india

Question 1

1773-1784

role of the east india company

Answer 1

• had 3 private armies for each presidency - Bengal, madras, bombay
• poor management and corruption led to Br. gov more influence in india
• 1773 regulating act - governing coucil nominated by parliament, gov generals approved by crown first
• 1784 EIC act - company subordinate to crown politically
• british representatives saw themselves as ruling rather than trading
• company collected taxes for local rulers - could raise private armies
• local rulers ally themselves with EIC for protection from other rulers

Question 2

1773-1835

role of the governor

Answer 2

• governor ominated by company + approved by crown-controlled council
• warren hastings - first gov under c-c system
• other governors couldnt make war or peace without approval of bengal
• Gov of India act 1833 - Bengal president became gov general of india
• new gov - Sir Wiliam Bentwick responsible for foreign policy and legislation in Company territories
• gov g huge powers - slow communication with london
• 3 armies establised mid 18th c - protect commercial interests, 20,000 troops by 1820 - white to sepoys 6:1
• armies ensured local rulers signed treaties with co. and supported tax collection.

almost unlimited power - more focused on expansion and admin than commer

Question 3

EIC military campaigns

Answer 3

• co. fought no. campaigns e.g sind and pujab
• britain concerned about n-w frontier - fear of russian invasion + influence in persia
• 1st afghan war - ‘auckland’s folly’ cost 20,000 lives + £15 mil
• sind annexed 1834, punjab 1849
• sikh punjabs bitter towards native bengali sepoys
• bengal heart of co. - gov gov gen of all of india
• bengal army twice as large as other 2
• begali army pivotal role in annexation of Punjab and bitterness of sihks - partly explains british survival in 1857