due to belief in sancicity of marriage bond
Abolished 1829 especially due to Benticks own strong personal views
Felt the interference was a deliberate attack on case purity/ pressumption of cultural superiority
When was Sati outlawed?
1829
What was the campaign against Female Infanticide?
Bentinck 1802
Killing girl babies at birth due to difficultly in paying dowries/ shame of having unmarried daughters
Improved lives of many women
Represented a new departure in gov intervention in Indian society
Growing disconent to British rule
What were the key reforms of Dalhousie?
Infrastructure
Doctrine of Lapse and Paramountcy
Annexation of Awadh 1956
What was the doctrine of lapse/ paramountcy?
Redefines native rulers as under ultimate british authority
Britain would intervene in the affairs of native states if:
Death of native ruler w/o legitimate heir (direct conflict with Hindu law)
Misgovernment of state
Eg. Awadh - 1856
WHat was the annexation of Awadgh
1956 after the leader was deposed for ‘maladministration’
Announced all land would be taken from landowners unable to prove legal title to estate
Attack on social order was v destabilising as each landowner was responsible for large no. workers
Primary cause of rebellion- Awadh most serious area
2 immediate causes of rebellion?
Rumours of new cartridges being lubricated with animal fat
- risked defilement
- proved britains dark pan of Christianisation, sparked simmering resentments
General Service Enlistment Act 1856: Soldiers in Bengali army have to travel over water
-would pollute caste, big issue as recruitment typically from higher caste
85 sepoys refused to load new rifles 1857 and all 3 sepoy regiments rose in revolt
Key events of the rebellion
Jhansi_ 2 native alloes of british wished to seize power, rani sucessfully kept region under her rule peacefully
Cawnpore; Sir High Wheel didnt prepare carefully, only held out 18 days, during transfer 600 killed
Lucknow - Henry Lawrence prepared well, successfully withheld siege from mutinous sepoys for 87 days when relief forces arrived, Lawrence dies due to a shell explosion early in the siege
Awadh most serious: unified challenge from all social levels
Why did britain retain control?
- Rebels not a cohesive force, unwillung to cooperate together and forget differences to unify against British
All british had to do was eliminate one centre of resistence after another
other 2 presidency armies remained loyal to Uk (area around Calcutta remained unaffected
Punjabi sepoys key in supressing revellion
British foothold in the continent meant able to exploit local religious/. political divisions
- Too many good things from British rule eg Paying taxes, no other contenders for role of continent rulers
How did the British gov reorganise rule in India?
Government of India Act 1858 ended company rule, directly ruled by britain
Indians promised relgious toleration, equal protection, land protection - Govt. no longer fund Missionaries
In awadh steered clear of land reform which challenged feudal ties
Annexation of territory ceased and now carefully cultivated princes as collaborators- 560 remained loyal
How did Britain reorganise the Army?
No. India sepoys decreased 40%
British troops increased 50%
Sepoys recruited from more loyal areas eg Punjab, north-west
Regiments had diff ethnic. religious backgrounds to prevent spread of mutiny from regiment to regiment
allowed to use whatever grease they preferred
How did British attitudes towards Indians change after the rebellion?
Policy more pragmatic, less inclined to educate./ develop indian society
Turned to infrastructure/ railway as less controversial
FOcused on avoiding famine as best way to keep native population content
Believed if they left India, country would fall into chaos/ famine
Did attempt to keep conversion out of official policy
Impact of Christian missionaries
Some hindus formed parallell organisations to purify Hinduism
Proximity of missionaries caused specific local tensions
Increased resistance
3 causes of increasing british presence in India early 19thh cent
Power of EIC army- ensured local rulers signed treatues, aided tax, expansion
Political vacuum- used covil war, support nawabs
CHanging EIC business model- expanded to get more revenue
