British India Pink: Direct Control Yellow: Indirect Control Together they were both part of the British Empire. British India

Since its been coming up a ton… here it is… THE BRITISH EMPIRE at its height.

What do you think this political cartoon is showing?

What do you think this political cartoon is showing?

Background British economic interest in India had begun in the 1600s when the British East India Company set up trading posts in Bombay and Calcutta. At first the ruling powers in India were able to keep European traders under control but by 1707 dozens of small states began to break away to form their own states leaving them venerable to European attack. Eventually the ruling power became the East India Trading Company. They maintained control of India until 1848 when the British government officially took it over.

East India company dominates Officially the British government regulated the B.E.I.C, however in reality, the company really ruled India without much interference from the British. Even to the extent of having their own army led by British officers and staffed with Sepoys (Indian soldiers).

“Jewel in the Crown” The British government considered India to be the brightest jewel in its crown or more plainly, the most valuable of all its colonies. This was in part because of the vast number of natural resources they found in India that aided in the industrial revolution but also the 300 million Indians living there meant it was the biggest market for British made goods, which translated into huge profits for England. To make sure Indians bought British goods they drove out local producers and outlawed buying anything but British goods.

A valuable colony India became even more valuable once railroads had been built which allowed for raw products to be brought from the interior of India to trade ports and processed goods coming from England to quickly make their way into the interior of India. Plantations were big business and the British grew: tea, indigo, coffee, cotton, and opium (the British sold the opium to China in exchange for tea which was taken back to England.)

Social classes Along with Britain's colonization of India they also brought with them their superior attitudes and racism. India’s Class System during British Rule: Upper-class men= officers in the army Lower-class British served a lesser rank and could not advance past sergeant. The wives of British officers were in charge of creating a household that reflected a proper English home and often had 20-30 Indian servants at their command. Indians were of course below anyone British however, they had a caste system of their own that determined where you stood in life based on your level of reincarnation and your behavior in past lives.

The Sepoy Mutiny By 1850, the British controlled all of India. In addition to taking their land, the British tried unsuccessfully to convert Indians to Christianity Indians resented the forced religion and the constant racism towards them. As England took more and more control in India, Indians became more and more resentful and feeling of nationalism stirred.

The Sepoy Mutiny In 1857, a rumor spread that the cartridges used with their rifles were greased with cow and pig fat. To use a cartridge, sepoys would have to bite off the end getting the grease in their mouth. Sepoys were either Hindu or Muslim… Hindus don’t eat beef because cows are sacred and Muslims don’t eat pork because they consider it to be an unclean meat. Both groups were horrified and angry. Sepoys who refused to use the cartridges were jailed and on May 10, 1857 the sepoys rebelled capturing Delhi. The uprising spread throughout India and it took the British East India Company’s army over a year to restore order with the help of British troops. The sepoys had they been able to work together, they potentially could have kicked the British out, but they were split between Muslim and Hindu as Hindus did not want the old Muslim kingdom to be restored and actually preferred British rule.

Turning Point The Sepoy Mutiny was a turning point in Indian history because as a result in 1858, the British government took direct control of India. British rule over India was called Raj and they would maintain control until 1947 The mutiny only fueled racist British sentiment towards Indians and increased the distrust between them.

Nationalism Surfaces in India As nationalism spread throughout the Middle East and eventually Africa, it also spread in India. Indians were tired of being second class citizens in what they saw as their own country. Eventually Gandhi will rise up to lead the India people in efforts to gain their independence from Britain.

Impact of Colonialism Positive The laying of the world 3rd largest railroad network was a major British and world achievement. The railroad enabled India to develop a modern economy and connected its different regions. A modern road network was built, along with telephone and telegraph lines, dams, bridges, and irrigation canals all helped modernize India. Sanitation and public health improved Schools and colleges were founded and literacy increased British troops cleared central India of bandits and put an end to local warfare.

Impact of Colonialism Negative The British held most of the political and economic power British shut down locally owned industries such as textile factories in favor of their own The British placed on emphasis on cash crops leading to loss of self-sufficiency for locals and causing famine. Though England did not forcefully try and change Indian religion and custom, missionaries and racist attitudes towards the Indians threatened their culture.