Transcript The Early British Experience in India 1795-1905

19th century British
dominance of India
1795-1905
Presentation created by Robert Martinez
Primary Content Source: A Short History of the World
Images as cited.
During the second half of the 18th century, the
British East India Company increased its
control of India. Initially, it had no plans for the
conquest of India, but viewed its role as
primarily commercial. Territories were only
annexed to protect the company’s commercial
interests.
khyber.org
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The threat of an invasion of India by Napoleon
prompted a more proactive British policy.
Mysore was defeated in 1799 and the Maratha
Confederacy was conquered in 1818.
Annexed territories included Kumaon and
Ceylon, Peishwa’s Lands and Chota Nagpur.
Independent states such as Hyderabad,
Rajputana and Kashmir were reduced to
dependencies, with British troops garrisoned on
their territory.
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From 1848, Lord
Dalhousie, the
governor-general,
followed the policy of
‘lapse.’ When a Hindu
prince died without
heir, his lands
automatically passed
to the Company.
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The British acquired several new territories in
the course of military campaigns to protect
India’s borders to the northwest and east. To
secure the northwest frontier from the
possibility of Russian incursion, the Company
twice attempted to take control of Afghanistan.
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In both the First and
Second Afghan Wars
(1839-1842 and 18781880), the British
occupied Kabul but
failed to dominate the
rest of the country.
The northwest frontier
of British India was
extended with the
conquest of Sind the
Punjab.
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In response to a threat from Burma in the
east, the Company took over Assam,
Arakan and Tenasserim (1824-1826).
Burma was brought under full British
control in 1886.
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The East India Company was successful
in defending India from external threats,
but was often less sure-footed in its
dealings with India’s people.
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The prohibition of local
customs and traditions under
Lord Bentinck (governorgeneral 1828-1835), the
practice of Christian
conversion, and the
insistence on English as the
language of education and
commerce, all contributed to
growing discontent among
Indians. This flared into a fullscale rebellion known as the
Indian Mutiny, in 1857.
en.wikipedia.org
The Indian Mutiny began in one of the
Company’s native armies, the Bengal sepoys,
who were stationed in Meerut, near Delhi. A
rumor spread among Hindu and Muslim
soldiers that the rifle cartridges had been
greased with pork and beef fat, which would
have violated the dietary laws of both religions.
en.wikipedia.org
The rebellion
spread quickly
through northern
and central India.
Delhi was captured
and two other cities
besieged. However,
the rebels were
poorly organized
with few weapons,
and by 1859, they
had been defeated.
en.wikipedia.org
Nevertheless, the rebellion sent shockwaves
through British India, and caused widespread
changes. The first and most noticeable change
came in 1858. The East India Company was
dissolved and the British government began to
rule India directly.
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There were other less overt changes. A mutual
distrust soured relations between the rulers
and the indigenous population from that time
on. The Anglo-Indian community became more
insular and disconnected from the native
population.
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Gurkha and Sikh troops, who had
remained loyal during the rebellion,
formed the core of the reformed British
Indian army.
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The period in which India was ruled directly by
the British government is known as the Raj. In
the administration of its territories, the East
India Company had already introduced Britishstyle institutions, including a British judicial
system.
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The process of Westernization gathered pace
during the Raj. Railway, telephone and
telegraph networks were constructed;
irrigation schemes expanded; and universities
established.
en.wikipedia.org
Indians were educated in the principles of a
competitive market economy and Protestant
values. However, in many ways Britain’s
economic interests would not have been well
served by transforming India into a fully
Westernized nation.
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In fact, the British did little to promote
industrialization, aware that India’s primary
purpose was to supply raw materials for British
manufacturers – particularly cotton for the
textile industry – and to provide a captive
market for British goods.
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After the Indian Mutiny, Indians were
increasingly denied a role in the administration
of their country. Many began to desire a more
representative form of government.
history1800s.about.com
The other resource
that India had in
abundance was
people. Thousands
of Indian men
served as soldiers,
defending the
British Empire
around the world.
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The Indian National Congress was founded in
1885, initially to promote the cause Indians
within the empire. However, by the early 1900s
it had emerged as the major voice of Indian
nationalist aspirations, calling for a
government and constitution that reflected the
will of the entire population.
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Soon this demand would evolve into a
movement to end British rule in India.
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