The British Take Over India 12.4

East India Company In the early 1600s, the British East India Company won trading rights on the fringe of the Mughal Empire. Company chartered by Queen Elizabeth I for trade with Asia. The Mughal Empire declined, and the companies influence grew. Mid 1800s- it controlled three fifths of India.

Exploitation of India The British were able to exploit India by exploiting the diversity. Different languages, traditions, and cultures British tried to encourage competition and disunity Caused the differing groups to unite- Nationalism Even western educated Indians against the British

British Policies Main Goal of East India Company: Make money In the early 1800s, British officials introduced western education, legal procedures, and Chrisitanity, which they thought was far superior to Indian religions. Worked to end slavery and the caste system Improve the position of women within the family Outlawed sati- a Hindu custom practiced mainly by the upper classes. It called for a widow to join her husband in death by throwing herself in his funeral fire.

Indian National Congress Nationalist leaders Also known as the Congress Party Believed in peaceful protest to gain their ends Called for greater democracy Looked for eventual self- rule but supported western-style modernization

Gandhi Who is he? http://www.history.co.uk/biographies/mahatma-gandhi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujQf37rbKmU

Important Events (Not in the movie) Before Gandhi’s time: 1850s- the East India Company made several unpopular move. 1. Required Sepoys (Indian Soldiers) to serve anywhere, either in India or overseas. For high-caste Hindu, overseas travel was an offense against the religion. 2. Passed a law that allowed Hindu women to re-marry 3. 1857- British issued new rifles to sepoys. Troops were told to bite off the tip of the cartridges before loading them into the rifles. The cartridges, however, were greased with animal fat- either from cows, which Hindus considered sacred, or from pigs, which were forbidden from Muslims. When the troops refused to load the rifles, there were sent home without pay. Hindus viewed both moves as a Christian conspiracy to undermine their beliefs.

Sepoy Rebellion Angry sepoys rose up against the British. Rebellion swept across northern and central India. British men, women, and children were massacred. British crushed the revolt and wanted revenge. Torched villages and and slaughtered thousands of unarmed Indians. This brought about major changes to British policy. In 1858- Instead of the rule through the British East India Company- India was put directly under the British crown.

An Unequal Partnership The British used India as a market and as a source of raw materials. Improved Transportation Communication- Telegraph Flooded India with inexpensive, machine-made textiles, ruining India’s once-prosperous hand-weaving industry. Deforestation Population Growth and Famine Benefits of British Rule: Revised legal system to promote justice regardless of class, railroads, postal system, national unity developed with improved communication, Indian princes only grew more wealthy, sons were sent to British schools.

Different Views on Culture Indian Attitudes- Some educated Indians were impressed by British power and technology. Others felt as though the power to change lay with their own Hindu or Muslim cultures. Ram Mohun Roy (Scholar)- combines both views. Felt that India could learn from the west, but at the same time wanted to revitalize and reform traditional Indian culture. Wanted to get rid of rigid caste system, child marriage, sati, and purdah- isolation of women in separate quarters Western Attitudes- Most people knew little about Indian history or achievements in theology and philosophy so they dismissed it. Some other admired the Indians.