week 2 - the indian mutiny Flashcards
the mutiny
began among sepoys in bengal army (the bengal regiments of the east india company’s army)
by mid 1800s, eic had a private army of nearly 300,000 - over 230,000 of these were indian sepoys.
a sepoy was an indian soldier employed by eic. They were
not allowed to become officers.
in 1857 resentment developed over pay and conditions of service.
discotent with east india company rule
monopoly of the east india comapny ended in 1813 - india flooded with cheap british goods impacting indian trade and wealth.
british landlords imposed high rents on indian tenants as states were annexed.
indian exports such as tea, indigo and spices received very low prices.
territorial expansion by the british in the 1840s and 1850s (much in the northern region of bengal to punjab).
british rule brought significant economic, social and political change in first half of the19th century.
british presence became overwhelming - indians having to accept an alien culture
indian religion and culture in the east india company army
indians from the bengal army tended to be of the high priestly caste.
religious observance particularly important for priestly caste.
rumours that bengal regiments might be sent overseas - offending caste rules about crossing water.
british soldiers were better paid than indian sepoys in the same army.
sepoys were not allowed to become officers - again insulting status for high caste indians.
as states were annexed by east india comapny sepoys in that state were no longer seen to be serving in a foreign state so no longer received bonus pay
british reactions of harsh punishment for disobedience inflamed situation.
beginning of the mutiny
bengal sepoys refuse to obey orders in february 1857. concerned that cartridges for their rifles had been greased with cow or pig fat. negotiation with officers followed.
march 1857 in calcutta - mangal pandey (a sepoy) wounds an eic officer. he is executed, but outrage at decision to flog pandey’s entire sepoy company sparks mutiny.
may 1857 in meerut - entire sepoy army mutinied in protest at 10 year sentences to 85 sepoys refusing to use greased cartridges. they kill all their British officers.
delhi sepoys turn on their british officers.
sepoys seize control in agra, lucknow and cawnpore.
the former mughal emperor is set up as a figurehead leader for sepoy rebellion.
what happened a fortnight before the cawnpore massacre?
native regiments at dehli and meerut had broken out in mutiny, assisted by the badmashes and muslim fanatics, and massacred their british masters
