The British Empire in India

AP World HistoryAP World History

Unit 4Unit 4

India in the 18th

and early 19th

Century

East India Company

East India Company activity limited to East India Company activity limited to coastal trading cities when the Mughal coastal trading cities when the Mughal Empire was strong.Empire was strong.

In the mid-1700s, the Mughal Empire In the mid-1700s, the Mughal Empire broke apart. broke apart.

East India Company leaders saw chance East India Company leaders saw chance to take over Indian lands.to take over Indian lands.

Keeping India in Chaos

Manipulated rulers of Indian states. Manipulated rulers of Indian states. Suggested each needed British support to Suggested each needed British support to keep throne.keep throne.

Played rulers against each other.Played rulers against each other.Chaos, chaos, chaos.Chaos, chaos, chaos.

Company’s army took over much of Company’s army took over much of India.India.

Claiming it had to restore order.Claiming it had to restore order.

Changes in India

East India Company made changes to East India Company made changes to Indian societyIndian society

Introduced new education system.Introduced new education system.

English language.English language.

British also invited Christian missionaries British also invited Christian missionaries to spread beliefs.to spread beliefs.

Some began to believe the British were Some began to believe the British were trying to destroy their society.trying to destroy their society.

Changes in India

Banning customs.Banning customs.Introduced British laws banning certain Introduced British laws banning certain customs, such as customs, such as sati.sati.• Practice of Hindu widows throwing selves on Practice of Hindu widows throwing selves on

husbands’ funeral fires.husbands’ funeral fires.

Straining relations.Straining relations.Thought British wanted to eliminate Indian Thought British wanted to eliminate Indian customs, especially Hinduism completelycustoms, especially Hinduism completelyThis created an increasing strain on relations This created an increasing strain on relations between Indians and British. between Indians and British.

The Sepoy Mutiny

In 1857, strained In 1857, strained relations exploded into relations exploded into rebellion.rebellion.

Sepoys were Indian Sepoys were Indian soldiers who fought in soldiers who fought in the British army.the British army.

The Sepoy Mutiny

Introduction of new type British rifle set off Introduction of new type British rifle set off rebellionrebellion

To load the rifle, soldier had to bite off the end To load the rifle, soldier had to bite off the end of an ammunition cartridge greased with pork of an ammunition cartridge greased with pork and beef fat.and beef fat.

This offended Muslim and Hindu sepoysThis offended Muslim and Hindu sepoys

Muslims did not eat pork.Muslims did not eat pork.

Hindus did not eat beef.Hindus did not eat beef.

Protest and Punishment during the Sepoy Mutiny

Sepoys in Meerut refused to use cartridges.Sepoys in Meerut refused to use cartridges.Thought that it was a plot to make them abandon Thought that it was a plot to make them abandon Hinduism and Islam.Hinduism and Islam.

Sepoys punished for protesting.Sepoys punished for protesting.

In response, northern Indian sepoys rose up In response, northern Indian sepoys rose up against British.against British.

Eventually gained control of Delhi.Eventually gained control of Delhi.

Violence of the Sepoy Mutiny

Violence of rebellion horrific.Violence of rebellion horrific.Both sides committed atrocities.Both sides committed atrocities.

Sepoys killed British officers, as well as Sepoys killed British officers, as well as women and children.women and children.Captured mutineers were strapped to Captured mutineers were strapped to cannons and shot.cannons and shot.

Villages were burned.Villages were burned.

Fighting continued two years.Fighting continued two years.

Results of the Sepoy Mutiny

British ended the rule of East British ended the rule of East India Company in 1858. India Company in 1858.

British government ruled India British government ruled India directly.directly.

British moved away from some British moved away from some social regulations that angered social regulations that angered many Indians.many Indians.

Distrust still continued between Distrust still continued between British and Indians.British and Indians.

India as a British ColonyConsidered the “jewel in the crown” of the British Empire.Considered the “jewel in the crown” of the British Empire.

Created political and financial rewards, as well as British national Created political and financial rewards, as well as British national pride.pride.

For Indians, British rule was a source of frustration and For Indians, British rule was a source of frustration and humiliation.humiliation.Frustration gave rise to powerful feelings of nationalism.Frustration gave rise to powerful feelings of nationalism.

Westernization.Westernization.Many British thought they were superior.Many British thought they were superior.

• Segregated neighborhoods and exclusive clubs.Segregated neighborhoods and exclusive clubs.• Westernized Indians.Westernized Indians.

