The First War of Independence (The Great Uprising of 1857)

Under whose Governor-Generalship the Revolt of 1857 occurred?

1. Lord Canning
2. Lord Irwin
3. Lord Lytton
4. Lord Dalhousie

Answer

Lord Canning

The ruler of which of the following states was deposed on the pretext of misgovernance?

1. Jhansi
2. Satara
3. Nagpur
4. Awadh (Oudh)

Answer

Awadh (Oudh)

Who was the adopted son of the last Peshwa Baji Rao II?

1. Narayan Rao
2. Nana Saheb
3. Madhava Rao
4. Nana Phadnavis

Answer

Nana Saheb

Which of the following measures was taken after the Uprising?

1. Board of control was abolished
2. Board of Directors was stripped of all its powers
3. Secretary of state was appointed to oversee the administration of India
4. All of these

Answer

All of these

Which of the following changes were made, after the Uprising, regarding Indian states?

1. Doctrine of lapse was given a goodbye and Indian rulers were allowed the right of adoption
2. Indian rulers were forbidden to enter into relations with any foreign power without the consent of the British Government
3. The Nizam of Hyderabad was punished with a huge fine
4. Both (1) and (2)

Answer

Both (1) and (2)

Which of the following was a military cause of the Revolt of 1857?

1. Maltreatment of Indian sepoys
2. High status and high salaries of Indian sepoys
3. Passing of General Service Enlistment Act
4. Both (1) and (3)

Answer

Both (1) and (3)

Which of the following acts infuriated the Bengal army?

1. Annexation of Oudh
2. Annexation of Jhansi
3. Annexation of Satara
4. The Crimean War

Answer

Annexation of Oudh

What was the immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857?

1. Greased Cartridges
2. Abolition of Sati System
3. Abolition of Polygamy
4. Widow Remarriage Act

Answer

Greased Cartridges

Which state was captured first under the Doctrine of Lapse in 1848?

1. Nagpur
2. Jhansi
3. Awadh
4. Satara

Answer

Satara

Who was declared Nawab of Awadh when the Revolt of 1857 started?

1. Ali Mardan Khalji
2. Birjis Qadr
3. Malik Balkha Khalji
4. Nasiruddin Mahmud

Answer

Birjis Qadr

A far reaching effect of the ............... was that the sacrifices of the Indian leaders gave birth to the nationalist movement in India.

1. Uprising of 1857
2. Partition of Bengal
3. Kheda Satyagraha
4. Swadeshi and Boycott Movement

Answer

Uprising of 1857

Kunwar Singh organised movement in Bihar because his small kingdom of ............... had been annexed by the English.

1. Badalpur
2. Jagdishpur
3. Amarpur
4. Singhnan

Answer

Jagdishpur

Bahadur Shah Zafar was sentenced to life imprisonment and deported to Rangoon in Myanmar where he died in

1. 1865
2. 1862
3. 1868
4. 1871

Answer

1862

Which British General finally succeeded in recapturing Delhi?

1. General John Nicholson
2. General Hugh Rose
3. General Colin Campbell
4. General Neil

Answer

General John Nicholson

Who among the following announced that successors of Bahadur Shah Zafar would not be permitted to use the Red Fort as their palace?

1. Lord Dalhousie
2. Lord Canning
3. Lord Wellesley
4. Lord Mayo

Answer

Lord Dalhousie

Who among the following laid siege to the fortress in Jhansi in March 1858?

1. Sir Hugh Rose
2. Sir Colin Campbell
3. General Neil
4. Major Hudson

Answer

Sir Hugh Rose

In the questions given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.

1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
4. Assertion (A) is false, but.Reason (R) is true.

Assertion (A) : Rani Laxmibai fought like a true heroine.

Reason (R) : The Rani captured Gwalior and died fighting on the battlefield.

Answer

Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

In the questions given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.

1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
4. Assertion (A) is false, but.Reason (R) is true.

Assertion (A) : Bahadur Shah Zafar became the symbol of India's political unity.

Reason (R) : He was sentenced to life imprisonment and deported to Rangoon.

Answer

Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

Read the two statements given below regarding the military causes of the Revolt of 1857. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between (A) and (B).

(A) Ill-treatment of sepoys was one of the chief causes of the Rebellion.

(B) Loss of British prestige due to their defeat in the First Afghan war exploded the myth of their invincibility.

