India Flashcards
(46 cards)
In which battle did the British gain divani rights and start tax collecting ?
Battle of Plessey
1757
Clive of India
Example of EIC territorial expansion before 1800
4th Mysore war
1798-99
Tipping Sultan (rather be a tiger than a sheep)
Defeated
What is a subsidiary alliance ?
How were they used to increase British presence in India ? STATS PLEASE
Mughal empire was in decline so there was an increase in Indian princes (occupied 2/3 of India) turning to the British for protection in exchange for territory / money
WELLESLY
territory increases 243,000 km2 1798-1805
When did the government bail out EIC ?
What did this mean?
1773 bailout
Meant British had more of a say over EIC matters and were effectively overseen by the British
What was the 1813 charter act ?
Ends EIC monopoly on all but opium and tea
When were Christian missionaries let into India
1813 in line with the charter act
What was the charter act 1833?
Significance?
Ends EIC monopoly on everything
Solidifies EIC as rulers who collect tax
Which philosophical idea was adapted by the British to justify interfering in India ?
Utilitarianism
How did utilitarianism and Ideas of British superiority lead to a sense of dusty to reform India
The British ideas of parliamentary superiority and ideas of utilitarianism came together the idea that
The British government would bring the most good and happiness
There was therefore a British sense of duty to enforce their ideas and enforce their democracy into India
What happened with British women coming to India ?
As British women started coming to India, this created a divide between the Indians and the British men who were previously cohabiting and embracing Indian culture
What was thuggee?
When was it suppressed and by who?
Thuggee meaning “deceive” was the practice of thugs posing as travellers killing rich merchants with yellow scarfs
- a tribute to the god Kali
Banned by Bentinck
1836 +
What was the reaction from the Indians from the suppression of thuggee and sati ?
Not as resented as other campaigns
But used as a pretext for interfering in other matters like the remarriage act
Viewed by some, particularly the Higher castes who practised Sati as interfering
Outline sleeman’s campaign against thuggee
How did this reflect British values ?
Sleeman tried and punished 3000 thugs and was portrayed in Britain as an iconic hero.
He released three books “confession of a thug”
He reflected the British idea that we had a duty to protect and save India from their “backwards” way of life
What was sati?
When was it outlawed and by who?
Sati was the practice of widow burning amongst higher castes
It was practiced in line with sati burning herself alive to be with her husband
It was outlawed by Bentinck in 1829
What did the British originally do before outlawing sati
Charge money for it to take place (the bastards)
What were dalhousies main 3 reforms
Doctrine of the lapse
Talukdar reforms
Social reforms
What was dalhousie’s doctrine of the lapse
What year ?
What was this a philosophical reflection of ?
Dalhousie’s doctrine of the lapse went against both Indian and Muslim customs.
If the prince did not have an heir and died, the British could take control of that area. Both Muslim and Indian custom dictated that an heir could be nominated.
Also if a province prince was behaving corruptedly, the British could annex and takeover
Came in with Dalhousie 1848
Direct reflection of ideas of British superiority.
No need for subsidiary alliances as the British way of life was more superior so Britain should be in charge.
Example of a place annexed in the doctrine of the lapse that contributed to the mutiny
Awadh
1856
Annexed under doctrine of the lapse and joined the mutiny
What was Dalhousie’s policy towards Talukdars
If they couldn’t provide legal claim to the estates they had ,
They would be taken by the British
What were dalhousie’s social policies ?
What were the reactions to these ?
Widow remarriage act
Disabilities act
- you can still get inheritance if you convert to Christianity
These were widely resented by the Indians as British attempts to turn India Christian. The sati and thuggee were pretexts to the British interfering in culture that did not necessarily need changing
What happened with Christian missionaries in India ?
Allows in 1813 in line with whiggish evangelical ideology and the campaigning of the Clapham Sect.
They tried to convert children and the higher classes !
Seen as massively overstepping and evidence that the British were indeed trying to convert India to Christianity
In line with ideas of British superiority
What did Bentinck do with the English language.
Made it the official government language
What was Roy’s philosophical reaction to the evangelical Christian’s ?
Advocated for and adaptation of Indian and British thought.
Accepted that some British reforms were good but Indian culture should be reserved
What was Macauley’s minute on education ?
Made English compulsory in schools
This is in line with the British language being considered to have “greater value”
CULTURAL SUPERIORITY
1835
Caused tension as viewed as interfering in culture
