India Flashcards
What is a settlement colony?
Give 3 examples
West Indies, cape colony and Australia
Founded by people of British origin and ruled by a British appointed governor
What is a crown colony?
Trading or naval bases. Few British settlers but ruled by British officials (except India which was ruled by several as it’s so huge)
What were the two distinct periods within the empire?
1815-1870 : age of anti imperialism. Empire not growing, only thriving within its original confines.
1870-1945 : “new imperialism”
What would the Indians of referred to the Indian mutiny of 1857 as?
A war of independence
When east India company had a royal charter granted by queen Elizabeth, what did it allow and where?
Monopoly on all trade in east or the cape of Africa
What year does the EIC monopoly end?
Why?
1813
Britain can now charge ships coming into ports like London money, increasing their wealth
What year did the Indian mutiny end?
1858
How did Britain end the mutiny?
4 points!
- British forces march to Lucknow aiming to end the uprising in Oudh. They had extra supplies and resources.
- Britain were supported by a large Nepalese force
- Br had a slow and methodical advance - very effective
- March 1858 - mostly a success but was a rebel force
Profile of Colonel Campbell :
Hint - previous career?
Current career?
Lucknow?
Part of the first opium was and the Crimean war.
July 1857 becomes commander in chief of all British forces in India during mutiny
November 1857 he relieved and evacuated Lucknow
March 1858 captured Lucknow again
Aftermath of the end of the mutiny?
Hints : policies towards rebels?
Harsh punishments for rebels e.g being blown out a cannon.
The Br press demanded for no mercy to be given to them due to what happened in Cawnpore
Rebels suffered huge losses (100,000)
What happened to Badun Shah at the end of the Indian mutiny?
Lived at Delhi. He was tried at a military court there and exiled so if trouble arose in the future with the rebels, they’d have no one as a leader
What year did queen Victoria become the empress of India and why?
1877
Cement the link between Britain and India
What happened to the EIC after the end of the mutiny?
They ended. They had no rule in India
What were the reactions in the British press to the Indian mutiny?
- Br wrote articles and political cartoons such as ‘Justice’.
- Publications supported harsh punishments given out by Br troops (seen as justifications)
- Incidents (like Cawnpore) made people at home angry as they were so horrific
Why was the mutiny a success for Britain?
It was ended by help of other Indian soldiers showing loyalty
Emperor had no control over mutineers showing britains clear growing influence
Why was the mutiny a success for India?
Able to relieve the old Mughal empire and did it fast.
Mughal empire = all Indian princes united under one roof
What did Britain do after the mutiny in terms of changes?
1858-1914
4 points!!!
Hint : policy ??
EIC?
Army?
Br rule?
Ended EIC as showed they were incapable of running India in a secure way. It had such a huge army which was then put under Br control
Marks beginning of total British rule. Now sectary of state and council of 15 ministers.
Br army was reformed - more men, prevented sepoys from using artillery, every 2 sepoy units should had a British supervisor
Policy of appeasement towards princely states - money given to princes to ensure loyalty
What was the government of India act and what year?
4 points
Hint : who passed it?
1857
Conservative govt under Lord Palmerston passes act
It abolished EIC and passed its powers and territory to crown
Sectary of state and 15 ministers created
Viceroy replaces Governor General
Promise was made to not interfere with Indian religious matters and that there would be equality of opportunity
When queen Victoria became the empress of India, what did the liberals believe?
Said Britain conservatives were doing absolutism (form of govt where all power held under one authority).
Liberals believed conservatives were preventing India from being independent and free
What was material improvement?
Idea that India needed to be made more secure
Under the idea of material improvement, what changed?
Hint : railway only
• Railway building - troops and weapons could travel efficiently. Idea initially proposed in 1853 by Dalhousie and by 1857 288 miles built in 3 lines. 1859 planned network and by 1881 9891 miles completed.
Overseen by Br engineers, Indian labour force. Terrible conditions - poor pay, disease and weather
Under material improvement, what ways did Britain ‘improve’ India besides the railway?
•Irrigation
1900 large scale irrigation in place. 30 million acres artificially irrigated and had total cultivated land of 197 million.
Improved growth of crops as had access to water, important in combatting droughts.
•Extended postal and telegraphic services
Under material improvement, what happened to Indias economy and trade?
Hint : what role did railways play?
What happened between farmers?
Did not promote Indian industries as competing British interests.
Railway accelerated loss of traditional craft as goods could be transported from big cities
Britain didn’t let India make cotton. Shipped to Britain, made into clothing and shipped back - expensive for Indians
Attitude of merchants and planters = hostile towards indigo planters in bengal. Native plantation doing better than Britain. Was armed confrontation as natives had more land so more land to grow indigo so more money
By the 1870s, what were Indians 5 largest exports?
Cotton Opium Grains Indigo Tea
