British Imperialism in India

Ch 11 Sec 4

British East India Company arrives in the 1600s

India’s ruling dynasty kept traders under control◦Mughal Empire losing power by 1707

◦Empire splits into dozens of statesEast India Company dominant force until 1858

East India Company dominates◦Rule India w/little interference from Britain

Had own army◦Led by British officers◦Staffed by Sepoys Indian soldiers

British Expand Control Over India

British cherish India for potential more than profit◦Major supplier of raw materials◦Largest potential market for goods 300 million

Most valuable of all colonies◦Crown Jewel

Britain’s “Jewel in the Crown”

British Restrictions for India◦Had to produce raw materials for British manufacturing

◦Had to buy British goods◦Indian competition w/British goods prohibited

RR network made India more valuable◦Transport of goods from interior to coast◦Agricultural products Tea, indigo, coffee, cotton, jute, opium

Goods more valuable because of wars◦Crimean cut off jute supply from Russia◦US Civil War and cotton

British Transport Trade Goods

Negatives◦British held a lot of political and

economic power◦Restricted Indian-owned industries◦Cash crops cause loss of self-sufficiency Reduced food production causes

famines◦Missionaries and racists threaten

traditional life

Impact of Colonialism

Positives◦3rd largest RR network◦Development of modern economy◦Unity ◦Dams, roads, telephone and telegraph

lines◦Sanitation and public health improve◦Schools and colleges founded◦Less bandits and local warfare

1850 – British control most of India◦Pockets of discontent◦Indians believed British trying to convert them

◦Indians resent racism of British

The Sepoy Mutiny

1857 gossip launches rebellion◦Sepoy bullets greased with beef and pork fat Hindus consider cows sacred Muslims do not eat pork

◦Sepoy refuse to use bullets Thrown in jail

Indians Rebel

May 10, 1857 rebellion begins◦March to Delhi Joined by sepoy soldiers there

◦Rebellion spreads to northern and central India

◦Lasts one year

Indians had trouble uniting◦Weak leadership◦Serious splits between Hindus and

Muslims Hindus didn’t want Mughal Empire

restored◦Sikhs remained loyal to British

1858 – British government takes control◦Raj – British rule of India◦Cabinet minister in London directs policy

British governor-general carries out orders◦British reward loyal princes

Honor trade agreements Mutiny fuels racist beliefs Distrust increases between British and

Indians

A Turning Point