The Role of the EIC and the governor general; the importance of Bengal and the company army Flashcards
What was the role of the EIC in India?
The charter act of 1813 ended the EIC’s monopoly on commercial trade, except for tea and trade with China.
The 1833 Government of India Act ended the Company’s commercial activities completely, and reorganised the administrative system of the Indian territories.
The function of the EIC had now moved from commerce to administration, meaning that those overseeing British India now saw themselves as rulers rather than merchants.
The military prowess of the company’s private army meant local rulers would ally themselves with the EIC as the company then served as a tax collector.
What was the role of the Governor general?
The governor served five year terms as appointed by the EIC’s court of directors, but from 1773, the governor was appointed by a council of four, who were all appointed by the crown essentially meaning the governor was appointed by the Crown.
Powers were passed in 1784 and 1786 that increased the executive powers of the governor, including overruling his council when the governor would see fit.
The governor of fort William in Bengal was effectively in charge of foreign policy, as only he could make peace/start war.
From the 1833 Government of India act, the governor of Fort William became the concurrent governor general of India. Slow communications meant that orders from London were often ignored, and the powers given to them were exercised.
Essentially, the role of the Governor had changed from an administrator of peace deals and alliances to being fully responsible for the legalisation of all lands under British control.
What was the importance of the Company army?
The company had three private armies and by 1820, it had 200,000 troops, a mixture of whites and sepoys. By 1856, there were 277,746 soldiers, the vast majority of which were sepoys.
The company armies worked as enforcers, making sure local treaties were abided by. Also worked as tax collectors and in administrative roles.
Sind was formally annexed in 1843 after the disaster of the First Afghan War.
What was the importance of Bengal?
Annexed in 1757 after Plassey, it became home to Fort William and Calcutta, the capital of India under the British.
All legal and financial regulators of the British resided in Bengal.
