Consequences of the rebellion

Question 1

1858: Which Act transferred authority in India from the East India Company to the British Crown?

Answer 1

The Government of India Act 1858.

Question 2

1858: What did EIC territories become after the Government of India Act 1858?

Answer 2

Crown Colonies, including India and the Straits Settlements.

Question 3

1858: Which new Cabinet office was created to oversee India?

Answer 3

The Secretary of State for India with an advisory council.

Question 4

1858: What title did the Governor-General receive under Crown rule?

Answer 4

He became the Viceroy, the British monarch’s direct representative.

Question 5

1858: Which service was formalized under the Secretary of State for India?

Answer 5

The Indian Civil Service (ICS).

Question 6

1858: What happened to the Mughal Empire after the rebellion?

Answer 6

It was abolished; Bahadur Shah II was exiled to Burma.

Question 7

1858: Which monarch first held the title Empress of India?

Answer 7

Queen Victoria, declared Empress in 1877.

Question 8

1874: In what year was the East India Company formally dissolved?

Answer 8

The EIC was dissolved in 1874.

Question 9

1877: Who was declared Empress of India on Disraeli’s advice?

Answer 9

Queen Victoria.

Question 10

1858: Which controversial policy allowing annexation was abolished after the rebellion?

Answer 10

The Doctrine of Lapse.

Question 11

1858: How were large princely states like Hyderabad and Mysore managed?

Answer 11

They were directly managed by the Governor-General (Viceroy).

Question 12

1858: Which two Agencies oversaw many smaller princely states?

Answer 12

Rajputana Agency and Central India Agency.

Question 13

1858: How were medium-sized princely states administered?

Answer 13

By British Agents liaising with provincial British administrators.

Question 14

1858: What did Britain’s new policy preserve in princely states?

Answer 14

Traditional Indian rule under British political and military control.

Question 15

Post-1857: How did the British change the ratio of Indian to British soldiers?

Answer 15

They changed it from 9:1 to 3:1.

Question 16

Post-1857: Which military units were reserved exclusively for British troops?

Answer 16

Artillery units (except remote frontier posts).

Question 17

Post-1857: How was the Indian Army funding increased?

Answer 17

By using higher Indian tax revenue to support more British troops.

Question 18

Post-1857: Which caste group was marginalized in new army recruitment?

Answer 18

High-caste Brahmins, central to the rebellion.

Question 19

Post-1857: How many pre-rebellion infantry regiments remained after restructuring?

Answer 19

Only 12 of the 74 pre-rebellion regiments.

Question 20

Post-1857: What happened to the Bengal Army cavalry?

Answer 20

It was disbanded.

Question 21

Post-1857: Which groups were recruited as part of the “Martial Races” theory?

Answer 21

Pashtuns, Sikh Jats, and Gurkhas.

Question 22

Post-1857: In which regions were Pashtun recruits primarily drawn from?

Answer 22

The Northwest Frontier.

Question 23

Post-1857: From which area were Sikh Jat recruits primarily drawn?

Answer 23

The Punjab.

Question 24

Post-1857: Which Himalayan group was recruited into the new army?

Answer 24

Gurkhas from Nepal.

Question 25

Post-1857: What new responsibility was given to Indian soldiers in "irregular regiments"?

Answer 25

They were granted more operational responsibilities.

Question 26

Post-1857: How did British officers attempt to reduce resentment among Indian troops?

Answer 26

By socializing more with them.

Question 27

1858: Which proclamation guaranteed religious freedom for Indians?

Answer 27

Queen Victoria’s 1858 Proclamation.

Question 28

1858: What did Victoria’s Proclamation forbid regarding religion?

Answer 28

Forced conversions and discrimination based on religion.

Question 29

Post-1858: What policy did the British abandon to ease tensions?

Answer 29

Active promotion of Christianity and Western cultural norms.

Question 30

Post-1858: Which ranks of the ICS were opened to Indian applicants?

Answer 30

Lower ranks, while higher ranks remained mostly British.

Question 31

Post-1858: What social class emerged from low-paid but prestigious ICS jobs?

Answer 31

The Indian middle class.

Question 32

1857: Which universities were established to educate Indian elites?

Answer 32

Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay Universities.

Question 33

Post-1858: What landholding system was restored in rebellious regions?

Answer 33

The zamindar-peasant semi-feudal system.

Question 34

1857: How many miles of railway existed in India at the start of the rebellion?

Answer 34

288 miles.

Question 35

1860s: How many miles of railway were constructed by the 1860s?

Answer 35

Over 5,000 miles.

Question 36

Post-1858: Which infrastructure improvements accompanied rail expansion?

Answer 36

Irrigation, roads, canals, postal, and telegraph services.

Question 37

Post-1858: Which medical advances reduced disease under British rule?

Answer 37

Public health reforms based on germ theory.

Question 38

1872: What was India’s population after public health improvements?

Answer 38

206 million.

Question 39

1860-61: Which region suffered a famine killing 2 million people?

Answer 39

Upper Doab.

Question 40

1866: Which famine caused 5 million deaths?

Answer 40

The Orissa famine.

Question 41

1868: Which region’s famine resulted in 1.5 million deaths?

Answer 41

Rajputana.

Question 42

1876-78: Which famine killed 10 million people in Madras and Bombay?

Answer 42

The Great Famine.

Question 43

1874: Who provided relief during the Bihar famine?

Answer 43

Sir Richard Temple, Bengal Governor.

Question 44

1876-78: Which Viceroy opposed broad famine relief as "cheap sentiment"?

Answer 44

Lord Lytton.

Question 45

1876-78: Complete the quote by Lord Lytton: "Mere distress is not a sufficient reason for ____."

Answer 45

opening a relief work.

Question 46

1876-78: How did Lord Lytton describe British public sympathy?

Answer 46

As "cheap sentiment" Britain should not fund.

Question 47

Post-1857: How did British newspapers portray sepoy atrocities?

Answer 47

They exaggerated reports, fueling anti-Indian sentiment.

Question 48

Post-1857: Which insult arose in Ireland targeting nationalists?

Answer 48

"Sepoyism".

Question 49

Post-1857: How did most European and U.S. governments react to the rebellion?

Answer 49

They supported Britain due to shared colonial interests.

Question 50

Post-1857: Which regions saw opposition to British actions?

Answer 50

Hungary, Bohemia, and Ireland.

Question 51

Post-1857: How did the rebellion affect Britain’s imperial prestige?

Answer 51

It damaged the aura of British invincibility.

Question 52

Post-1857: What fear did other colonial powers have after the rebellion?

Answer 52

They feared similar uprisings in their territories.