The First Mysore War 1767-69/Bengal Famine Flashcards
who began a series of wars against the British?
the sultan of Mysore, against the British position in Madras, it put a strain on the company’s profits
why did the company have to borrow money? how much did they borrow?
had to borrow £1.4m from the government to pay for the war due to the famine
when was the Bengal famine? how many died?
1768-70, estimated 10 million deaths
what caused the famine?
the company increased tax on agricultural produce from 10% to 50% and encouraged farmers to grow opium and indigo instead of crops
this weakened the company’s position and as a result the government got very little from the company
what was the role of the company so far?
not only a trading company, developed a state-like administration
1767, Company Secretary Robert James: ‘We don’t want conquest and power; it is commercial interest we only look for’
Luke Scrafton (aid to Clive) shows other ideas were emerging: ‘No longer considered mere merchants, they were now thought the umpires of Indostan’
