The British East India Company

From around 1600, the British East India Company (EIC) started trading with India in

goods such as spices, silk and tea.

By 1700, the EIC had set-up three trading posts, in Bombay, Madras and Calcutta.

But, the British were still competing with other European nations for

influence in India………

1700-1750: Problems

• After 1700 the East India Company faced many problems.

What What problems problems

did the did the EIC face?EIC face?

• The British EIC had Bombay, Calcutta and Madras and at first the British did not want more land.

• Eventually, war broke out between rival Indian princes, and the French interferred – making the Indians trade with France (and not Britain).

• The EIC would be forced out of India, unless something changed.

1700-1750: Problems

Robert Clive Conquers India

• Robert Clive worked in an office for the EIC but he was getting bored

• The EIC’s force of armed guards was growing into an army; Clive joined them as an officer

• In 1751, Clive led 500 men against 10,000 French and Indian soldiers and won!

• Clive led the EIC’s army to victory many more times, forcing the French out and making the East India Company very powerful – it wasn’t the British government taking over India – it was a British business!

From about 1800, British Christians tried to change Indian customs

• The Hindu practice Sati is believed to have originated some 700 years ago in India.

• Women burnt themselves after their men were defeated in battles to avoid being taken by the victors. But it came to be seen as a measure of wifely devotion in later years and sometimes relatives would tie-up the wife, forcing her to die.

• The custom was outlawed by India's British rulers in 1829 following demands by Indian reformers. But many Indians were against change – especially when forced by the British.

• Today it happens only once every few years – and causes outrage across India and the world.

The 1857-58 Indian Mutiny/The 1857-58 War of Independence

• The pay of Indian soldiers (sepoys) - who were working for the EIC army was cut.

• There were rumors that the sepoys would have to convert from Hinduism or Islam to Christianity.

• Near Delhi, some sepoys murdered their British officers and a revolt started against the British across India.

• Many 100’s of British men, women and children were butchered - Cawnpore (now Kanpur) saw terrible atrocities.

• The British did get their revenge.

• At Cawnpore, the British made anyone suspected of being a rebel lick the ground where the British had been butchered

• Other rebels were tied to the mouths of cannons and blown to pieces.

• 1000’s died from both sides, and the relationships between the British and the Indians would never be the same again.

The ‘British Raj’, 1858-1947• In 1858 in response to the

rebellion, the British Government abolished the East India Company and declared that India would be ruled directly by the British Government.

• The army brought more British officers to India to prevent anymore rebellions.

• This British ‘raj’, meaning ‘rule’, would continue until a man named Gandhi led India to independence.