The British The British in Indiain India

1515thth and 16 and 16thth centuries centuries

New trade route to IndiaNew trade route to India

Portuguese have a monopoly on Portuguese have a monopoly on trade between India and Europe, also trade between India and Europe, also work to spread Christianitywork to spread Christianity

Brit & French overpower Portuguese Brit & French overpower Portuguese and set up trading postsand set up trading posts

British ExpansionBritish Expansion Trading posts become centers of Trading posts become centers of

power – not established by govt., but power – not established by govt., but by trading companiesby trading companies

British East India Company – British East India Company – monopoly over trade in India, China monopoly over trade in India, China and East Indiesand East Indies– Had power to sign treaties, maintain Had power to sign treaties, maintain

armies and govern itselfarmies and govern itself

Clash with the FrenchClash with the French

French East India Company set up in 1664 French East India Company set up in 1664 at Pondicherry at Pondicherry

Sepoys – Indians serving in the army of Sepoys – Indians serving in the army of European countryEuropean country

As Indian kingdoms compete for political As Indian kingdoms compete for political power, French and British sought to power, French and British sought to strengthen their positions by allying strengthen their positions by allying themselves with different rulers and themselves with different rulers and fighting others. fighting others.

Defeat of the FrenchDefeat of the French

Robert Clive led small British and Robert Clive led small British and sepoy force to defeat Frenchsepoy force to defeat French

Resulted in British control of richest Resulted in British control of richest province in India: Bengalprovince in India: Bengal– Clive is named governor of BengalClive is named governor of Bengal

CLIVE AT PLASSEY CLIVE AT PLASSEY

Reasons for British SuccessReasons for British Successin Indiain India

British brought all of India under their British brought all of India under their control:control:– Collapse of ruling Mogul empire left Collapse of ruling Mogul empire left

India divided and disorganizedIndia divided and disorganized– ““Divide and conquer” policy – played on Divide and conquer” policy – played on

weaknesses and greed of local rulersweaknesses and greed of local rulers– Superior military and naval power; gave Superior military and naval power; gave

their sepoys modern weaponstheir sepoys modern weapons– Able administrators and governors Able administrators and governors

reformed and improved local govt.reformed and improved local govt.

Reforms to Local Govt.Reforms to Local Govt.

Indian Civil Service – nonmilitary Indian Civil Service – nonmilitary employees of East India Co.employees of East India Co.

Law courts open to all subjects in Law courts open to all subjects in territoriesterritories

Abolished internal tariffs on imports Abolished internal tariffs on imports and exportsand exports

Reforms to British dealingsReforms to British dealings

Many governors and officials accused Many governors and officials accused of corrupt practices to line their own of corrupt practices to line their own pocketspockets

Raises salaries of employees Raises salaries of employees Denied Indians high posts of govt. Denied Indians high posts of govt.

(blamed them for most of the (blamed them for most of the corruption)corruption)

Lord Wellesley, strengthens East Lord Wellesley, strengthens East India Company’s power even moreIndia Company’s power even more

WELLESLEYWELLESLEY

From a wealthy From a wealthy familyfamily

Gains new Gains new territories in territories in central and south central and south India for East India India for East India Company by Company by defeating native defeating native rulersrulers

Drastic Changes – Early 1800sDrastic Changes – Early 1800s

Expanded control into Nepal and BurmaExpanded control into Nepal and Burma Made English official language Made English official language Abolished SutteeAbolished Suttee Stopped female infanticideStopped female infanticide Cracked down on thugsCracked down on thugs Set up postal and telegraph systemsSet up postal and telegraph systems Railroads, canals for irrigation, roadsRailroads, canals for irrigation, roads Education in every province, higher Education in every province, higher

education in English education in English Private ownership of land introducedPrivate ownership of land introduced

Expansion of Parliamentary ControlExpansion of Parliamentary Control

East India Company was so powerful and East India Company was so powerful and wealthy, Parliament demands more controlwealthy, Parliament demands more control

Regulating Act, 1784, created a Board of Regulating Act, 1784, created a Board of ControlControl

1813 ended the company’s monopoly of 1813 ended the company’s monopoly of control over Indian tradecontrol over Indian trade

1853 – Civil service employees hired not 1853 – Civil service employees hired not according to whoever the company liked, according to whoever the company liked, but based on competitive examsbut based on competitive exams

Great Uprising of 1857Great Uprising of 1857

Immediate causes: Immediate causes: – New cartridges were greased with animal fat New cartridges were greased with animal fat – Requirement that sepoys must serve outside of Requirement that sepoys must serve outside of

India (forbidden, could lose caste position)India (forbidden, could lose caste position)– Fear of forced Christianity, influence of Fear of forced Christianity, influence of

missionariesmissionaries– British were believed to be destroying Indian British were believed to be destroying Indian

traditional culturetraditional culture

At Meerut army post, the sepoys killed At Meerut army post, the sepoys killed every European man, woman and child…every European man, woman and child…this spread to other posts as wellthis spread to other posts as well