1. (B) contradicts (A)
2. (B) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (B) is false
4. (A) and (B) are independent of each other

Answer

(A) and (B) are independent of each other

Identify the consequences of the Great Uprising of 1857.

P : The East India Company's rule in India came to an end

Q : The Board of Directors became very powerful

R : The Government of India passed into the hands of the British Queen and Parliament

S : The Doctrine of Lapse was vigorously implemented

1. Q and R
2. P and R
3. R and S
4. P and S

Answer

P and R

By what other name is India's 'First War of Independence' known as?

Answer

India's 'First War of Independence' is known as 'the Great Uprising of 1857'.

Name the policy of annexation followed by Lord Dalhousie.

Answer

The policy of annexation followed by Lord Dalhousie was the Doctrine of Lapse.

Give reasons as to why Nana Sahib was angry with the British.

Answer

Baji Rao II, the last Peshwa, had adopted Nana Sahib as his son. After the Peshwa's death, the British refused to recognize Nana Sahib's claim to the pension and status of the Peshwa. This refusal angered him and led him to take an active part in the Great Uprising of 1857.

Why was the introduction of railways and telegraph resented?

Answer

People believed that telegraph poles were erected to hang those who were against the British rule. Similarly, orthodox Indians noted that in the railway compartments the higher castes and the lower castes were made to sit side by side. So, the introduction of modern innovations like railways and telegraph were resented.

Why was Oudh annexed by Lord Dalhousie?

Answer

Awadh was annexed by Lord Dalhousie to the Company's dominions on the pretext of alleged misrule or misgovernance.

Why were the educated Indians against the British Government?

Answer

The repressive policies of the British made educated Indians become jobless. They were excluded from high posts. Their lot became miserable and they felt discontented.

What was the General Service Enlistment Act?

Answer

Lord Canning passed the General Service Enlistment Act in 1856. It created bitterness among the sepoys as it bound them to be sent to fight even to an overseas front. The sepoys opposed this Act because it was contrary to their religious beliefs. The Act did not take into account the sentiments of Indian soldiers. The Brahmin soldiers saw in this a danger to their caste. This led to a feeling of resentment among them.

What was the immediate cause of the Great Uprising of 1857?

Answer

The immediate cause of the Great Uprising of 1857 was the introduction of Greased cartridges.

Give two results of the Great Uprising of 1857.

Answer

Two results of the Great Uprising of 1857 are:

1. End of the Company's rule : The Company's rule in India came to an end. The Government of India passed into the hands of the British Queen and the Parliament.
2. Rise of Nationalism : A far-reaching effect of the Uprising of 1857 was that the sacrifices of the Indian leaders gave birth to the nationalist movement.

Give one change brought by the British in the army after the Great Uprising of 1857.

Answer

After the Great Uprising, it was laid as a principle that in no case the number of the Indian sepoys would exceed twice that of the European troops. The new army consisted of about 72,000 Europeans and 1,35,000 Indian troops.

Give a brief outline of the major cause of the war of 1857. Where did the war of Revolt begin?

Answer

There were many major causes for the Great Uprising of 1857, such as the repressive colonial policies of the British, policies of political expansion like the Doctrine or Lapse and Subsidiary alliances, ill-treatment of the Indian sepoys, decline of Indian markets and heavy taxes. However, the annexation of Awadh and the introduction of Greased Cartridges had pushed the Indians (especially sepoys) over the breaking limit.

The war of revolt started as Mutiny of Sepoys at Meerut on 10th May 1857.

What was the Doctrine of Lapse? Who used this doctrine for the first time in India? Name the three states annexed by the British using this doctrine.

Answer

The Doctrine of Lapse was a policy that stated if an Indian ruler died without a natural heir (a biological son), his kingdom would automatically be taken over by the British. An adopted son was not recognized as a legal heir. This doctrine was introduced and used by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India, to expand British control. Using this policy, the British annexed several states, including Satara, Sambalpur, and Jhansi.

How did people in India look upon the social reforms brought about by the British?

Answer

The British introduced some reforms to improve the conditions of the people. But these were not welcomed by the majority of Indians and they felt that their sentiments were ignored. Modern innovations like telegraph and railways, the shifting of emphasis from oriental learning to western education, and the policies of racial discrimination were resented by the people.

With regard to handicrafts and cottage industries, what were the consequences of the British policy of making India a raw material producing country?

