A2 Historical enquiry: India and the British Empire,

Why was there a mutiny in 1857?

Long-term factors Changing nature of British rule: from trading company rule to crown control Military expansion Attempt to impose Western cultural values – replace tolerant ‘orientalism’ with intolerant ‘modernisation’ and Christianity High taxation Introduction of Western technology Severe repression of unrest Use Leadbeater p.7-11 and the handout from last lesson to add detail to the LT, ST and Trigger factors

Short-term factors Lord Dalhousie as governor general Widow Remarriage Act Doctrine of Lapse Annexation of Oudh

Trigger factors Cartridge crisis New army regulations forcing sepoys to serve abroad Mutiny began with sepoys but spread …..

What is Ferguson’s view? 6rEc (start at 5m24s) 6rEc YB2Lm4 (up to 6m45s) YB2Lm4

1857: key questions 1. Who rebelled and why? 2. Was this a merely a mutiny, India’s 1 st War of Independence or an essentially conservative reaction to British innovation? (use Nationalism handout and textbook) 3. How did the British react? Use p in Leadbeater and the Nationalism handout to help you answer these questions

1. Who were the rebels? Which of the grievances were they reacting to? Sepoys in the Bengal army, many of whom belonged to the Brahmin caste Peasants Indian princes such as the displaced prince of Oudh Their figurehead was the 82 year old Mughal emperor

2. Was this a merely a mutiny, India’s 1 st War of Independence or an essentially conservative reaction to British innovation? Which interpretation do you agree with?

3. How did the British react? Repression and military control Slow to react (this would have disastrous consequences at Amritsar) Severe punishments defined it as a ‘mutiny’: Ratio of India and British troops changed from 9:1 to 3:1 Sepoys recruited from ‘loyal’ areas Concession and a new policy in India After a debate in Parliament: Abolition of the BEIC Crown control under the viceroy Policy as laid down in Proclamation of 1858: ‘it is our will that our subjects may be admitted to our service, [in the] duties which they are qualified by their education, ability and integrity to discharge.’ (from 6m45) Repression in the ST but concessionary in the LT