The events and failures of the rebellion and why did the rebellion fail?

Question 1

May 1857: Where did the Sepoy Rebellion begin?

Answer 1

It began in Meerut where sepoys mutinied, seized Delhi, and spread across north-central India.

Question 2

May 1857: Which community expelled Company police in rural Meerut uprisings?

Answer 2

The Gurjars expelled Company police.

Question 3

June 1857: Which city saw sepoys rebel and besiege British officers alongside Nana Sahib’s forces?

Answer 3

Cawnpore (Kanpur).

Question 4

June 1857: Under what promise did General Wheeler surrender at Cawnpore?

Answer 4

He surrendered under the promise of safe passage, but most survivors were massacred.

Question 5

June 1857: Who led the rebel forces at Cawnpore?

Answer 5

Nana Sahib.

Question 6

June 1857: What was the outcome for most British survivors after Wheeler’s surrender?

Answer 6

They were massacred despite the promise of safe passage.

Question 7

June 1857: Which city in Oudh saw a siege with 30,000–60,000 rebels?

Answer 7

Lucknow.

Question 8

June 1857: How many rebels besieged the Residency in Lucknow?

Answer 8

Between 30,000 and 60,000 rebels.

Question 9

June 1857: Who defended the Residency during the siege of Lucknow?

Answer 9

British soldiers, civilians, and loyal sepoys.

Question 10

June 1857: Who was reinstated by sepoys in Jhansi, and what did she vow?

Answer 10

Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi, who vowed to fight for independence.

Question 11

July 1857: From which city did a British relief force march toward Cawnpore and Lucknow?

Answer 11

Allahabad.

Question 12

July 1857: Which non-Company troops joined the relief force from China and Persia?

Answer 12

British Army regiments from China and Persia.

Question 13

July 1857: What brutal tactics did British forces use during their advance?

Answer 13

Burning villages and executing civilians.

Question 14

July 1857: What order did Nana Sahib give regarding remaining British captives at Cawnpore?

Answer 14

He ordered their massacre.

Question 15

July 1857: How did British forces retaliate upon recapturing Cawnpore?

Answer 15

They executed suspected rebels and committed atrocities against villagers.

Question 16

August 1857: Which region was largely pacified, with Sikh and Pashtun support for the British?

Answer 16

Punjab.

Question 17

August 1857: Which loyal groups contributed troops to help suppress the rebellion?

Answer 17

Princely states loyal to the British.

Question 18

August 1857: Toward which city did British forces advance with reinforcements?

Answer 18

Delhi.

Question 19

September 1857: What military action did British forces take against Delhi?

Answer 19

They laid siege to Delhi, bombarding the city and depleting rebel supplies.

Question 20

September 1857: Who led the sepoy defense in the Siege of Delhi?

Answer 20

Bakht Khan.

Question 21

September 21, 1857: What happened on this date at Delhi?

Answer 21

Delhi fell to British forces and Bahadur Shah II was arrested.

Question 22

September 21, 1857: What happened to Bahadur Shah II’s sons?

Answer 22

They were executed.

Question 23

September 1857: What did British forces do after capturing Delhi?

Answer 23

They carried out mass executions and looted the city.

Question 24

October–December 1857: What happened at Lucknow during this period?

Answer 24

British failed to retake it entirely but evacuated the besieged defenders.

Question 25

October–December 1857: Which rebel leader initially won at Cawnpore? Who defeated him?

Answer 25

Tantya Tope initially won but was later defeated by General Campbell.

Question 26

January–February 1858: Which campaign did General Hugh Rose lead?

Answer 26

The Central India campaign to reclaim Jhansi.

Question 27

January–February 1858: Who moved from Cawnpore to reconquer Oudh?

Answer 27

General Campbell.

Question 28

March–April 1858: Which ally aided British forces in recapturing Lucknow?

Answer 28

Nepalese allies (Gurkha troops).

Question 29

March–April 1858: What happened when Hugh Rose besieged Jhansi?

Answer 29

He captured Jhansi, but the Rani of Jhansi and Tantya Tope escaped.

Question 30

May–June 1858: Which city did the Rani of Jhansi and Tantya Tope capture?

Answer 30

Gwalior.

Question 31

May–June 1858: What was the result of the British counterattack at Gwalior?

Answer 31

They retook Gwalior, killing the Rani of Jhansi and forcing Tantya Tope to escape.

Question 32

July 1858–July 1859: How were the remaining rebels dealt with?

Answer 32

They were gradually suppressed across India.

Question 33

July 1858–July 1859: What happened to Nana Sahib?

Answer 33

He fled into the Himalayan foothills and disappeared.

Question 34

January 1859: Which region was pacified by British forces?

Answer 34

Oudh.

Question 35

March 1859: What happened to Bahadur Shah II?

Answer 35

He was exiled to Burma.

Question 36

April 1859: What was the fate of Tantya Tope?

Answer 36

He was captured and executed.

Question 37

July 1859: What formal declaration ended the rebellion?

Answer 37

Britain officially declared the end of the rebellion.