Answer

The British manufactured finished goods from Indian raw materials and exported them back to India making enormous profit. This lead to the decline of Indian handicrafts and cottage industries. Heavy duties on Indian silk and cotton textiles in Britain destroyed Indian industries. Thousands of Craftsmen and artisans were thrown out of employment. The manufacturers of silk and cotton goods got no profits from their work and began to look for other means of livelihood. The misery of the artisans was further compounded by the disappearance of their traditional patrons and buyers - the princes, chieftains and zamindars.

Give any two grievances of the peasantry against the British.

Answer

The peasants were discontent with the official land revenue policy and the consequent loss of their land. Two grievances of the peasantry against the British are:

1. The peasantry bore the heavy burden of taxes to provide money for the trade of the Company, the cost of administration and the wars of British expansion in India.
2. Increase in land revenue forced many peasants into indebtedness and eventually into the clutches of the moneylenders.

Give the meaning of absentee sovereignty. Why was it resented by the Indians?

Answer

Absentee Sovereignty means that India was being ruled by the British Government from England, at a distance of thousands of miles. The British Parliament passed laws for India. Absentee Sovereignty of the British rule was resented by the Indians. The Indians felt that India's wealth was being drained to England and not utilised for their welfare.

What was the Subsidiary Alliance? Mention two states brought under the British control using the Subsidiary Alliance.

Answer

The Subsidiary Alliance was an agreement introduced by Lord Wellesley. Under this system, the Indian rulers were made to accept the permanent stationing of British forces in their territory and pay for their maintenance. In return, the British promised to protect the rulers from external attacks. The Indian rulers lost their independence and became dependent on the British.

Two states brought under the British control using the Subsidiary Alliance were Awadh and Hyderabad.

Using the following points, explain the important causes which led to the Great Uprising of 1857:

(a) The British policy of territorial expansions.

(b) Economic exploitation of the Indians.

(c) Interference in the social and religious life of the Indians.

(d) The introduction of greased cartridges.

Answer

(a) The British followed many policies to expand their territory, such as:

1. Doctrine of Lapse — Lord Dalhousie introduced the Doctrine of Lapse which implied that if an Indian ruler died without a natural heir, his kingdom would automatically lapse to the British. An adopted heir could not become the ruler of such a state.
2. Subsidiary Alliances — The Subsidiary Alliance was an agreement which the British concluded with many Indian rulers. The British promised to protect these rulers from attacks by others. In return, the rulers gave away many of their powers to the British and became largely dependent on them.
3. Outright Wars — The British fought many wars to expand their territory and safeguard their economic and political interests. For example, the Battle of Buxar (1764) established the British as the master of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.
4. Alleged Misrule — Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh on the pretext of alleged misrule or misgovernance.

(b) Given below are the ways in which the British exploited India economically:

1. Exploitation of Economic Resources of India — Agricultural India was reduced to an economic colony. The Company purchased textiles, indigo, spices and tea from India and sold them abroad at exorbitant prices. The Company put restriction on the import of Indian textiles imposing heavy import duties on such goods.
2. Subordination of Indian Industry — The Company purchased raw materials from India at cheaper rate and exported manufactured finished goods back to India making enormous profit. Goods manufactured in India were subjected to high import duties in England. This way the Indian textile industry couldn't compete with the British industries.
3. Collapse of Indian Handicrafts — India was made a raw material producing country. Heavy duties were implied on Indian manufactured products. The traditional patrons and buyers - the princes, chieftains and zamindars disappeared. Due to all these factors, Indian handicrafts and cottage industries died out.
4. Drain of Wealth — The transfer of wealth from India to England for which India got no proportionate economic return is called the drain of wealth. Raw materials were purchased from the surplus revenues of Bengal and profits from duty free inland trade. The drain also included the salaries, incomes and savings of Englishmen, the British expenditure in India on the purchase of military goods, office establishments, interest on debts, unnecessary expenditure on the army, etc.
5. Resumption of Tax-Free Lands — The resumption of tax-free land and confiscation of Jagirs caused discontent among the Jagirdars and Zamindars. Lord William Bentinck had attached several Jagirs in Bengal. As a result, the Indian aristocracy was reduced to utter poverty. Lord Dalhausie had also confiscated Jagirs belonging to Jagirdars of the Deccan region.

(c) The British introduced many reforms to improve the conditions of the Indian people, but these reforms caused discontent among the Indian people.

