India Flashcards
(12 cards)
Mughal Empire and Maratha Empire significance
Mughal Empire (muslims) rule majority of empire 16th-18th century and left a power vacuum with weak successor
Maratha Empire - Hindu empire that challenged the Mughal empire
Power structure in India under the EIC
- EIC board of control, chancellor + secretary of state for India
- Governor General of Bengal
- Madras president, Bombay president, Bengal military leaders and civil service
- Madras and Bengal military and civil service
Impact of the Charter Act
1813
Ended EIC monopoly of trade except for tea and trade with china - switch to racist policies such as educating the Indian population in English and the arrival of Christian Missionaries
Led to EIC becoming involved in tax collecting as a main form of revenue
How did regulation of the crown cause EIC’s downfall
- Interference of govt in 1773 with Tea act,
- Charter Act 1813
- 1833 ends company monopoly all together
Significance of the company armies
The bengal army was double the size, often recruiting sepoys from a higher caste
Company army ensured nawabs and local leaders signed treaties with the British for protection
Fought campaigns such as in Afghanistan to avoid expansion of Russia and anglo-sikh war to expand territory
Reasons for British expansion in India
Increased training for Sepoy soldiers and arrival of more British troops
Campaigns carried out by company army
Treaties with native leaders
Thagi success
Bandits carrying out highway robbery and ritual murder
Legal assaults Began under Bentinck in the 30s but campaign started by sleeman
1000 hanged for the crime while 3000 faced trials
Seen as an altruistic victory because it benefitted the Indians only - not attack on British
Sati and female infanticide - slight success
Responsible for 600 deaths a year
Campaign was driven by Christian Missionaries and Bentinck’s own beliefs
1829 it was abolished and anyone who was involved could be trialed for homicide
Unpopular with higher caste
Clashes of culture
Arrival of Christian Missonaries - their education was only popular among the lower castes
Sati campaign 1829
Thagi campaign 1830s
Banning of Female infanticide 1802
Short term causes of the rebellion
1857
- Annexation of Awadh
- Cartilages contained Pork and beef fat but the guns quickly became outdated
- General service enlistment act 1856 - polluted Bengal sepoy army’s higher caste and where they could not travel
Reasons for British retaining control
- No coercive force of unified army, in awadh mostly peasants and farmers resentment against taxes
- Other two presidency armies remained loyal
Results of Indian Rebellion
Govt. of India act 1858 - ended company rule completely
States were ruled by British authority
Number of native sepoys decreased and British soldiers increased by 50%
British retribution was violent - massacres of villages, public hanging, forced to eat pork or beef etc.
