Revolt of 1857 - Course of events, Aftermath and Impact

Question 1

Explain the beginning of the Revolt of 1857.

Answer 1

1. The revolt started in March 1857, when Mangal Pandey, a sepoy of the Barrackpur regiment, refused to touch the greased cartridges. He was tried and executed
2. A month later, in Meerut, a division of Sepoys also refused to use the cartridges
   a. They killed several Europeans, including women and children, and marched to Delhi
3. In delhi, the rebels proclaimed the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, as their ruler
4. The rebellion quickly spread to Jhansi, Kanpur, and Lucknow
   a. Kanpur - led by Nana Sahib and Tantia Tope
   b. Jhansi - led by widowed Ran Lakshmibai
   c. Lucknow - became the main centre of the Revolt after Delhi was recaptured.

Question 2

Explain the attack on British residency.

Answer 2

The British residency in Lucknow was sieged by the rebels
a. The British were besieged for 6 months, until fresh troops arrived from britain to suppress the rebellion

Question 3

Why did India lose in the Revolt of 1857?

Answer 3

1. By 1858, the British has suppressed the rebellion and taken control of the lost territories
2. Even though the British were outnumbered, the Sepoys lacked skilled commanders, skill, training and a proper military strategy
3. There was no major leader of the rebellion
4. Many Indians, including the upper classes and some princes, remained loyal to the British
5. Large parts of India, including portions of Bengal and the South, remained unaffected by the rebellion
6. The fresh troops and reinforcements being sent back from Britain enabled the British to win back their territories

Question 4

Explain the defeat of rebel leaders?

Answer 4

1. Kanpur - Nana Sahib escaped to nepal, but Tantia Tope fought till he was captured and executed
2. Bahadur Shah Zafar hid in Humayun’s tomb when the British entered Delhi . he was later captured and exiled
3. When the British recaptured the fort of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai tied her son to her back and escaped be making her horse jump over fort walls. She fled to Gwalior where she later died fighting the British.

Question 5

Describe the aftermath and impact of the Revolt of 1857.

Answer 5

1. British public opinion was profoundly shocked by the scale of the uprising and by the loss of life on both sides -
   a. Involving the massacre by the rebels of captured Europeans, including women and children, and the indiscriminate killing of Indian soldiers and civilians by the avenging British armies
2. Suspect rebels were killed without trial
3. Terrible executions happened in public
4. Entire villages were burnt down and in Delhi alone around 20,000 people were killed

Question 6

Explain the effect of the Revolt of 1857 - Change in governance.

Answer 6

Changes in Government and Administration

1. The Revolt of 1857 had far-reaching effects, making the British rulers realize the intense disaffection of Indians against British rule.
2. They became convinced that British power in India was not safe in the hands of the East India Company.
3. As a result, the British Parliament passed a law in 1858, dissolving the East India Company and taking direct control of India’s administration.
4. India was placed under direct British rule, with Queen Victoria as Empress and a viceroy appointed to govern.
5. The English East India Company lost all power.
6. The Mughal dynasty’s rule ended—Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Burma.
7. The Maratha title of Peshwa was abolished.
8. The policy of annexation was stopped, and adopted heirs were allowed to inherit royal titles.
9. No further attempts were made to reform Indian social and religious customs.
10. Railways and telegraphs, which had helped the British recapture key cities, were rapidly expanded.
11. The army was restructured—regiments from Meerut were disbanded, while Sikhs and Gurkhas were recruited for their perceived loyalty.
12. The number of British soldiers in the army was increased.
13. The British followed a “divide and rule” policy, favoring Hindus at times and Muslims at others to weaken unity.

Question 7

Explain how Indians were affected by the Revolt of 1857.

Answer 7

The Indians were also greatly disturbed by the revolt. Local loyalties gradually gave to a national feeling.
The indians realised the futility of the ways till then employed by the British and began to feel the need to search for new ways.