British East India

Company

Founded in 1600Formed initially for pursuing trade

with the East Indies (south, southeast, and east Asia)

Mainly traded silk, cotton, indigo dye, saltpetre, tea, and opium

Monopoly of TradeThe British East India company

was given a monopoly of trade east of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) and west of the Straits of Magellan (Chile)

Foothold in IndiaArranged a treaty with an Indian

emperor in 1615Treaty guaranteed that the British

East India Company would not be interfered with by rivals or locals

Letter to King James“I have commanded all my governors and captains to

give them freedom answerable to their own desires; to sell, buy, and to transport into their country at their pleasure. For confirmation of our love and friendship, I desire your Majesty to command your merchants to bring in their ships of all sorts of rarities and rich goods fit for my palace.”

- Mughal Emperor Nuruddin Salim Jahangir

International Conflicts Conflict with France (including the Seven

Years War) Resistance by local rulers in India Opium War with China (the company

smuggled opium into China) Boston Tea Party in the U.S. (U.S. merchants

protested the company’s lower prices on tea due to not having to pay taxes)

Downfall Increased oversight by the British

government throughout the 1800s Various legislative acts were passed by the

British Parliament to maintain control over the British East India Company

Eventual nationalization of the company in 1858 occurred after the Indian Rebellion of 1857

British East India Company Classwork

Write one paragraph explaining which economic concept

(Imperialism? Capitalism? Communism?) the British used with regards to the British East

India Company.

British East India Company Classwork (cont.)

Write one paragraph explaining how you feel the British East India

company impacted India.