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The British Empire in India. AP World History Unit 5. India in the 18 th and early 19 th Century. East India Company. East India Company activity limited to coastal trading cities when the Mughal Empire was strong. In the mid-1700s, the Mughal Empire broke apart. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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The British Empire in India
AP World HistoryUnit 5
India in the 18th
and early 19th
Century
East India Company
East India Company activity limited to coastal trading cities when the Mughal Empire was strong.In the mid-1700s, the Mughal Empire broke apart.
East India Company leaders saw chance to take over Indian lands.
Keeping India in Chaos
Company’s army took over much of India.
Example of economic imperialism
Changes in India
East India Company made changes to Indian society
English language.British also invited Christian missionaries to spread beliefs.
Changes in India
Banning customs.Introduced British laws banning certain customs, such as sati.• Practice of Hindu widows throwing selves on
husbands’ funeral fires.
Straining relations.Allowed Indian princes to rule under the supervision of British overlordsSent a dual message to the Indian People-
preserve cultural heritage but conform to British customs and beliefs
The Sepoy MutinyIn 1857, strained relations exploded into rebellion.Sepoys were Indian soldiers who fought in the British army.
The Sepoy Mutiny
Introduction of new type British rifle set off rebellionTo load the rifle, soldier had to bite off the end of an ammunition cartridge greased with pork and beef fat.
This offended Muslim and Hindu sepoysMuslims did not eat pork.Hindus did not eat beef.
Protest and Punishment during the Sepoy Mutiny
Sepoys in Meerut refused to use cartridges.Thought that it was a plot to make them abandon Hinduism and Islam.
Sepoys punished for protesting.In response, northern Indian sepoys rose up against British.
Eventually gained control of Delhi.
Violence of the Sepoy Mutiny
Violence of rebellion horrific.Both sides committed atrocities.
Sepoys killed British officers, as well as women and children.Captured mutineers were strapped to cannons and shot.
Villages were burned.Fighting continued two years.
Results of the SepoyMutiny
British ended the rule of East India Company in 1858. British government ruled India directly.
British moved away from some social regulations that angered many Indians.Distrust still continued between British and Indians.
India as a British ColonyConsidered the “jewel in the crown” of the British Empire.
Created political and financial rewards, as well as British national pride.
For Indians, British rule was a source of frustration and humiliation.Frustration gave rise to powerful feelings of nationalism.Westernization.
Many British thought they were superior.• Segregated neighborhoods and exclusive clubs.• Westernized Indians.
Prejudiced.• Thought Indians incapable of governing themselves.
The Raj and the ICSEra of British rule in India often called British Raj.
Hindi word meaning “rule”.Administration carried out by government agency.
Indian Civil Service (ICS).Though ruling India, most ICS officials were British.
ICS employed very few Indians.Many educated Indians frustrated at having no say in its own government.
Life under the British Raj
Building ProjectsBuilt railroads, roads, and canals.By 1910, India had the fourth largest railroad network in the world.British invested in transportation to move troops.• Helped sell British products.
Life under the British Raj
CommerceIndia was a very important market for British manufactured goods.India was a source of raw materials.• Especially cotton, tea, indigo, and jute.
Life under the British Raj
Impact of British CommerceBritish manufactured goods devastated India’s pre-existing textile industry.• Had been major exporter.• British closed factories to prevent competition.
By the mid-1800s, India primary exported raw materials, not manufactured goods.
The Rise of Indian Nationalism
Groups in India found British rule deeply disturbing.Indian elites and middle classes lacked opportunities. Indians had little power to influence decisions at higher levels of government.
India’s Nationalist MovementNationalist movement did not take off until Indians saw themselves as having same rights as EuropeansIdea first expressed by reformer Ram Mohun Roy in the 1820s
Felt British violating Indian’s rights. Including free speech and religion
India’s Nationalist MovementRoy wrote texts and opened schools to spread nationalist ideas.In 1885, the Indian National Congress was formed.
This was the first nationalist group.Founded by English-speaking Indians.
Initial requests from the Congress to the British were modest.
Example was a request for more positions for Indians in the ICS and better representation on government councils.
India as a British ColonyBengal
Nationalism turned radical when British announced plans to partition Bengal.Officials claimed breaking it into two provinces would make it easier to govern.Nationalists thought partition attempt was being done in order to break up Bengal’s Hindu population.
India as a British ColonyRadicals in Congress
Called for boycotting British goods.• Lasted three years.
Participants vowed to wear only Indian made clothing.• Burned British clothing.
Some militants attacked British officials.• Were severely punished.
India as a British Colony
ConsequencesBritish convinced to make concessions to Indian people.In the 1906, the Muslim League was formed to protect the interests of Indian Muslims.Indian National Congress and Muslim League begin to led the fight for independence.
