1. British in India

2. East India Company Joint-stock company
Cotton, tea, opium, silk, indigo dye
Controlled large parts of India 1757 – 1858
Special relationship with British government
Gave it a monopoly
Fought with other countries – wanted permanent ports in India

3. Treaty with Jahangir
1615 – arranged with Emperor Jahangir (Akbar’s son) for permanent trading posts
Sarat, Madras, Calcutta
However, things were not always so peaceful…

4. Sir Robert Clive Born in Shropshire, England Expelled from 3 schools
However, excellent soldier
Largely credited with having established British supremacy in India

5. Clive goes to India… India had become divided after Aurangzeb’s death
Black Hole of Calcutta
Alleged 123 out of 146 died
Battle of Plassey
Clive defeats Mughal-led
army

6. To the victor goes the spoils
East India Company receives 2.5 million pounds and the power to tax
Clive becomes Governor of Bengal
Clive given 30,000 pounds
Clive tries to steal as much local wealth as possible – eventually gets put on trial:
“"A great prince was dependent on my pleasure, an opulent city lay at my mercy; its richest bankers bid against each other for my smiles; I walked through vaults which were thrown open to me alone, piled on either hand with gold and jewels! Mr. Chairman, at this moment I stand astonished at my own moderation”- Clive at his impeachment trial

7. Bengal Famine 1770
1772 – Company established capital in Calcutta and becomes directly involved in governance
Famine estimated to have killed 1/3 of the population – about million people
Increased taxes by 3-4 times
Food brought out of the country
Also enacted policies to prevent reserve supplies

8. Not all bad…
Railroads
Universities
Cities
Democracy
English Language

9. Aftermath
1858 – Company rule handed over to Britain – India becomes part of British empire
1916 – Gandhi leads struggle for independence
1947 – independence granted
Partition (divided) India and Pakistan
250,000 – 500,00 deaths