Transcript British Imperialism In India
British Imperialism In India
Mr. Thomas Baffuto Pleasantville High School
Introduction
• 1600s British win trading rights • Exploiting Indian Diversity/competition and diversity • East India Company seizes control • British considers India its primary colony • “Brightest jewel in the crown” • India benefits and suffers under British colonial rule.
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British East India Company
Kept India in Chaos
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Manipulated rulers of states, suggested each needed British support to keep throne
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Played rulers against each other, kept India in chaos
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Company’s army took over much of India, claiming it had to restore order
British Policies
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Indirect control Economic:
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India produces raw materials
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India buys British goods
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Competition with Britain prohibited
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Economic system benefits Britain
Tea
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Tea
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Major Cash Crop for British
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Tea becomes one of Britain’s major exports around the world.
Opium
• Opium became a major source of income for the British.
• These opium balls are awaiting shipment to China.
• Opium is made from poppies grown in India
The British military presence in India directly supported British trade.
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In the long run, the British were active rulers in India. They kept public order and ended many local wars. The British military also trained local Indians to become soldiers.
Multimedia Learning, LLC COPYRIGHT 2006 WRITTEN BY HERSCHEL SARNOFF & DANA BAGDASARIAN Indian soldiers recruited to fight for the British army, 1902.
Changes in India
Making Changes
• East India Company made changes to Indian society • Introduced new education system, English language
Destroying Society
• British also invited Christian missionaries to spread beliefs • Some began to believe British trying to destroy their society
Banning Customs
• Introduced British laws banning certain customs, like
sati
• Practice of Hindu widows throwing selves on husbands’ funeral fires
Straining Relations
• Thought British wanted to eliminate Indian customs, Hinduism completely • Relations between Indians, British increasingly strained
Sepoy Rebellion:Nationalism
• 1857, strained relations exploded into rebellion, the
Sepoy Rebellion
• Sepoys were Indian soldiers who fought in British army • Introduction of new type British rifle set off rebellion • To load rifle, soldier had to bite off end of ammunition cartridge greased with pork, beef fat; offended Muslim, Hindu Sepoys • Muslims did not eat pork; Hindus did not eat beef
Results of Sepoy Rebellion
British ended the rule of East India Company in 1858 as result of mutiny.
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British government ruled India directly
– British moved away from some social regulations that angered many Indians – Distrust still continued between British, Indians
Resistance to British Rule
• Ram Mohun Roy: sometimes called the father of modern India • Indian National Congress: dominated by Hindus • At 1 st did not fight for independence just local control • Gandhi becomes leader • Muslim League: 1906 afraid of a Hindu majority • A public outcry forces Britian to redraw its partition of Bengal
Many British families moved to India as their permanent home. They imported European culture with them. They established factories, hospitals, and schools in India. Indians were not treated equally by the British. Multimedia Learning, LLC COPYRIGHT 2006 WRITTEN BY HERSCHEL SARNOFF & DANA BAGDASARIAN
It was important for the British to have a strong network of transportation and communication in India. They designed India’s railroad system, brought telegraph and telephone technology, a postal system, news reporting, and banking.
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Effects of British Rule on India
• Positive – Built rail network – Telephones; roads; schools; irrigation; improved health. – Customs that threaten human rights are ended – New laws mean justice for all classes
Negative effects
• Focus on cash crops produced famines.
• Racists attitudes:Indians treated as inferiors • Top jobs go to British • British try to replace Indian culture with British culture • British made goods replace local goods
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