Indian Mutiny 1857-1890 Flashcards
(23 cards)
colonial office
headed by a cabinet minister
has to deal with demands of territorial acquisitions
policies known as orders of council
divided into 5 departments : N america, Australia, west indies, africa and mediterranean
India had its own department
Indian office
handled indian affairs
reflected importance of british involvement in india and that the mutiny had shaken british confidence
india’s administration
overseen by british east indian company
long-standing grievances among the population sparked a rebellion in 1857
this was brutally quashed and the company was dissolved
british control was assumed
government of india act 1858
east indian company territories were passed to the queen and company was dissolved
secretary of state of india was created
a council of 15 members with experience in Indian affairs assisted the secretary of state
appointed a vice roy
civil service placed under control of secretary of state
main priority to keep control of
viceroy
ruled india through a thin white line of white british authority supported by an Indian civil service which many could not gain access too due to need for educational qualifications
represented by provincial governors
indian civil service
candidates continued to compete for positions through academic examinations offering open competition
but most senior members were white males due to this
bilingual indians were recruited as low level clerks
native princes
removal of doctrine of lapse ensured loyalty as their estate did not go to the british
legal system
english law prevailed
attention was paid to traditional indian practices and customs
missionaries were discouraged
promotion of education
building of public work schemes - railway and irrigation
india’s defence
proportion of british to indian troops - 2:1
regiments fo troops were cut off ron each other to prevent rebellious thoughts spreading
deliberately mixed by caste and religion
enlisted more Gurkhas and Sikhs who remained loyal during the mutiny
62 of 74 bengal regiments disbanded
indians forbidden from officer positions
ordered to show greater respect to sepoy beliefs and traditions
cause of mutiny - army dissatisfaction
low pay and harsh punishments
overseas deployment
increased recruitment of Sikhs and Gurkhas who were considered inferior to Bengals -ignorance
cause - prophecies
after battle of plessey 1757, rumours that british rule would come to an end after 100 years
circulation of lotus flower
cause - religion
222 christian missionaries stations set up across india
hindus who converted were able to inherit property
showed british ignorance and idea of superiority
ignorance to traditional customs - bringing in doctrine of lapse
catalyst to mutiny
introduction of Enfield rifles - cartridge made of pig and cow fat
had to be torn with teeth - direction insult to religion
sepoys at meerut began to turn on british officers
where did most of the fighting occur
lucknow
arga
cawnpore
Indians actions
joined by urban population
some were discontented land owners,bothers peasants who resented taxation
british retaliation
cawnpore - made indian soldiers lick prisoner cells clean of british blood
made Bengals be executed by those in lower castes
government and society
tried to become more religiously sensitive
imposed legal systems which favourited the british as they were too complex and expensive to help the poor
railways were geared to needs of trade
encouraged markets but encouraged production of higher value crops = became reliant on imports
viceroy channing introduced star of india
economic change
irrigation schemes - only affected 6 percent of land
better public health measures = stop spread of cholera, population of 206 million by 1871
2 miles of railway laid per day , 1857 = 288 miles, 1880 =2000
couldn’t develop heavy industry as forced to buy british manufactured goods
tea plantations increased from 1 in 1851 to 295 by 1871
taxes mainly spent on maintaining army - instilling control
poverty and famine remained high
subsistence farming prevailed
only minority of indians could obtain employment
educational reform
built new universities at Bombay, Mudras and Calcutta
mainly benefit the rich
1857-87 x 60,000 indians attended
1100 appointment in civil service came from these
creates job opportunities
mary carpenter = campaigned for college for girls and training for female teachers
largely benefitted the rich
focus on creating westernised oriental gentlemen - created out of racial hierarchical views
general views in india
social Darwinist - indian were not seen as equals and it was britains job to civilise them and improve their bad condition
impact on indigenous people
little change to the ordinary person as most changes were small scale or only benefitted the elite
1885 indian national congress
came in a lot later than most changes
at first created as a forum for debate and for middle classes to act their grievances
but with little change occurring from this, became a place for resistance
idea that giving india a bit of representation whilst britain remained in control
British officer in the mutiny
Henry Havelock helped with relief in Lucknow
