Section One-Indian Mutiny (1857-1890) Flashcards
Who did the Indian Mutiny begin amongst?
It began amongst sepoys serving in the Bengal Army- mainly peasant soldiers from north India
What are the explanations for the outbreak of the Mutiny?
Traditional Explanation: New Enfield riles had been greased in animal fat which offended religion as pork was religiously unacceptable for both Muslims and Hindus
Real Explanation: Anger felt by landlords and nobles who had been deprived of their lands by Governor-General Dalhousie
What were the events of the Indian Mutiny?
-Sepoys in Bengal refused to obey orders in February
1857 leading to other battalions following suit
- At Meerut, outside Delhi, sepoys turned on their British officers
- Sepoys seized control of most of the northern cities and there was short-lived attempt to resurrect old Mughal emperor as figurehead
- Sepoys joined not only by sections of urban populations but also by rural populations; some rebels were discontented landowners who had lost out under British rule; others were peasants who resented taxation or joined the rebellion to get back at feuding neighbours
What happened as a result of the Indian Mutiny?
- Emperor’s sons were swiftly executed so the remaining rebels lost any hope of restoring Mughal dynasty to rule over India
- Delhi and Lucknow were devastated
- Villages burnt, mutineers tortured and British officers’ wives and children were murdered
How did Britain stop the Indian Mutiny?
June 1858 following a final battle at Gwalior, some 180 miles south of Delhi
What was the impact of the Indian Mutiny?
- Government and society in India changed
- The extension of education changed
- Economic change
- Overall attitudes
- Canning’s efforts
How did Government and society in India change?
- Reports of savagery of Indians were emphasised whilst ignoring much of brutality of the British and this fuelled the arrogance of white men buoyed up by Social-Darwinist theories of superiority
- Although British attempted to act in more religiously sensitive way in the wake of the Mutiny, they also grew more aloof; a greater degree of separation set in
- Legal systems imposed favoured the white man and did not help the poor
- Little help for peasants to get educated and only wealthier Indians could
- Most of the population British rule was regarded more with indifference than love
What were some of the benefits and drawbacks of the British Raj?
British provided jobs for Indians- on railways, in army, police however only minority of Indians could obtain such employment
British developed schemes for irrigation and land improvements but these only took place where they supported British commercial interest and affected only 6% of the land
British provided schools and unis- but only privileged few could benefit; illiteracy remained widespread
Poverty continued; death rates from famine remained high
What did Viceroy Canning do in an attempt to win back Indians?
- Some land and titles were returned to native Indians
- Star of India medals were introduced
- Positions in either Imperial Assembly or Statutory Civil Service were shared amongst the Indian nobility
How did Education change in India?
Universities established in Bombay, Madras and Calcutta in 1857; 60,000 Indians entered the universities; 1,100/2,000 law students were appointed to government service
What did Mary Carpenter do?
Mary Carpenter visited India four times between 1866 and 1875; she established corps of British teachers for India as well as girls’ schools in Bombay and Ahmedabad
How did economy change?
- The greatest economic change was a growth investment- particularly in the railways which helped stimulate trade and the development of previously inaccessible areas
- Tea plantations increased from just one in 1851 to 295 by 1871
What were the overall attitudes of British towards Indians?
Many British believed their ‘benign rule’ in India was genuinely liberating experience for Indians- The Whig reformist T.B. Macauley believed that educating Indians to ensure they became ‘English in taste, in opinions, in morals’ was sufficient to justify the British domination of the subcontinent
