INCA - The Indian Mutiny

Question 1

How much area did India cover before the mutiny?

Answer 1

1.75 million square miles

Question 2

What was India’s population before the mutiny?

Answer 2

Approx 294 million

Question 3

What percentage of Indian territory did the British Raj cover? Home to about how much of the Indian population?

Answer 3

Around 61.5%, Home to almost 78% of the Indian population

Question 4

What were the 7 provinces that the Raj divided into?

Answer 4

-Bombay
-Bengal
-Madras
-Punjab
-Central provinces
-North western provinces
-North west frontier

Question 5

Were the princely states independent before the mutiny?

Answer 5

No, although they were not part of the raj

Question 6

What had princely states signed with the raj before the mutiny?

Answer 6

Many had signed treaties that enabled them to manage domestic policy, with Britain protecting them from attack, but Britain also gaining control of the foreign and defence policies

Question 7

When was the EIC granted a royal charter by Queen Elizabeth 1?

Answer 7

31st december 1600

Question 8

What did EIC do upon arrival 1600s?

Answer 8

Establish trading areas to sell British exports such as wool and iron to Indians

Question 9

British expansion in India pre mutiny came at the expense of who?

Answer 9

The Mughal empire

Question 10

What was the largest Indian province?

Answer 10

Bengal, annexed by the EIC in 1757 following the battle of plassey

Question 11

What did EIC do in 1773?

Answer 11

Turned to British Empire for help because of difficulty financially maintaining such a large and significant colony.

Question 12

How did Britain respond to EICs call for help 1773?

Answer 12

India Act 1784 which gave the British Government power to guide the politics of India by appointing a British governor general

Question 13

What was the Mughal Empire in 1815?

Answer 13

A state of advanced decay, instability deepened across the subcontinent, many princes disassociate with them

Question 14

What happened when the British would try defend their interests pre mutiny?

Answer 14

They would be met with armed resistance which led the British to retaliate and annex further areas of India

Question 15

When was Lord William Bentick Lord Governor General?

Answer 15

1828-1835

Question 16

What did Lord William Bentick focus on?

Answer 16

Rapid programs of westernisation

Question 17

What were some of the features of Lord William Benticks scheme?

Answer 17

-English official language of law, administration and education
-Gangs (Thugee) were supressed
-Traditional Indian customs were outlawed

Question 18

What made the indigenous people resent the British Empire pre mutiny?

Answer 18

Lord William Benticks westernisation disregarded cherished Indian religious, social and regional customs.

Question 19

What could be seen as a direct cause of the Indian Mutiny?

Answer 19

Lord William Benticks policies of rapid westernisation

Question 20

What happened in February 1857?

Answer 20

Sepoys in Bengal refused to obey orders, also in Meerut and Delhi, sepoys turned on Officers.

Question 21

Where did Sepoys seize control of during February 1857?

Answer 21

Northern cities, including Agra, Lucknow and Cawnpore.

Question 22

Why did Sepoys seize northern cities during the mutiny?

Answer 22

As a short lived attempt to resurrect the old mughal empire as a figurehead

Question 23

Who were the rebellious Sepoys joined by?

Answer 23

By sections of the urban population and rural population.(Landowners, peasants)

Question 24

What 5 steps of the event happened in Cawnpore February 1857?

Answer 24

-There was a struggle where about 1,000 British women. men and children were starved into submission
-British army tried to force into submission
-Sepoys threw dead women over the city walls
-British stormed city to find bloody clothing and ripped hair
-Captured sepoys forced to lick blood of victims before being hanged

Question 25

When was the bitter fighting finally over, and the rebels defeated?

Answer 25

In June 1858

Question 26

What were two religious causes of the Indian Mutiny?

Answer 26

-Lee Enfield Rifle with beef and pork fat.
-Westernisation would force Indians to accept alien culture

Question 27

What were two Economic causes of the Indian Mutiny?

Answer 27

-After EIC ended 1813, India was swarmed by cheap British goods which native businessmen and merchants could not compete with
-British sold vast areas of land to property developers who implemented landlord systems (high taxes)

Question 28

What was a territorial cause of the Indian Mutiny?

Answer 28

-British were constnatly looking to more lands in India. Annexation took place in Punjab and Sind, Berar and Oudh. Through conquering with the Sepoy army.