British Imperialism in India

Chapter 11 Section 4

Keeley Thompson

Ansley Dees

Elizabeth Neece

Main Idea

As the MughalEmpire declined,Britain seizedIndian territoryand sooncontrolled almostthe wholesubcontinent.

Timeline to Set the Stage

1600s- British had economic interest in India, whichled to the establishment of the Britain East IndiaCompany. It held trading post in Bombay, Madras,and Calcutta. Mughal Dynasty had control at thetime.

1707- Mughal Empire begins to collapse. Maharaja,rulers, began to break away.

1757- Robert Clive led the East Indian Companytroops to a victory over the Indians at the Battle ofPlassey.

1858- East India Company remained the leadingpower in India.

British Expands Control Over India

~Governed directly and indirectly covering areas including:modern Bangladesh, most of southern India, and nearly all theterritory along the Ganges River.

East India Company Dominates

~British government regulated company efforts in London andIndia, where government was granted interference in the 19thcentury.

~East India Company had its own army. Staffed by the sepoys,Indian soldiers.

Britain’s “Jewel in the Crown”

~India was treasured for its potential not the actualprofit.

~Britain was the workshop during the IndustrialRevolution, and India acted as a major supplier ofresources.

~India also had a large population, which meantIndia had a large market and labor force.

~The name “jewel in the crown” refers to India asbeing the most valuable colony Britain hadconquered.

Britain’s Restrictions

~Indian Company’s could not operate independently.

~They were required to produce raw materials for Britain andbuy British goods. Raw materials consisted of tea, indigo,coffee, cotton, jute, and opium, which was shipped to Chinaand traded for tea.

~Competition was also prohibited. For example, India’shandloom textile industry was eliminated and replaced withthe innovative British inventions.

British Transport and Trade Goods

~Established a railroad network in India, which ultimately increasedthe value of the colony.

The Process: raw materials (located in interior of India)-ports- manufactured goods- back again

~Trade tied to many international events.

-Crimean War 1850s- Cut off supply of Russian and Scottishjute causing a reliance on Indian jute.

-Civil War in the United States prevented cotton suppliesfrom coming into Britain, so India had an increase in cotton trade.

Impact of Colonialism

Positive Benefits

~Developed the 3rd largestnetwork bringing in wealth forBritain and a modern economyand unity for India.

~Roads, telephones, telegraphlines, bridges, and irrigation canalsall modernized India.

~Sanitation and public healthimproved.

~Education was funded.

~British troops cleared bandits andended local warfare amongcompeting rulers.

Negative Harms

~Britain held political andeconomic power, restrictingIndian- owned industries likecotton.

~Cash crops emphasisresulted in loss of self-sufficiency of villagers andfamine.

~Britain adopted a hands-offpolicy regarding religiousand social customs.

The Sepoy Mutiny

*Discontent arose through feelings of racism andcontrolling of land, and the Indians questioned Britishrule.

Indians Rebel

~As economic problems arose so did resentment and nationalism.

~1857- Gossip spread amongst sepoys that the cartridges of theirnew Enfield rifles were greased with beef and pork fat. To use theweapons, soldiers had to bite off the ends. Hindus considered thecow a sacred animal, and Muslims do not eat pork. This causedoutrage. Out of ninety soldiers 85 refused the usage of theweapon, and they were imprisoned, which was a setback to theBritish army.

Sepoy (Indian Soldier)

Indians Rebel (continued)

~May 10, 1857- The official rebellion of the sepoys.They marched to Delphi, captured the city, andcontinued the rebellion because the idea diffused tonorthern India and central India.

~Fierce fighting in a fast moving uprising took the EastIndia Company more than a year to regain controlof the country.

Why did the Indians fail at therebellion?

~Lack of a strong leadership role

~Splits between Muslims and Hindus

~Hindus did not want the Muslim Mughal Empire to gainpower again, so they preferred British rule to an extent.

~The Sikhs, a religious group that had been hostile tothe Mughals, also remained loyal to Britain during therebellions.

Turning Point

~The mutiny was the turning point for India.

Results of the Mutiny

~In 1858, Britain was the direct command of India.

~Part of India that was under British rule was called the Raj,referring to British rule over India from 1757 until 1947.

~1877, the British governor general held the title of viceroy, or aperson appointed to rule a country.

~A cabinet minister in London was instructed to direct policy.

~Loyal princes were promised all alliances would be upheld withthe East India Company.

Turning Point

~The Indian states were “free,” but unofficially,Britain gained even more control over theircolony.

~The Sepoy Mutiny fueled British racist. It alsoincreased distrust.

“A delicate and dangerous machine, which alittle mismanagement may easily turn against us.”

~Bombay Governor Mountstuart Elphinstone

*Quote describing the sepoy

Turning Point: Quote

“It is this consciousness of the European whichhas won for us India. However well educatedand clever native may be, and however bravehe may prove himself, I believe, that no rankwe can bestow on him would cause him to beconsisted an equal of the British officer.”

~Lord Kitchener, British Commander in Chief ofArmy in India

Nationalism Surfaces in India

~Early 1800s demand amongst Indians increased for modernizationand a greater role in independent governing.

~Ram Mohun Roy, “Father of Modern India”- began a campaign tomove India from traditional practices and ideas.

-He recognized arranged child marriages and the rigid casteseparation as parts of religious life that needed to be changed.

-His writings inspired the adoption of westernization.

-He founded a social reform movement that was successful forIndia.

Ram Mohun Roy

Nationalism

~Indians detested the system making themselves thesecond-class citizen in their own home land.

Nationalism Groups Form:

-Indian National Congress in 1885

-Muslim League in 1906

*Their focus was on specific concerns of Indians andthen on self-governing.

-In 1905, the partition of Bengal inflamed people toterroristic actions.

Caption of The Sepoy Mutiny