Lesson 2: The Events and Failure of the Rebellion

Question 1

May 1857: The Beginning

Answer 1

• Sepoy rebellion began in Meerut, quickly spreading to Delhi, where rebels seized control.
• The rebellion spread across north-central India, including key areas like Haryana, Bihar, and the United Provinces.
• In the countryside near Meerut, the Gurjars rebelled, expelling Company police and establishing local control.

Question 2

June 1857: Key Rebellions and Sieges

Answer 2

1. Kanpur (Cawnpore):
   • Rebels led by Nana Sahib, a Maratha prince, besieged the British garrison for three weeks.
   • After a surrender agreement, British civilians and soldiers were massacred during evacuation.
   • The killings caused outrage, leading to extreme reprisals when the British recaptured the city.
   
   2. Lucknow:
      • Rebels besieged the British Residency in Oudh, trapping around 1,200 defenders and civilians.
      • The British held out but were vastly outnumbered, with rebel forces estimated at up to 60,000.
   3. Jhansi:
      • Rani Lakshmibai reclaimed control of Jhansi after British officers were killed.
      • She fortified her position, preparing for eventual conflict with British forces.

Question 3

July 1857: British Counterattack Begins

Answer 3

• Reinforcements arrived from across the empire, including troops from China, Burma, and the Crimean War.
• Under General Neill, British forces launched violent campaigns to retake rebel-held areas.
• Neill’s forces used extreme brutality, burning villages and executing civilians, claiming it was retaliation for the Kanpur massacre.

Question 4

September 1857: Siege of Delhi

Answer 4

• British forces, supported by Sikh and Gurkha soldiers, laid siege to Delhi.
• After heavy bombardment and significant casualties on both sides, the city was captured.
• Bahadur Shah was arrested; his sons were executed. British troops looted and committed atrocities, including indiscriminate killing and rapes.

Question 5

Late 1857 - Early 1858: Continued Fighting

Answer 5

1. Lucknow:
   • British forces evacuated their defenders from Lucknow but initially failed to recapture the city.
   • By March 1858, a larger force, supported by Nepalese troops, successfully drove rebels out.
   
   2. Jhansi and Gwalior:
      • In April 1858, Sir Hugh Rose captured Jhansi, but Rani Lakshmibai escaped.
      • By June, the rebels, led by Lakshmibai and Tantya Tope, captured Gwalior.
      • British forces quickly recaptured Gwalior; Lakshmibai was killed, and the rebellion lost its key leaders.

Question 6

July 1858–1859: Final Suppression

Answer 6

• British forces spent the next year suppressing scattered uprisings in rural areas.
• Rebel leaders like Tantya Tope were captured and executed, while Nana Sahib fled into obscurity.
• In March 1859, Bahadur Shah was exiled to Burma.
• By July 1859, the rebellion was declared officially over.

Question 7

Why Did the Rebellion Fail?

Answer 7

1. Loyalty of Princely States
   • Most princely states, like Hyderabad and Mysore, remained loyal to Britain.
   • These states either stayed neutral or provided troops to suppress the rebellion.
2. Support from the Sikhs and Gurkhas
   • Sikhs, historical enemies of the Mughals, supported British efforts, particularly in Punjab.
   • Gurkha troops from Nepal bolstered British forces in key battles.
3. Limited Geographic Spread
   • The rebellion was confined to north-central India, while the south and west remained stable.
   • Loyal armies in Madras and Bombay allowed the British to focus on the rebellious areas.

Question 8

Why Did the Rebellion Fail?

Answer 8

4. British Military Superiority
5. Advanced Weaponry:
   • British forces used Lee-Enfield rifles, which were more accurate and faster to reload than the muskets used by rebels.
6. Steady Supply Lines:
   • The British consistently received fresh supplies and reinforcements, while rebels ran out of ammunition and weapons.

Question 9

Why Did the Rebellion Fail?

Answer 9

5. Overwhelming Brutality
   • British forces used widespread violence, including mass executions, village burnings, and indiscriminate killings.
   • Atrocities weakened rebel morale and deterred civilians from supporting the rebellion.

Question 10

Why Did the Rebellion Fail?

Answer 10

6. Lack of Unified Leadership
   • The rebels had no central leadership:
   • Bahadur Shah was a symbolic figurehead but lacked real authority.
   • Leaders like Rani Lakshmibai, Tantya Tope, and Nana Sahib acted independently.
   • This lack of coordination prevented the rebellion from becoming a unified revolution.

Question 11

Why did the rebellion fail?

Answer 11

7. Fragmented Goals
   • The rebels had diverse and often conflicting motivations:
   • Sepoys opposed cultural and religious impositions.