Prejudiced.Prejudiced.• Thought Indians incapable of governing themselves.Thought Indians incapable of governing themselves.

The Raj and the ICS

Era of British rule in India often called British Raj.Era of British rule in India often called British Raj.Hindi word meaning “rule”.Hindi word meaning “rule”.

Administration carried out by government agency.Administration carried out by government agency. Indian Civil Service (ICS).Indian Civil Service (ICS).

Though ruling India, most ICS officials were Though ruling India, most ICS officials were British.British.

ICS employed very few Indians.ICS employed very few Indians.

Many educated Indians frustrated at having no Many educated Indians frustrated at having no say in its own government.say in its own government.

Life under the British Raj

Building ProjectsBuilding ProjectsBuilt railroads, roads, and canals.Built railroads, roads, and canals.

By 1910, India had the fourth largest By 1910, India had the fourth largest railroad network in the world.railroad network in the world.

British invested in transportation to move British invested in transportation to move troops.troops.• Helped sell British products.Helped sell British products.

Life under the British Raj

CommerceCommerceIndia was a very important market for India was a very important market for British manufactured goods.British manufactured goods.

India was a source of raw materials.India was a source of raw materials.• Especially cotton, tea, indigo, and jute.Especially cotton, tea, indigo, and jute.

Taxes from Indian landowners paid for Taxes from Indian landowners paid for administration of India and the Indian army.administration of India and the Indian army.

Life under the British Raj

Impact of British CommerceImpact of British CommerceBritish manufactured goods devastated British manufactured goods devastated India’s pre-existing textile industry.India’s pre-existing textile industry.• Had been major exporter.Had been major exporter.• British closed factories to prevent competition.British closed factories to prevent competition.

By the mid-1800s, India primary exported By the mid-1800s, India primary exported raw materials, not manufactured goods.raw materials, not manufactured goods.

The Rise of Indian Nationalism

Groups in India found British rule deeply Groups in India found British rule deeply disturbing.disturbing.

Indian elites and middle classes lacked Indian elites and middle classes lacked opportunities. opportunities.

Indians had little power to influence Indians had little power to influence decisions at higher levels of decisions at higher levels of government.government.

India’s Nationalist Movement

Nationalist movement did not take off Nationalist movement did not take off until Indians saw themselves as having until Indians saw themselves as having same rights as Europeanssame rights as Europeans

Idea first expressed by reformer Ram Idea first expressed by reformer Ram Mohun Roy in the 1820sMohun Roy in the 1820s

Felt British violating Indian’s rights. Felt British violating Indian’s rights.

Including free speech and religionIncluding free speech and religion

India’s Nationalist MovementRoy wrote texts and opened schools to spread Roy wrote texts and opened schools to spread nationalist ideas.nationalist ideas.Despite his efforts it took several decades for Despite his efforts it took several decades for movement to activate.movement to activate.In 1885, the Indian National Congress was formed.In 1885, the Indian National Congress was formed.

This was the first nationalist group.This was the first nationalist group.Founded by English-speaking Indians.Founded by English-speaking Indians.

Initial requests from the Congress to the British were Initial requests from the Congress to the British were modest.modest.

Example was a request for more positions for Indians in the Example was a request for more positions for Indians in the ICS and better representation on government councils.ICS and better representation on government councils.

India as a British Colony

BengalBengalNationalism turned radical when British Nationalism turned radical when British announced plans to partition Bengal.announced plans to partition Bengal.

Officials claimed breaking it into two Officials claimed breaking it into two provinces would make it easier to govern.provinces would make it easier to govern.

Nationalists thought partition attempt was Nationalists thought partition attempt was being done in order to break up Bengal’s being done in order to break up Bengal’s Hindu population.Hindu population.

India as a British Colony

Radicals in CongressRadicals in CongressCalled for boycotting British goods.Called for boycotting British goods.• Lasted three years.Lasted three years.

Participants vowed to wear only Indian Participants vowed to wear only Indian made clothing.made clothing.• Burned British clothing.Burned British clothing.

Some militants attacked British officials.Some militants attacked British officials.• Were severely punished.Were severely punished.

India as a British Colony

ConsequencesConsequencesBritish convinced to make concessions to British convinced to make concessions to Indian people.Indian people.

In the 1906, the Muslim League was formed In the 1906, the Muslim League was formed to protect the interests of Indian Muslims.to protect the interests of Indian Muslims.

Indian National Congress and Muslim League Indian National Congress and Muslim League begin to led the fight for independence.begin to led the fight for independence.