19th century British dominance of India 1795-1905

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19th century British dominance of India1795-1905

• Presentation created by Robert Martinez
• Primary Content Source A Short History of the
  World
• Images as cited.

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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 companys commercial
interests.
history.howstuffworks.com
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.
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Annexed territories included Kumaon and Ceylon,
Peishwas 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
Indias 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.
asianhistory.about.com
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In both the First and Second Afghan Wars
(1839-1842 and 1878-1880), 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.
britishbattles.com
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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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asiantribune.com
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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
Indias people.
thediplomat.com
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The prohibition of local customs and traditions
under Lord Bentinck (governor-general 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 full-scale rebellion known as the Indian
Mutiny, in 1857.
en.wikipedia.org
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The Indian Mutiny began in one of the Companys
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
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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
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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.
victorianweb.org
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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
British-style institutions, including a British
judicial system.
en.wikipedia.org
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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
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Indians were educated in the principles of a
competitive market economy and Protestant values.
However, in many ways Britains economic
interests would not have been well served by
transforming India into a fully Westernized
nation.
opinion-maker.org
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In fact, the British did little to promote
industrialization, aware that Indias 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.
vam.ac.uk
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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
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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.
pbs.org
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Soon this demand would evolve into a movement to
end British rule in India.
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