BRITISH RULE IN INDIA

 18 th century British power had grown in India. The British East India Company had power. Had its own soldiers, known as sepoys to protect the companies interest. 

 1. Events leading to Revolt  1850’s growing distrust of the British led to a revolt. It was called the Sepoy War or First War of Independence. Major immediate cause of the revolt was a rumor that the new rifles were greased with cow and pig fat. Some sepoy refused to load these rifles and were charged with mutiny. Revolts broke out, and within a year Indian troops loyal to the British troops crushed the revolt.

 2. Effects of the Revolt  The parliament transferred the powers of the East India Company directly to the British government. Queen Victoria took the title of Empress of India. People of India were now her colonial subjects and India became her “jewel in the crown.” Rebellion failed but helped fuel Indian nationalism.

 Britain began to rule India directly. Appointed a viceroy and a civil service staff assisted the viceroy.  1. Benefits of British rule.  Brought order and stability, led to a fairy honest, efficient government. Brought a better school system with the goal to train Indian children to serve in the government and army. Railroads, telegraph, and a postal service appeared.

 2. Costs of British Rule  Indian people paid a high price for the peace and stability. Greatest cost was economic. British manufactured goods destroyed local industries. In rural areas British sent the zamindars to collect taxes. British encouraged many farmers to switch from growing food to growing cotton, 

 First nationalists were upper class and English educated. Many Indian nationalist preferred reform to revolution. Yet the slow pace of reform convinced many that relying on British goodwill was futile. 1885, a small group of Indians met in Bombay to form INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS which called for a share in the governing process. Later Muslims called for the creation of a separate Muslim League.   1915 the return of a young Hindu from South Africa brought new life to India’s struggle for independence. Mohandas Gandhi became active in the independence movement. Based on nonviolent resistance. Aim was to force the British to improve the lot of the poor and to grant independence to India. 

 D. Colonial Indian Culture  Cultural revival began in early 19 th century with creation of British college in Calcutta.   1. Nationalist Newspapers  Common medium used to arouse mass support for nationalist causes. 

 Indian soldiers hired by the British East India Company  Sepoys  Asked to share the governing process in India  The Indian National Congress  A corrupt tax collection system, the destruction of local industries, and the reduction of food production were examples of how this country’s rule hurt India  Britain

 British monarch’s representative rulers  Viceroys  Ruling British power in India before 1876  British East India Company  In 1876 Queen Victoria assumed the title of  Empress of India

 Benefits of British rule included:  Order and stability  New school system  Railroads and telegraphs  Queen Victoria’s “Jewel in the Crown”  India  What the British called the Sepoy Mutiny, Indians called the?  First War for Independence  Indian independence champion  Gandhi