Section 1 Flashcards
Which Mughal emperor was responsible for the decline of Mughal empire?
Aurangzeb
Why do historians blame Aurangzeb for the decline of the Mughal empire?
1) Reimposed Jizya
2) Marathas war (25 yrs)
3) Killed Guru Tegh Bahadur of Sikh community.
4) No proper administration
What were the reasons that led to the decline of the Mughal empire?
1) Pleasure seeking rulers
2) Aurangzeb’s policies
3) Succession disputes
4) Arrival of British
5) Foreign invasions - Nadir Shah
6) Weak administration
7) Weak army
8) No modern weaponry
9) No naval force
What was the Jizya tax?
A tax on non-Muslims
For protection and defense
Akbar abolished it
Aurangzeb reimposed
People protested
Not listened to
Who was Ahmed Shah Durani?
An Afghan leader
Excellent tactical skills
Beat Marathas at battle of Panipat.
Invaded Mughal empire looting it
Who were the Marathas?
Hindus
Lived in Deccan
In war with Mughals (25 yrs)
Defeated by Ahmed Shah Abdali in Panipat.
Why Hindus opposed Jizya?
Only on non-Muslims.
Incentive of forceful conversion.
Charge not used solely for protection.
High charges.
What was the East India company?
A trading company that came to India during the 1600’s
Later tried to collapse the Mughal empire.
Why did the British come to India?
1) Warm waters
2) Huge profitable trade (population of India great) - 23% of the world
3) Accessibility of Raw materials.
What was the battle of Plassey?
- 1757
- Siraj- Ud-Daula warned by French of British intentions
- Attacked British (Robert Clive)
- General Mir Jaffer bribed
- Defeated Daula
What was the battle of Buxar?
- 1764
- Clive put Mir Qasim on throne (son of Jaffer)
- Revolted with Oudh ruler and Mughal emperor
- Defeated
What was the child’s war?
- Between Aurangzeb and EIC
-EIC defeated - Pardoned after paying a heavy fine
What was the black hole tragedy?
Black hole was a dungeon in fort Willian of Calcutta. Siraj- Ud- Daula kept prisoners of war here (British).
Due to less space 43-64 died of suffocation.
Why did the battle of Plassey take place?
1) French convinced Daula to attack.
2) EIC were not paying taxes
3) Daula alarmed by British expansion
What is another name for the regulating act?
The act of parliament
What was the regulating act?
- 1773
- 7 years of famine
- EIC being corrupt
- British government intervened
- responsibility taken
- EIC held accountable
What was the Pitts India act?
- 1784
- direct control of Indian possessions
- Appointed a governor general
- Set up a police and legal system
- Civil service set up
What was the subsidiary alliance?
- 1798
- Lord Wellesley
1) Control area
2) Pay for protection
3) No other alliances can be made
(the terms if a state signed this)
What were the reasons of the annexation of Sindh?
1) Regain lost prestige –> british lost against afghans.
2) British might –> message to Indians
3) Sikh expansion –> wanted to take over Sindh
What was the Doctrine of Lapse?
- 1852
- Dalhousie
- Annex lands if no heir
- corrupt
Why were the British able to conquer India?
1) Negligence of rulers
2) Weak army
3) British modernized weapons
4) Civil feuds
Who was Lord Wellesley?
- Governor general in 1798
- Convinced rulers to sign subsidiary alliance
- Killed Tipu Sultan
Defeated nawabs of Oudh
Who was Titu Mir?
- a Bengali freedom fighter
- went on pilgrimage
- came back to fight against corrupt Zamindars and British
- killed
Who were zamindars?
- Landlords
- Corrupt
- Muslims ko oppress
- Didnt want to pay money or taxes
