The British Empire in India

I- Indian imperialism began with

•The British East India Company- set up trading posts in India to control trade between India and Britain.

N- No total British control of India, yet…

•India’s ruling Mughal Empire kept European traders under control.

D- Decline of the Mughal Empire

•Beginning in 1707 allowed for the British East India Company to begin controlling India’s political and economic life.

I- India = Britain’s “Jewel in the Crown”

• Industrial Revolution turned Great Britain into industrial giant & India provide raw materials for production

• “Jewel in the Crown”–most valuableof Britain’s colonies

• British setup restrictions that prevented Indian economy from operating on its own forced to sell raw materials to Britain only and purchase only British goods growing resentment among many Indians

The East India Company even had its own army, led by British officers

and staffed by sepoys, or Indian soldiers.

•By the 1830s, the East India Company(regulated by British Government) ruled India.

•Many Indians resented British rule.

A- Angry Indians = total British control

•1857, large number of British-trained Indian soldiers (Sepoys) rebelled against their British officers

•Sepoys believed their bullet cartridges were sealed with pork & beef fat.

•Muslims don’t eat pork & Hindus believe cow is sacred had to break cartridges w/ teeth

•Soldiers believed they were forced to violate their religion SEPOY MUTINY (or REBELLION)

Sepoy Rebellion

•The Sepoy Rebellion was put down & India became a British possession

•British rule in India from 1757-1947

•Became known as RAJ

British Imperialism in India Positive Negative

Positive EffectThe British provided a single system oflaw and government, unifying India.

Theyalso introduced English as a unifying

language.

Positive EffectBritish built roads, bridges, &railroads in India and set up

telegraph wires. However, India’scottage industries, in which goodswere made in homes, were hurt by

competition with British goods.

Positive EffectBritish built hospitals, introduced

new medicines, & provided famine relief. Negative Effect

health care improvements led to a population explosion without an increase in

economic opportunities.

Negative EffectIndians were looked down

upon by British & their culture was treated as inferior to European

culture. Indian workers provided theBritish with inexpensive labor.

Negative EffectIndians worked for long hours underterrible working conditions. Britishgained wealth while Indians were

exploited.

“You Are There” DiaryYour task:

Write a diary entry as if you were a sepoy living in India during the Sepoy Rebellion

Keep in mind this is not a report on the event but the thoughts and feelings of someone living through it.

Your diary should include any key terms or people involved with the event in some way.

Instructions:•Write a one-paragraph entry about the beginning of the event. Include the

date. Briefly described how the event began.

•Write a one-paragraph entry about the middle of the event. Include the date. Mention whether things are better than the beginning or not.

•Write a one-paragraph entry about the end of the event. Include the date. Describe your character’s feelings about the event now that he/she has lived

through the whole thing.