India, Sudan and Egypt up to 1914 Flashcards
Causes of Indian Mutiny
Religion - British failed to appreciate the complexities of their relgions
EIC - Lost touch with the people it was ruling
Cartridges - Enfield rifle cartridges were greased with animal fat (religiously unacceptable for Muslims and Sikhs) so the soldiers refused to bite before loading
What happened during the Indian mutiny?
Sepoys took control over northern cities and attempted to resurrect the Mughal Emperor
Sepoys were discontented landowners, peasants who hated taxation and all those who lost out under British Rule.
Massacre of 200 British women and children at Cawnpore caused outrage in Britain – British public bayed for blood
British gave swift and brutal revenge. When Muslim mutineers were captured they were sewn into pig skins before they were hung, forced to clean up blood by licking it off the floor and blown from the barrel of a cannon.
Gurkhas, Sikhs and Pathan regiments remained loyal to Britain.
Peace declared 8th of July 1858
Impact of Indian Mutiny
Ended EIC control
Total British control from now on
British Indian Army reformed
- Sepoy units more closely supervised and sepoys treated with greater respect
British adopt a policy of appeasement with the powers of Old India
How did the mutiny change British control in India?
Government of India Act 1858
The rule of British East India Company was abolished and the Government of India was directly taken over by the Crown with Queen Victoria as the supreme monarch.
Secretary of State for India (a cabinet post) and the India Council created
A Viceroy was appointed
The people of India were promised their rights by Queen Victoria under this Act
Pardon was given to all the Indians except those who had killed British people
Administration of India up to 1914
Viceroys continued to rule with fairly unrestrained power
Indian Civil Service remained to ensure India was secure, profitable and that the native people accepted
India modernised which involved more British intervention
Indian Civil Service adopted a ‘divide and rule’ policy
Egypt up to 1914
Egypt was a veiled protectorate This created a strange administrative arrangement that hindered British action
Egypt used as a strategic territory to control trade route across the Suez Canal
Sudan up to 1914
Mahdist revolt began in 1881
1883 Anglo-Egyptian counter attack unsuccessful
Death of Gordon in Khartoum 1885. Gladstone widely criticised for failing to send support
1898 – Battle of Omdurman – British and Egyptian forces defeat Mahdist Sudan
1899 – Anglo-Egyptian Sudan established as a condominium (Sudan run by British with Egyptian support)
Challenges with Nationalism in India,, Sudan and Eygpt
India - Indian National Congress founded in 1885 was an anti-colonial nationalistic movement
Sudan - Mahdist revolts that lead to death of Gordon and battle of Omdurman
Egypt -Denshawai Incident. dispute which occurred in 1906 between British Army officers and Egyptian villagers. (4 Egyptians excecuted for the murder of one soldier)
Al-Hibz-al-Watani - nationalist party formed in 1881 who sought the end of British occupation
