The British Take Over India

9.4 Notes

I. East India Co. Rule

How did the British Conquer India? British took

advantage of India’s divisions/ diversity

Used superior weapons

I. East India Co. Rule cont. British Policy

Make money Improve roads Preserve peace Western education/

legal Missionaries Ended “sati”- Hindu

custom of having wife kill herself when husband dies

II. Discontent and Rebellion Sepoy- Indian soldiers in

service to the East India Co.

They required them to serve anywhere even overseas

Allowed Hindu women to remarry

Issued rifle cartridges greased with animal fat that you had to bite off to use Troops refused for

religious reasons

II. Discontent and Rebellion cont.

Sepoy Rebellion- Sepoys rose up and massacred British

British retaliated and torched villages and slaughtering thousands

British crown took direct control of India

III. Impact of British Colonial Rule

British viceroy governed Unequal partnership British put in railroads, telegraphs,

medical advances, forced growing of cash crops

Policies also led to deforestation and famine from rapid population growth

IV. Views on Culture

Ram Mohun Roy- father of Indian nationalism

founded Hindu College in India (English style education)

Roy also helped reform Indian culture Helped end rigid class

distinctions Helped end Purdah-

isolation of women in separate quarters

V. Indian Nationalism Grows Western-educated

Indians emerged Turn against Britain

Indian National Congress- In 1885 nationalist leaders organize the Congress party Called for greater

democracy Muslim League- Muslim

formed own party supported a Muslim state.