Questions and Answers
What was the consequence of the Third Anglo-Maratha War of 1817?
Which treaty marked the end of the First Anglo-Maratha War?
During which Governor-General's tenure was the Doctrine of Lapse introduced?
Rani Channamma challenged British annexation of which state?
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What was the strategic reason behind the British interest in north-west India in the late 1830s?
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Who among the following continued the resistance movement in Kitoor after Rani Channamma's arrest?
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What territory did the British gain after the Second Anglo-Maratha War?
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Which Maratha ruler's death in 1839 led to prolonged wars for his kingdom?
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What policy did Lord Hastings introduce during his tenure as Governor-General?
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What was the outcome of the First Anglo-Maratha War?
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Study Notes
From Trade to Territory
- The Mughal Empire declined after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, leading to the emergence of regional kingdoms and the British East India Company as a powerful force.
- The British East India Company was initially a trading company, but it eventually became a dominant force in India.
East India Company Comes East
- In 1600, the East India Company acquired a charter from Queen Elizabeth I, granting it a monopoly on trade with India.
- The Company's goal was to buy goods at a cheap price and sell them at a higher price in Europe.
- The Company faced competition from other European powers, such as the Portuguese and the French, which led to conflicts and battles.
East India Company begins trade in Bengal
- The first English factory was set up on the banks of the Hugli River in 1651.
- The Company bribed Mughal officials to gain trade concessions and eventually established a fort in Kolkata.
- The Company's trade expanded, but it led to conflicts with the local Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb.
How trade led to battles
- The conflict between the Company and the nawabs of Bengal intensified in the early 18th century.
- The Company's expansion into Bengal led to accusations of deceit, and the nawabs refused to grant concessions.
- The conflict culminated in the Battle of Plassey in 1757, which marked a turning point in British history in India.
The Battle of Plassey
- The Battle of Plassey was fought between the British East India Company and the nawab of Bengal, Sirajuddaulah.
- The Company's army, led by Robert Clive, defeated the nawab's army, leading to the establishment of the Company as a dominant force in India.
- The battle marked the beginning of British rule in India.
The Territorial Ambition
- After the Battle of Plassey, the Company's territorial ambition grew, and it began to expand its control over India.
- The Company's officials became known as "nabobs," or rulers of India.
Company officials become "nabobs"
- The Company's officials began to live like nawabs, with a desire for power and authority.
- The Company's expansion into India led to the establishment of a new system of governance, with the Company as the ruling authority.
What could the Company do?
- The Company's expansion into India led to conflicts with local rulers and the need for a new system of governance.
- The Company's officials became responsible for administering the territories they conquered.
- The Company's revenues from India financed its wars and expansion.
Tipu Sultan - The "Tiger of Mysore"
- The Company's expansion into India led to conflicts with the southern Indian state of Mysore.
- Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, stopped the export of goods to the Company and allied with the French.
- The Company fought three wars against Mysore, eventually defeating Tipu Sultan in the Battle of Seringapatam in 1799.
The Resident Have?
- The Company's residents were responsible for administering the territories they conquered.
- The residents were seen as kings of the land, with the power to make decisions and govern the territories.
Glossary
- Injunction: Instruction
- Subservience: Submissiveness### The Marathas' Decline
- The Marathas' dream of ruling from Delhi was shattered after their defeat in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761.
- They were divided into many states under different sardars belonging to dynasties such as Sindhia and Holkar.
- The Marathas were united in a confederacy under a Peshwa (Principal Minister) in Pune.
The Anglo-Maratha Wars
- The First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-1782) ended with the Treaty of Salbai, with no clear victor.
- The Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805) was fought on different fronts, resulting in the British gaining Orissa and Delhi.
- The Third Anglo-Maratha War of 1817 crushed Maratha power, and the Peshwa was removed and sent away to Bithur near Kanpur with a pension.
The Claim to Paramountcy
- The Company pursued an aggressive policy of territorial expansion from the early 19th century.
- Under Lord Hastings (Governor-General from 1813 to 1823), a new policy of "paramountcy" was initiated, claiming the Company's authority was paramount or supreme over Indian states.
- The Company claimed the right to annex any Indian kingdom that threatened its interests.
Resistance to British Rule
- Rani Channamma of Kitoor led an anti-British resistance movement when the British tried to annex her state in 1824.
- Rayanna, a poor chowkidar of Sangoli, carried on the resistance, destroying many British camps and records, but was caught and hanged by the British in 1830.
The Doctrine of Lapse
- The East India Company fought a war with Afghanistan between 1838 and 1842, establishing indirect rule there.
- Sind was taken over next in line, followed by Punjab.
- The Doctrine of Lapse, devised by Lord Dalhousie (Governor-General from 1848-1856), declared that if a ruler died without a male heir, the state would "lapse" and become part of the Company territory.
- States like Sambalpur and others were annexed by the Company using this doctrine.
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Description
Learn about the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of regional kingdoms in India after Aurangzeb's death in 1707. Understand how Delhi lost its power as a central authority.