Question 38

Why did the neutrality of princely states contribute to the rebellion’s failure?

Answer 38

Major states like Hyderabad and Mysore remained neutral or supported the British, isolating the rebels.

Question 39

How did Nepal’s role affect the rebellion’s outcome?

Answer 39

Nepal provided Gurkha troops, bolstering British forces and preventing rebel advances.

Question 40

What was the Emir of Kabul’s stance during the rebellion?

Answer 40

He did not exploit British weakness, allowing British to focus on central India.

Question 41

Why did Sikh and Pashtun forces hinder the rebellion?

Answer 41

They supported the British due to distrust of a return to Mughal rule.

Question 42

How did the loyalty of the Madras and Bombay armies impact the rebellion?

Answer 42

Most Madras and Bombay regiments remained loyal, limiting the uprising’s spread.

Question 43

How many Bombay regiments rebelled during the uprising?

Answer 43

Only three Bombay regiments.

Question 44

What logistical advantage did the British gain from the rail network?

Answer 44

They could deploy troops rapidly across India.

Question 45

Why did geographic scope limit the rebellion?

Answer 45

It remained confined to north-central India while other regions stayed stable.

Question 46

Which rifle gave British troops a major advantage?

Answer 46

The Lee-Enfield rifle.

Question 47

What weapon disadvantage did the rebels face?

Answer 47

They relied on outdated muskets and ran low on ammunition.

Question 48

How were rebel peasants typically armed?

Answer 48

With farm tools and swords.

Question 49

What brutal tactics did British forces use to suppress the rebellion?

Answer 49

Mass executions and scorched-earth policies.

Question 50

Approximately how many Indians died due to the rebellion’s repression?

Answer 50

Over 800,000 Indians died.

Question 51

What effect did British brutality have on rebel support?

Answer 51

It demoralized rebels and reduced civilian support for the uprising.

Question 52

Why did the rebellion lack cohesion?

Answer 52

There was no central leadership or unified command structure.

Question 53

Name three rebel leaders and why their coordination failed.

Answer 53

Bakht Khan, Tantya Tope, and the Rani of Jhansi failed to coordinate effectively.

Question 54

What was Bahadur Shah II’s role in the rebellion?

Answer 54

He was a symbolic leader with little real military authority.

Question 55

Why was Mirza Mughal’s leadership ineffective?

Answer 55

He lacked military skill and failed to organize rebel forces.

Question 56

What characterized the rebels’ organization?

Answer 56

Scattered uprisings rather than a unified national movement.

Question 57

How did religious and regional divisions affect the rebellion?

Answer 57

They prevented a united front against the British.

Question 58

What years did the Sepoy Rebellion span?

Answer 58

From 1857 to 1859.

Question 59

Which region was most affected by the Sepoy Rebellion?

Answer 59

North-central India.

Question 60

What name was given to the British defensive position in Lucknow?

Answer 60

The Residency.

Question 61

Who expelled Company police in Meerut rural unrest?

Answer 61

Gurjars.

Question 62

Which city briefly served as a rebel stronghold in mid-1858?

Answer 62

Gwalior.

Question 63

Which troops were provided by Nepal during the rebellion?

Answer 63

Gurkha troops.

Question 64

Which two regions remained largely stable during the rebellion?

Answer 64

The south and the west of India.

Question 65

Which European regions contributed British Army regiments in July 1857 relief?

Answer 65

China and Persia.

Question 66

What happened to the Residency defenders in December 1857?

Answer 66

They were evacuated after a prolonged siege.

Question 67

What signaled the collapse of major rebel leadership by mid-1858?

Answer 67

Nana Sahib’s disappearance.

Question 68

What ended the Mughal dynasty’s power in India?

Answer 68

The exile of Bahadur Shah II in March 1859.

Question 69

How long did the Siege of Delhi last until its fall?

Answer 69

Several weeks, ending on September 21, 1857.

Question 70

What event marked the final suppression of major rebel operations?

Answer 70

The execution of Tantya Tope in April 1859.

Question 71

Which general is associated with recapturing Oudh?

Answer 71

General Campbell.

Question 72

Which campaign name is linked to Hugh Rose’s actions?

Answer 72

The Central India campaign.

Question 73

Why was Oudh significant to the rebellion in 1857?

Answer 73

It had been annexed in 1856, fueling local resentment.

Question 74

Which fortification in Lucknow became a symbol of British endurance?

Answer 74

The Residency.

Question 75

When was Oudh finally pacified?

Answer 75

January 1859.

Question 76

When did the British declare the end of the rebellion?

Answer 76

July 1859.

Question 77

What was the fate of Cawnpore after Wheeler’s surrender?

Answer 77

Most survivors were massacred.

Question 78

Who was the Rani of Jhansi and what was her significance?

Answer 78

Lakshmibai, who led rebel forces and symbolized resistance.

Question 79

What key lesson did the rebellion’s failure teach the British?

Answer 79

The importance of unified military command and local alliances.

Question 80

How did the rebellion influence British colonial policy afterwards?

Answer 80

It led to direct Crown rule and reorganization of the Indian Army.