1. Interference with Social Customs — The abolition of Sati (1829), conversion to Christianity (1832-1850) to inherit property, and the Widow Remarriage Act (1856) offended the Indians.
2. Activities of Missionaries — The British encouraged conversion to Christianity. The Christian missionaries often condemned Hindu and Muslim customs as outdated. The Missionaries opened schools to spread English education where the Christian religion was also taught. Tax was imposed on property held by temples and mosques.

(d) The immediate cause of the Great Uprising of 1857 was the introduction of greased cartridges. A new type of rifle (Enfield Rifle) was introduced in the army. Greased cartridges were to be used in them. Before fitting them in the rifles, the soldiers had to bite the tip of the cartridges with their teeth. A rumour spread that they were greased with the fat of the cow and the pig. Both the Hindu and the Muslim sepoys were enraged and thought that the English Government wanted to defile their religions. Both refused to use these cartridges and when force was used against them, they became infuriated and rose in revolt.

How far were the following responsible for the Great Uprising of 1857?

(a) The native rulers.

(b) The Jagirdars and the Zamindars.

(c) The educated Indians.

(d) The sepoys of the British army.

Answer

(a) The native rulers were significantly responsible for the Great Uprising of 1857. Their political and personal losses pushed them to either lead or support the revolt.

1. The last Mughal King, Bahadur Shah II, was declared the Emperor of India. Bahadur Shah became the symbol of India's political unity. He became a rallying point of all those who wanted to put an end to the foreign rule. Thus, Bahadur Shah acted as a unifying force.
2. At Kanpur, the Great Uprising was led by Nana Sahib, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II. He captured the fort and proclaimed himself the Peshwa.
3. The Great Uprising at Lucknow was led by the Begum of Oudh (Awadh). She organised an all-out attack on the British and besieged Sir Henry Lawrence and other Englishmen in the residency. Sir Henry Lawrence was shot dead.
4. Kunwar Singh organised this movement in Bihar and extended his operation to Rewa, Banda and Kalpi and also helped Nana Sahib.
5. The rebels in Central India were led by a brave and patriotic lady, Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi. She was joined by the valiant general, Tatya Tope. Along with Tatya Tope she fell on Gwalior like a lioness and seized it from Scindia who was loyal to the English.

(b) Jagirdars and Zamindars became staunch enemies of English and the leaders of the uprising. They were unhappy when the English resumed the tax-free lands and confiscated jagirs. They had once enjoyed great local power, so they saw the British as a threat to their status and privileges. The British also confiscated the estates of the taluqdars or zamindars. Hence, they provided men, arms and funds to the rebels during the Great Uprising.

(c) Educated Indians became jobless under British rule. High posts and high wages were only available for the British people and not the educated Indians. Their lot became miserable and they felt discontented. They provided support during the Great Uprising, however their political awakening occured more in the later decades.

(d) The sepoys of the British army, i.e. Indian soldiers were the backbone of the revolt. They had many grievances against the British, such as:

1. Indian soldiers were ill treated, paid low wages and had no chance of promotion either. No Indian could rise higher than the post of Subedar.
2. Passing of the General Service Enlistment Act created bitterness among the sepoys as it bound them to be sent to fight even to an overseas front.
3. The beating received by the British in the First Afghan War made the Indians believe that the British could also be defeated.
4. A large number of European soldiers were pulled back to Europe during the The Crimean War (1853-56). The fall in the number of European troops in India encouraged the Indian sepoys to break out in an open revolt.
5. Annexation of Awadh made the Bengali sepoys resent the British as most of them were from Awadh.
6. The Greased Cartridges incident made both Hindu and Muslim sepoys feel that the British wanted to defile their religion. Both refused to use these cartridges and when force was used against them, they became infuriated and rose in revolt.
7. Revolts were carried out in various cities with the help of these Sepoys.

There were many causes for the Great Uprising of 1857. In this context, state the following.

(a) Policy of economic exploitation.

(b) Military causes.

(c) Political causes.

Answer

(a) The economic policies of the British resulted in impoverishing all the segments of Indian society, except a handful of collaborators among the Indians.

