History & Civics
The culmination of discontent against the British rule came with the Great Revolt of 1857. With reference to this, answer the following questions:
(i) What was Doctrine of Lapse? Name the queen who became a victim of this policy.
(ii) Mention any three economic causes of the Revolt.
(iii) Mention any four administrative changes made by the British after the Revolt.
Answer
(i) According to Doctrine of Lapse, if an Indian ruler died without a male heir his kingdom would come under the Company's territory in India.
The Queen of Jhansi, Rani Laxmi Bai became a victim of this policy.
(ii) Three economic causes of the Revolt were as follows:
- Decay of Cottage Industries and handicrafts — Heavy duties on Indian silk and cotton, disappearance of traditional patrons and buyers like the princes, chieftains and zamindars, decline of the traditional art of spinning and weaving lead to the decay of Cottage Industries and handicrafts making life of artisans miserable.
- Economic Decline of Peasantry — The peasantry bore the heavy burden of taxes to to provide money for the trade of the Company, for the cost of administration and the wars of British expansion in India. The economic decline of the peasants affected cultivation and led to many famines.
- Exploitation of Economic Resources — The British exploited the Indian resources for their own benefits. They made agricultural India an economic colony to serve the interests of industrial England.
(iii) The most significant result of the uprising of 1857 was the end of the rule of the East India Company and assumption of the Government of India directly by the Crown. This was done by the Government of India Act of 1858 which had the following provisions-
- It transferred the power to govern India from the East India Company to the British Crown.
- The Company's Board of Control and Court of Directors were abolished. The power was to be exercised by the Secretary of State for India, aided by a Council. The Secretary of State was a member of the British Cabinet and was responsible to the Parliament. Thus, the ultimate power over India remained with the British Parliament.
- Actual governance was to be carried on, as before, by the Governor-General who was also given the title of Viceroy or Crown's personal representative.
- Appointments to the Civil Service were to be made by open competition under rules made by the Secretary of State.
Related Questions
Nationalism refers to the feeling of oneness that emerges when people consider themselves as one nation. With reference to the growth of nationalism, answer the following:
(i) Name the founder of the Indian National Congress. Mention any two of its objectives.
(ii) How did the press contribute to the growth of nationalism?
(iii) Mention any four repressive policies of Lord Lytton.
Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow-
The movement had generated worldwide publicity, and British were looking for a way to end it. Gandhiji was released from custody in January 1931, and the two men began negotiating the terms of the pact. For many conservatives in England, the meetings and talks seemed unacceptable. They thought it was inappropriate for the Viceroy, who was the representative of the British Monarch, to receive their arch-enemy. Gandhiji was authorised by the then President of the Congress, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, to negotiate with the Viceroy. He advised the nation to wait, watch, pray and hope for a better prospect for India. He was full of admiration for the people, their heroic struggle and hard suffering.
(Source: The Hindu)
(i) Who was the Viceroy who negotiated with Gandhiji? Name any two causes of the movement being discussed above.
(ii) Mention any three impacts of this movement.
(iii) As a consequence of this meeting, a pact was signed. Mention any four conditions that the Congress and the British Government agreed to according to this pact.
Look at the picture given and answer the following questions:
(i) Identify the leader in the above picture. Mention any two of his ideologies.
(ii) Mention any three causes for his rise to power.
(iii) What was the immediate cause of the Second World War? Mention any three reasons given by this leader to justify his action.
The United Nations Organisation aims to maintain international peace. With reference to its organs and agencies, answer the following:
(i) What is the composition of the International Court of Justice?
(ii) Mention any three functions of the Security Council.
(iii) Give the full form of UNICEF. Mention any three of its functions.