India 1857-90 Flashcards
1
Q
Indian Mutiny causes
A
- New Enfield rifles were greased with animal fat, offended both Muslims and Hindus
- not allowed to practice customs such as sati (burning of widows on husbands grave)
- Indians resented the sharp increases in tax to make up for losses after many died during the great famine
- The doctrine of lapse (lord Dalhousie) meant that after princes passed the british gained control of areas
- widespread famine due to new British manufacturers
2
Q
Indian mutiny suppression
A
- The Government of India Act 1858 (official rule)
- Used cruel methods to kill the rebels, branding them before shooting them, made examples of them
- Shattered Indian Confidence to rebel
- Emperor’s sons were executed so that remaining rebels lost any hope of restoring Mughal Dynasty, NO UNIFYING LEADER
- 100,000 casualties, brutality traumatises nation- psychological impact
- After regaining control, British rulers used India as a means of compensation for rebellion costs (lead to the expansion of railway network)
3
Q
governing post indian mutiny
A
- Decided that after the Mutiny, change in rule was needed. They dissolved EIC and rule went to the Government (government of india act 1858)
- The queen claimed to ‘pardon the offences of the misled’
- deaths from famine remained high eg famine 1876-78
- Appointed Queen Victoria as Empress in 1877 to remind of Imperial power + Delhi Durbar attended by 68,000
- British officials in government were virtually all white
- introduce 15 member indian council and a viceroy rather that governor general, also indian civil service but mostly British educated
- Up until 1858, the DOCTRINE OF LAPSE. The removal helped ensure the princes’ loyalty, Viceroy relied on (cooperation of native rulers)
- greater respect was shown for traditional Indian customs -> OFTEN NOT PRACTICED
- Some sections of the population showed increasing political awareness, evidenced by the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885, members discussed political affairs. it only had limited power but it offered a forum for debate.
- risk to British interests posed by the mutiny led to: efforts to strengthen the British Indian Army, proportion of British to Indian troops raised to 1:2, proportion of white soldiers increased.
- Indian troops were mixed by caste and religion to prevent any sense of unity, moreover, Indians were placed under British commanders and denied officer ranking. Divide and rule tactics.
- 1859-61 viceroy canning tour of india: introduce star of india medal, some land returned to natives
- 1878 vernacular press act, suppressed freedom of press in India, no criticism of the Raj, catalyst for independence
4
Q
post Indian mutiny effects on natives
A
- The British made markets for Indian produce, but this created specialisation in the **higher value cash-crops (rice) and drove up everyday, low value crops (barely rye millet)
- Building of 3000 miles of railway networks but these were more geared towards control, most villages did not even have roads
- Indian people were able to get jobs on railways and civil service
- They provided schools and universities, (established in Bombay and Calcutta in 1858), many went on to work in the government. but only the privileged few could benefit; illiteracy remained widespread.
- poverty continued and death rates from famine were high
- majority of India remained unirrigated and in areas where irrigation was introduced, it was to support British economic interest
- Some sections of the population showed increasing political awareness, evidenced through the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885. It only had limited power but offered forum for debate.
- Early nationalist movements primarily led by Western-educated elites: limited connection with rural or uneducated populations.