1. Exploitation of Economic Resources of India : The East India Company reduced agricultural India to an economic colony. The Company purchased textiles, indigo, spices and tea from India and sold them abroad at exorbitant prices. The British put restriction on the import of Indian textiles imposing heavy import duties on such goods.
2. Subordination of Indian Industry: Goods manufactured in India were subjected to high import duties in England. India became a country supplying raw materials to England. The British manufactured finished goods from Indian raw materials and exported them back to India making enormous profit. This affected the textile industry in India.
3. Collapse of Indian Handicrafts : As a result of the British policy of making India a raw material producing country, Indian handicrafts and cottage industries died out. Heavy duties on Indian silk and cotton textiles in Britain destroyed Indian industries.
4. Drain of Wealth : The British used the surplus revenues earned from India to buy raw materials from India. The drain also included the salaries, incomes and savings of Englishmen, the British expenditure in India on the purchase of military goods, office establishments, interest on debts, unnecessary expenditure on the army, etc. India's wealth was transferred to England with India getting no proportionate economic return.
5. Economic Decline of Peasantry : It was the peasantry that bore the heavy burden of taxes to provide money for the trade of the Company, the cost of administration and the wars of British expansion in India. The merchants and moneylenders pushed rents to exorbitant levels and evicted their tenants in case of non-payment.

(b) There were several causes that roused discontentment among the sepoy as well, who started the uprising.

1. Ill-Treatment of Indian Sepoys : Indian sepoys were treated inferior to the British sepoys and were often abused and kicked as if they were animals.
2. Inferior Status and Low Salaries : The wages of the Indian soldiers were too less to support their families. An English soldier was paid much more. The Indians had no chance of promotion and were not appointed to high posts in the army. No Indian could rise higher than the post of Subedar.
3. General Service Enlistment Act (1856) : Lord Canning passed the General Service Enlistment Act. It created bitterness among the sepoys as it bound them to be sent to fight even to an overseas front.
4. Loss of British Prestige in the First Afghan War : After the beating the British received in the First Afghan War, the Indian sepoys felt that the British could also be defeated. So they gathered courage to take up arms against them.
5. Fall in number of European troops : A large number of European soldiers were pulled back to Europe during the Crimean War (1853-56). The fall in the number of European troops in India encouraged the Indian sepoys to break out in an open revolt.
6. Annexation of Awadh : Annexation of Awadh caused the Indian sepoys to resent the British as the huge Bengal army mainly consisted of sepoys from Awadh.
7. Greased Cartridges Incident : Greased cartridges were to be used in the newly introduced Enfield rifle. These were rumoured to be greased from the fat of cows and pigs. Both the Hindu and Muslim sepoys felt that the British wanted to defile their religion.

(c) The British policies of expansion made the native rulers resent them and they played an active part in the Great Uprising of 1857.

1. Doctrine of Lapse : The Doctrine of Lapse implied that if an Indian ruler died without a natural heir, his kingdom would automatically lapse to the British. An adopted heir could not become the ruler of such a state. This made the Indian rulers hostile to the British.
2. Disrespect Shown to Bahadur Shah : The British announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah II, the Mughals would lose the title of kings and his successors would have to vacate the Red Fort. This increased the aversion of the Indians for the British.
3. Ill-Treatment of Nana Sahib and Rani of Jhansi : The British refused to acknowledge the adopted son of the last Peshwa Baji Rao II, Nana Sahib as the ruler of the Marathas. The Rani of Jhansi, Laxmi Bai, was also not allowed to adopt a son. They became sworn enemies of the English.
4. Annexation of Awadh : In 1856, Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh to the Comapany's dominions on the pretext of alleged misule or misgovernance and deposed Nawab Wazid Ali Shah. The Indians had to pay higher land revenue and additional taxes on food, houses, ferries and justice.
5. Absentee Sovereignty of the British : Indians felt they were being ruled from England and India's wealth was drained to England and not utilised for their welfare.
6. Subsidiary alliance : According to the Subsidiary Alliance, the British promised to protect the Indian rulers agreed to it from attacks by others. In return, the rulers gave away many of their powers to the British and became largely dependent on them.

Describe briefly the results of the Great Uprising of 1857 in the political and constitutional fields pertaining to

(a) end of the Company's rule.

(b) abolition of Peshwaship and the Mughal Line.

(c) policy of 'Divide and Rule'.

(d) rise of nationalism.

Answer

(a) The first and most important result of the Uprising was that the hundred years old Company's Rule in India came to an end. The Board of Control was abolished and the Board of Directors was stripped of all its powers. Now the Government of India passed into the hands of the British Queen and the Parliament, who appointed a Secretary of State for India to look after the administration of India.

