british in india. east india company joint-stock company cotton, tea, opium, silk, indigo dye...
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East India CompanyJoint-stock company
Cotton, tea, opium, silk, indigo dye
Controlled large parts of India 1757 – 1858
Special relationship with British government Gave it a monopoly
Fought with other countries – wanted permanent ports in India
Treaty with Jahangir 1615 – arranged with
Emperor Jahangir (Akbar’s son) for permanent trading posts
Sarat, Madras, Calcutta
However, things were not always so peaceful…
Sir Robert CliveBorn in Shropshire, England
Expelled from 3 schools
However, excellent soldier
Largely credited with having established British supremacy in India
Clive goes to India…India had become divided after Aurangzeb’s
death
Black Hole of CalcuttaAlleged 123 out of 146 died
Battle of PlasseyClive defeats Mughal-led
army
To the victor goes the spoils
East India Company receives 2.5 million pounds and the power to tax
Clive becomes Governor of Bengal
Clive given 30,000 poundsClive tries to steal as much local wealth as possible –
eventually gets put on trial:“"A great prince was dependent on my pleasure, an
opulent city lay at my mercy; its richest bankers bid against each other for my smiles; I walked through vaults which were thrown open to me alone, piled on either hand with gold and jewels! Mr. Chairman, at this moment I stand astonished at my own moderation”- Clive at his impeachment trial
Bengal Famine 17701772 – Company established
capital in Calcutta and becomes directly involved in governance
Famine estimated to have killed 1/3 of the population – about 10-15 million people
Increased taxes by 3-4 timesFood brought out of the country
Also enacted policies to prevent reserve supplies
Aftermath1858 – Company rule handed over to Britain –
India becomes part of British empire
1916 – Gandhi leads struggle for independence
1947 – independence grantedPartition (divided) India and Pakistan
250,000 – 500,00 deaths