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27.4 British Imperialism in India British Expansion and Control over India • Began 1600s • 1757: East Indian Company (EIC) troops defeat Indian forces (Battle of Plassey) – EIC controls India until 1858 • Governs directly and indirectly between Bangladesh, southern India, nearly all territory along Ganges River in north • EIC has own army led by Sepoys, Indian soldiers • British gov. does not interfere with company – Regulates from London and India • India major supplier of natural resources – Population a major market for goods – Considered “Jewel in the crown” • British prevented Indian economy from operating on its own – India produced raw materials – Indians prohibited from competing with British goods – British cloth flooded India Transportation • Railroad network in India – Transports raw goods from interior to ports – Tea, indigo, coffee, cotton, jute • Trade of resources linked to international events – Crimean and U.S. civil wars increase jute and cotton production Colonialism’s Impact • Benefits result in modernization : – Laying of world’s 3rd largest railway – Modern road network – Telephone and telegraph lines – Dams, bridges, irrigation canals • Negative Effects: – British held political and economic control – British restrict Indian-owned industry – Cash crops restrict land usage (food) cause famine – Hands off-policy (religions and social customs) • Missionaries threaten traditional way of life Sepoy Mutiny • Threat of Christianity leads to rebellion – Constant British racism • Resentment and nationalism increases – Guns, pork, and meat • Sepoys refuse to accept cartridges – Jailed – Soldiers rebel and capture Delhi • Hindu vs. Muslim – Hindus prefer British rule over Muslim – Sikhs remain loyal to British Impact of Mutiny • British take direct control of India (1858) – Area of India under direct control called Raj – Raj refers to the British rule b/t 1757-1947 • • • • Independent Indian states (center) remained free Fueled racist attitudes of British Increased distrust between British and Indians 1919 Amritsar Massacre: "The incident in Jallian Wala Bagh was 'an extraordinary event, a monstrous event, an event which stands in singular and sinister isolation"...Winston Churchill • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE9_zB8k_lk Nationalism Surfaces • Indians demand more control and modernization • Ram Mohum Roy “father of modern India” – Modern-thinking – Wants to move away from tradition – Caste system and arranged marriages need changing – Calls for the adoption of western “ways” of life • Nationalism – Second class citizens in own country • Groups form: – Indian National Congress (1885) – Muslim League (1906) • Division of Bengal – British divide area into Muslim/Hindu areas – Acts of terrorism by both sides break out