Introduction

Causes of the First War of Independence

Political and Socio-Religious Causes Introduction Reason for the Resentment Against the British Rule

Process of Consolidati the British on of the conquest of British Rule India Causes of the First War of Independence ❖ British established their domination over India between 1757 to 1857.

❖ This was possible through British conquest and rapid expansion.

❖ British expansionist policies, economic exploitation and administrative changes adversely affected all segments of Indian society.

❖ Ruling classes removed from their power. ❖ Peasantry was deprived of its la land rights.

❖ Artisans lost their livelihood.

❖ Well paid higher posts were reserved for British soldiers.

❖ Priests and scholars found themselves without income in the absence of Indian rulers.

❖ Indian soldiers with the company had a hard life due to their low income and also faced ill-treatment.

❖ Hence, by 1857 conditions were ripe for mass uprising.

❖ All these lead to the First war of Indian Independence. Political Causes I. Policy of Expansion

1. By Outright Wars

2. By Subsidiary Alliance

3. By using the Doctrine of Lapse

4. On the pretext of Alleged Misrule 1. By Outright Wars

● Battle of Buxar (1764) - Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.

● Anglo-Mysore Wars (1767 to 1799) - Mysore State.

● Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-18) - North and South of the Narmada river (Peshwa’s domination)

● Second Anglo Sikh War (1823 - 1856) - Punjab

● Further Expansion - Sindh, Assam, Arkana and Tenasserim and Pegu in Myanmar. 2. By Subsidiary Alliance

● Introduced by Lord Wellesley.

● An agreement between the British East India Company and the Princely States by virtue of which these states lost their sovereignty to the British. Indian Rulers had to;

❖ accept the British as the supreme power.

❖ surrender their foreign relations.

❖ accept a British resident at their headquarters.

❖ agreed to maintain British troops at their own cost.

❖ virtually lost their independence.

By 1856, practically all the Indian states had either been annexed or had entered into alliances with the Company. 3. By using the Doctrine of Lapse

❏ If any Indian ruler died without a male heir his kingdom would ‘lapse’ that is it would come under the company’s Rule.

❏ 1856: The ruler of Jhansi died without an heir. So, Rani of Jhansi was pensioned and their adopted son, Anand Rao was not recognised as a lawful successor.

❏ Other States which annexed by applying this policy were Satara, Jaitpur, Sambalpur, Udaipur and Nagpur. 4. On the Pretext of Alleged Misrule

❏ 1856: Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh.

❏ Declared Awadh was being misruled and British rule was needed to ensure proper administration.

❏ But, people of Awadh had faced many hardships which made them join the Revolt of 1857. II. Disrespect shown to Bahadur Shah

1. Name of 3. His 5. Hence, his the Mughal successors wife, Zeenat King were not Mahal began removed allowed to plotting from the use imperial against the coins. titles. British.

2. His Successors 4. Hurt the were not feelings of permitted to the Muslims. use Red Fort. III. Treatment Given to Nana Saheb

5. Travelled from Delhi to 1. Adopted 3. Forced to Lucknow to son of Baji leave gain support, Rao II. Kanpur. but did not succeed.

2. British 4. Widely refused to resented in grant him the the Maratha pension. region. IV. Absentee Sovereignty of the British Compare and Contrast

Mughal Rule in India British Rule in India

1. Mughals who conquered Ruled by British India, in course of time government at a distance of settled in India. a thousand miles.

2. Revenue collected from India’s wealth was being India was spent in India drained to England and not only. utilised for their welfare. Socio-Religious Causes 1. Interference with Social Customs

3. Opening 1. Abolition of Western of Sati education (1829) to Girls.

2. Widow Remarriage Act (1856) 2. Apprehensions about Modern Innovation

❖ People were suspicious of the introduction of modern innovations such as railways and telegraphs.

❖ Orthodox Indians did not like sitting arrangements in the railway compartments (Both higher caste and lower caste were made to sit together).

❖ They believed that the British had made such arrangements to defy their caste and religion. 3. Corruption in Administration

● Police and petty officials were corrupt.

● Common man was looted, oppressed and tortured.

4. Oppression of the Poor

● The judicial system was complex.

● Flogging, torture and imprisonment of cultivators were common due to their inability to pay land revenue, arrears on rent and interest on debt. 5. Policy of Racial Discrimination ● Rude and arrogant towards Indians.

● They believe that they were superior to Indians.

● Followed the policy of contempt towards the Indians.

● Dubbed Muslims as cruel and unfaithful.

● Illtreated and insulted Indians. 6. Activities of Missionaries

● Denounced idol worship and dubbed local beliefs as ignorance.

● After 1813: Activities of Christian missionaries increased that feared Indians.

7. Law of Property

● The Religious Disabilities Act changed the Hindu Law Property.

● It enabled a convert from Hinduism to other religious faiths. 8. Fears Regarding Western Education Shifting of emphasis from oriental learning to western education was doubted.

Pandits and Maulvis saw this as a attempt to discourage traditional learning. Thy believed that western education started to convert their children to christianity. 9. Taxing Religious Places

Such lands were 1. It hurt the religious exempted from taxation sentiments of the Indians. by previous Indian Rulers.

The families which depended on this places did not like this. Homework Question 1. Who was Anand Rao?

A. Son of Rani Laxmi Bai

B. Son of Baji Rao II

C. Ruler of Punjab

D. Ruler of Kanpur [email protected]