The Secretary of State of India was a member of the British Cabinet. A 15 member Council, eight of whose members were appointed by the Queen and seven by the Directors of the Company, was constituted to aid and advise the Secretary of State. His office was in London but all his expenditures were met by the Indian Government.

(b) The adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, Nana Sahib had taken an active part in the Uprising of 1857 but he had voluntarily escaped into Nepal after the failure of the Great Uprising without any intention to return. The office of the Peshwa was abolished.

In the same way the title of the Mughal Emperor was abolished following the death of Bahadur Shah II, who had been actively associated with the Great Uprising. Thus, ended the line of the Great Mughals founded by Babur in 1526.

(c) The British started following the policy of 'Divide and Rule' as unity of the Indians was considered harmful to the imperialistic designs of the English. The British alienated the rulers from their subjects by according them special protections and by allowing them several concessions. Thus, the Indian rulers were led to the ruinous path of luxurious life and they began to disregard the vital interests of their people. The English also encouraged hatred and ill-feeling among the various sections, especially the Hindus and the Muslims, so that they would never unite again to pose threat to the British Rule in India.

(d) The Great Uprising of 1857 was the first struggle of the Indian people for freedom from British imperialism. It paved the way for the rise of the national movement. The sacrifices made by Rani Laxmi Bai, Nana Sahib and Mangal Pandey served as a source of inspiration for the future freedom fighters. The heroic struggle also established valuable traditions of resistance to the British rule. The sacrifices of the Indian leaders gave birth to the nationalist movement.

Discuss the changes brought by the Great Uprising of 1857 in the army with reference to:

(a) amalgamation of troops of the Crown and the Company.

(b) number of European troops.

(c) artillery and other effective weapons.

(d) expenditure on the army.

Answer

(a) Since 1784 when Pitt's India Act was passed, the Company had two categories of European troops — one that were recruited from among the European settlers in India by the Company itself and the other were those recruited directly by the British Government in England and sent to serve in India.

(b) At the time of the Great Uprising the number of European soldiers was far less than the number of Indian troops. It had been a factor that encouraged the Indian sepoys to break out in open revolt. After the Uprising it was laid as a principle that in no case the number of the Indian sepoys would exceed twice that of the European troops.

(c) After the Uprising, Indian officers were never placed in charge of ammunition, nor were they allowed to use more sophisticated weapons of war. It was done primarily to desist the Indian soldiers from harbouring any design of breaking out in rebellion.

(d) A European soldier got salary 4 to 5 times more than an Indian sepoy. Therefore, it was natural that an increase in the number of European soldiers resulted in a proportionate increase in the expenditure.

Discuss the changes brought by the Great Uprising of 1857 in the policy of the British Government in the social, religious and economic fields with reference to:

(a) religious freedom.

(b) admittance of Indians to service.

(c) relations between the Europeans and the Indians.

(d) economic exploitation.

Answer

(a) It was clearly stated in the Queen's Declaration of 1858 that there would be no interference in the religious beliefs and practices of the people and all would enjoy full freedom in this respect.

(b) The Indians were promised appointment to the highest offices under the Government without prejudice to caste, colour or religion. It was particularly stated in the Declaration of 1858.

(c) Both the Indians and the Europeans committed such atrocities against each other that the relations among the people of both the races became bitter and strained. The Indians hated the British while the British suspected the Indians.

(d) The wealth of India had been plundered by the Company, but with the introduction of the Crown's Rule it became more serious and much wider. For example, increase in the number of European troops meant more Indian money going to the British people.

Describe briefly the Great Uprising of 1857 with reference to:

(a) the Company's rule in India.

(b) rise of nationalism.

(c) policy of 'Divide and Rule'.

(d) change in the nature of the British rule.

Answer

(a) The East India Company’s rule was marked by economic exploitation, political annexations (like the Doctrine of Lapse), and disregard for Indian customs. These policies caused widespread resentment among princes, peasants, soldiers (sepoys), jagirdars, zamindars and artisans. The immediate spark was the greased cartridges issue, but deep discontent with the Company’s oppressive administration led to a large-scale uprising. The revolt began with sepoys in Meerut and quickly spread to other parts of India.

(b) Though the uprising did not have a united nationalist ideology, it laid the foundation for Indian nationalism. It was the first large-scale collective resistance against British rule involving different sections of society — soldiers, peasants, zamindars, and deposed rulers. The shared struggle created a sense of unity and everyone united against the British.

