THE BRITISH TAKE OVER INDIA CHAPTER 24 SECTION 4 THE BRITISH TAKE OVER INDIA

1. THE EAST INDIA COMPANY In the 1600’s INDIA’S MUGHAL EMPIRE let BRITAIN set up a CORPORATION called the EAST INDIA COMPANY. They set up COTTON FIELDS and by the mid 1800’s the MUGHAL EMPIRE was collapsing and Britain set up FACTORIES all over INDIA. They were able to prevent REBELLION by using INDIA’S diversity against them. (Hindus vs. Muslims, competing princes, and competing social classes in CASTE SYSTEM)

THE TAJ MAHAL

THE CASTE SYSTEM

2. BRITISH INFLUENCE SPREADS By the early 1800’s Britain had brought Western EDUCATION to INDIA, tried to convert INDIANS to CHRISTIANITY. They tried to end the CASTE SYSTEM and tried to ban the HINDU tradition of SITA.(widow throws herself on her husband’s funeral fire) Indian SOLDIERS that joined the BRITISH ARMY were called SEPOYS. When they had to bite off CARTRIDGES to load RIFLES they refused because these were greased with ANIMAL FAT.

SEPOYS

3. THE SEPOY REBELLION In 1857 SEPOYS attacked BRITISH OFFICERS, killed many British civilians there, and declared the last MUGHAL EMPEROR to be INDIA’S leader. When the British put this revolt down in 1858, they took revenge by burning INDIAN VILLAGES where the SEPOYS lived and this killed THOUSANDS of civilians. In 1858 PARLIAMENT voted for BRITAIN to take control of INDIA(instead of the East India Company) and send troops there. The British started taxing Indians to pay for keeping troops there.

4. PROS AND CONS OF COLONIAL RULE IN INDIA The name of the gov’t in India was the BRITISH RAJ and different regions were led by VICEROYS (like governors) DEFORESTATION happened when trees were cut down to make room for COTTON FIELDS. Growing of Cotton instead of crops led to FAMINE. Expansion of RAILROADS and TELEGRAPHS allowed INDIA to communicate and travel faster.

INDIAN RAILROADS

5. INDIAN VIEWS OF BRITAIN Wealthy Indians were more likely to learn English, get an education, and embrace British culture. RAM MOHUN ROY was Indian SCHOLAR who set up HINDU COLLEGE in CALCUTTA. He wanted Indians to embrace Western education and his efforts to reform Indian culture (getting rid of arranged marriages and calling for an end to the segregation of women) influenced future leaders.

RAM MOHUN ROY

6. INDIAN NATIONALISM Although the Indian ELITE embraced BRITISH culture, by the late 1880’s they used their power to push INDIAN NATIONALISM. In 1885 the INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS was formed and organized PROTESTS for independence. In 1906, the MUSLIM LEAGUE was formed because Muslims believed that HINDUS would OPPRESS Muslims in a free India.