SEPOYSSEPOYS

Sepoy RebellionSepoy Rebellion

Hindus and Muslims fight side by side, Hindus and Muslims fight side by side, many dispossessed princes support it many dispossessed princes support it

South India did not join, nor did Sikhs in South India did not join, nor did Sikhs in the North the North

Mutiny defeated after 1 yr., British Mutiny defeated after 1 yr., British reprisals were brutalreprisals were brutal– ie: Entire population driven from Delhi and ie: Entire population driven from Delhi and

thousands slaughtered. Captives fired from thousands slaughtered. Captives fired from cannons. “Cawnpore Dinner” – bayonet in the cannons. “Cawnpore Dinner” – bayonet in the stomachstomach

The British RajThe British Raj

After revolt, British Parliament After revolt, British Parliament passed “An Act for the Better passed “An Act for the Better Government of India” – completely Government of India” – completely takes over the East India Co.’s takes over the East India Co.’s empireempire

British govt. of India is Raj – the Hindi British govt. of India is Raj – the Hindi word for word for kingdomkingdom

““THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN”THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN”

British empire after World War IBritish empire after World War I

Government of IndiaGovernment of India

India divided into 2 unequal parts: India divided into 2 unequal parts: – British India – 3/5 of subcontinent in most British India – 3/5 of subcontinent in most

productive areasproductive areas– Native India – 1/3 of land in princely states Native India – 1/3 of land in princely states

scattered all overscattered all over Some ruled by Hindu leaders, Some ruled by Hindu leaders, maharajahsmaharajahs Some ruled by Islamic rulers, Some ruled by Islamic rulers, nawabsnawabs or or nizamsnizams British official advisor, British official advisor, residentresident

Princes could control schools, courts and Princes could control schools, courts and soldierssoldiers

British controlled foreign affairs and British controlled foreign affairs and internal relations internal relations

ColonizationColonization

1876, Parliament makes Queen 1876, Parliament makes Queen Victoria the Empress of India and Victoria the Empress of India and ruler over all parts of Indiaruler over all parts of India

British India ruled by a Viceroy, with British India ruled by a Viceroy, with help of other British officialshelp of other British officials

Under Raj, Indians had almost no Under Raj, Indians had almost no voice in their govt.voice in their govt.

Benefits of British RuleBenefits of British Rule

Pax Britanica – law and order creates Pax Britanica – law and order creates political unity previously unknown in political unity previously unknown in IndiaIndia

Best railroad system in Asia, 4,000-Best railroad system in Asia, 4,000-40,000 miles. Third largest in world.40,000 miles. Third largest in world.

National Postal and telegraph systemNational Postal and telegraph system Canal system irrigates millions of acresCanal system irrigates millions of acres Public health measures against cholera, Public health measures against cholera,

smallpox, etc. lower death ratesmallpox, etc. lower death rate Famine relief system aided millions Famine relief system aided millions

when harvests were poorwhen harvests were poor New schools at all levels – English is New schools at all levels – English is

used in higher levels of ed. – Trained used in higher levels of ed. – Trained lawyers and civil servants study ideas of lawyers and civil servants study ideas of democracy and nationalismdemocracy and nationalism

Equality before law regardless of statusEquality before law regardless of status Industrialization, shipping and banking Industrialization, shipping and banking

facilities expandedfacilities expanded

Limitations of British RuleLimitations of British Rule Many profits drained from India go to Many profits drained from India go to

benefit Britainbenefit Britain The improvements mentioned above The improvements mentioned above

were paid for by Indian taxes, (one of were paid for by Indian taxes, (one of reasons for American Revolution)reasons for American Revolution)

Taxes collected in cash were bad for Taxes collected in cash were bad for poor, increase debt and povertypoor, increase debt and poverty

Famines are Famines are caused by British caused by British production of production of commercial crops commercial crops instead of food. instead of food. British landlords British landlords not answerable to not answerable to anyone.anyone.

British manufactured goods sold British manufactured goods sold cheapercheaper than Indian hand-made goodsthan Indian hand-made goods

INCONSISTENCY IN RULEINCONSISTENCY IN RULE

British policies are inconsistent. Liberal British policies are inconsistent. Liberal govts. And some missionaries favor govts. And some missionaries favor educating and incorporating Indians to educating and incorporating Indians to help run empire;help run empire;

Conservatives (Tories) and Anglo-Indians Conservatives (Tories) and Anglo-Indians (British civil service and landowners) want (British civil service and landowners) want to keep them separate and crack down to keep them separate and crack down hard on rebellions – hardened racist hard on rebellions – hardened racist attitudes.attitudes.

Separation of ruler from ruled – Separation of ruler from ruled – Indians treated as inferiors socially, Indians treated as inferiors socially, morally and culturallymorally and culturally– British segregated society further, British segregated society further,

“Europeans Only” signs for public “Europeans Only” signs for public facilitiesfacilities

INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTINDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT

Indian National Congress founded 1885.Indian National Congress founded 1885.

TACTICSTACTICS

Support limited to Indian elites.Support limited to Indian elites. Boycotts.Boycotts.