(c) After the revolt, the British learned to prevent unity among Indians. They adopted the policy of ‘Divide and Rule’ to ensure that such a mass uprising would not occur again. They began dividing Hindus and Muslims, favoring some communities over others, and keeping princes loyal through concessions. This tactic weakened Indian unity and was a major tool of British imperial control.

(d) The Great Uprising led to many changes in the nature of the British rule.

1. In 1858, the British crown took direct control, ending the rule of the East India Company. The Board of Control was abolished and the Board of Directors was stripped of all it powers.
2. The Governor-General became the Viceroy, representing the crown.
3. The British government started following policy of appeasement towards the princes, and decided to honour all the treaties entered by the Indian rulers with the East India Company.
4. The Doctrine of Lapse was given a final goodbye and the Indian rulers were allowed the right of adoption.
5. The number of Indian soldiers in their armies was restricted and they were forbidden to enter into any relations with any native or foreign power without the consent of the British Government.
6. The Indians were also assured that there would be no interference in their internal matters except in case of misgovernance.

However, the rule became more authoritarian and cautious, focused on military strength and surveillance to suppress dissent.

The Great Uprising of 1857 was an important event which produced far-reaching results for freedom. Explain with reference to the following points :

(a) The changes introduced in the administrative set up of the British territory in India.

(b) The rights granted to the Indian princes and people.

Answer

(a) The changes introduced in the administrative set up of the British territory in India are:

1. In 1858, the British crown took direct control, ending the rule of the East India Company. The Board of Control was abolished and the Board of Directors was stripped of all it powers. A Secretary of State was appointed to look after the administration of India.
2. A 15 member Council, eight of whose members were appointed by the Queen and seven by the Directors of the Company, was constituted to aid and advise the Secretary of State. His office was in London but all his expenditures were met by the Indian Government.
3. The Governor-General became the Viceroy, representing the crown.
4. The British government thought it wise to follow the policy of appeasent towards the Indian princes and decided to honour all the treaties previously made with the East India Company.

(b) The British government followed the policy of appeasement towards the Indian princes and started using the policy of Divide and Rule.

1. The British decided to honour all the treaties entered by the Indian rulers with the East India Company, to try win back the trust of the princes.
2. Indian princes were assured that their kingdoms would never be annexed.
3. The Doctrine of Lapse was given a final goodbye and the Indian rulers were allowed the right of adoption.
4. They were also assured that there would be no interference in their internal matters except in case of misgovernance.
5. All these princes who had helped the British during this Uprising were decorated with big honours and rewarded fabulously to seek their appeasement.

With reference to the picture given below, answer the questions that follow :

(a) Identify and name the person.

(b) What changes in administration were brought about by the Queen's proclamation of 1858?

(c) Describe the reorganisation of the army envisaged in the Queen's proclamation.

Answer

(a) The given picture shows Queen Victoria from England.

(b) The changes in administration brought about by the Queen's proclamation of 1858 are:

1. In 1858, the British crown took direct control, ending the rule of the East India Company. The Board of Control was abolished and the Board of Directors was stripped of all it powers. A Secretary of State was appointed to look after the administration of India.
2. A 15 member Council, eight of whose members were appointed by the Queen and seven by the Directors of the Company, was constituted to aid and advise the Secretary of State. His office was in London but all his expenditures were met by the Indian Government.
3. The Governor-General became the Viceroy, representing the crown.
4. The British government thought it wise to follow the policy of appeasent towards the Indian princes and decided to honour all the treaties previously made with the East India Company.

(c) The army was reorganised in the following ways:

1. After the Uprising it was laid as a principle that in no case the number of the Indian sepoys would exceed twice that of the European troops. Also, they were forbidden to enter into any relations with any native or foreign power without the consent of the British Government.
2. The Company's army was amalgamated with the British Crown's army.
3. After the Uprising, Indian officers were never placed in charge of ammunition, nor were they allowed to use more sophisticated weapons of war.
4. It was decided to mix the soldiers belonging to different castes and practising different faiths in the same armies, so that unity and nationalism did not develop among them. Besides, the Indian sepoys were stationed in cantonments away from the civil areas where they would not come in contact with the common people.
5. A European soldier got salary 4 to 5 times more than an Indian sepoy. It was, therefore, natural that an increase in the number of European soldiers resulted in a proportionate increase in the expenditure.