BRITISH IMPERIALISM IN

BRITAIN IN INDIA: CHAPTER 14 SECTION 3

In the beginning…

1757o Robert Clive

leads British East India

Company in a decisive victory in India gaining

power in the area

The British East India Company

Who were they?

An English company that was formed initially for

pursuing trade with the East Indies, but ended up

trading with India and China

Rule in India

• Ruled India for 100 years

• Had it’s own army: included SEPOYS (Indian

soldiers)

Britain’s “Jewel in the Crown”

o Name given to India because it was seen as the most valuable of

Britain’s colonies

Why valuable?

o Major supplier of raw materials

o Huge population of people lived there who the British could sell their goods to

Impact of Colonialism

Positive

o Building of railroad in India enabled the

country to modernize

o For example: schools founded and literacy

increased

Negative

o Britain held most of the power in India as

they put many restrictions on Indian

businesses

o Traditional Indian life was threatened

Social Class in India

The Sepoy Mutiny

By 1850, Indian people were fed up with British rule in their country

Indian people felt that:British were trying to convert them to ChristianityBritish were very oppressive

So…after the rumor about the bullets oiled up with beef and pork fat, the Sepoys revolted against the British

Video of Sepoy soldier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLE542NoWC8&feature=related

Did it work??

NOo Indians couldn’t unite because…

1. weak leadership

2. Hindus didn’t get along with the Muslims

Turning Point…

As a result of Sepoy Mutiny, Britain’s gov’t took direct control of India

Racist attitudes of British soldiers increased…“ It is this consciousness of the inherent superiority of the European which has won for us India. However well educated and clever a native may be, and however brave he may prove himself, I believe that no rank we can bestow on him would cause him to be considered an equal of the British officer.”

Lord Kitchener, British commander in chief in Indiao Distrust between British and Indians increased

Ram Mohun RoyModern thinking, well

educated Indian

o Indian reformist who called his countrymen to break away from arranged child marriages and the rigid caste system

o This would free India from others ruling them

Nationalism in India

Nationalist groups formed who fought for self – government

Partition of Bengal

Britain split province into 2 sections: (Muslim and Hindu) making it hard for Indians to

unite for independence against the British…