India

Question 1

Why was there a political vacuum 1707

Answer 1

Mughal Empire collapsed 1707 due to over extension/ weak successors

Question 2

How did the political vacuumncontribute to growth in EIC?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

1) Regulating Act 1773

Answer 3

Created a governing council w/ parliamentary majority

Appointment of GG subject to approval of a council nominated by the crown

Question 4

Why did British gov take more control of EIC?

Answer 4

EIC almost went bankrupt due to poor management/ corruption

LEd to tea act

Question 5

1784 Act

Answer 5

EIC subordinate to crown

Can’t declare war/ make peace unless directed by bengal

Question 6

Charter Act 1813

Answer 6

Followed end of mercantilism to Capitalism

Ended EIC monopoly (except tea/ CHina

Accept work of missionaries in India

Question 7

1833 Act

Answer 7

Ended commercial activities + reorganised administrative system

Question 8

How did free trade change the function of the EIC

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Increasing role of the COmpany Army

Answer 9

By 1820 200,000 troops- more than most European states
Ensures local leaders signed treaties wiyh EIC

Question 10

Why/ where did British territory grow? Where they successful? (3)

Answer 10

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

Question 11

WHy was the Bengal presidency so important?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What was the campaign against Thagi?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What was the campaign against Sati?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

When was Sati outlawed?

Answer 14

1829

Question 15

What was the campaign against Female Infanticide?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What were the key reforms of Dalhousie?

Answer 16

Infrastructure

Doctrine of Lapse and Paramountcy

Annexation of Awadh 1956

Question 17

What was the doctrine of lapse/ paramountcy?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

WHat was the annexation of Awadgh

Answer 18

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

Question 19

2 immediate causes of rebellion?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Key events of the rebellion

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Why did britain retain control?

Answer 21

• 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

Question 22

How did the British gov reorganise rule in India?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

How did Britain reorganise the Army?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

How did British attitudes towards Indians change after the rebellion?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Impact of Christian missionaries

Answer 25

Some hindus formed parallell organisations to purify Hinduism

Proximity of missionaries caused specific local tensions

Increased resistance

Question 26

3 causes of increasing british presence in India early 19thh cent

Answer 26

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