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?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the strategic reason behind the British interest in north-west India in the late 1830s?
Signup and view all the answers
Who among the following continued the resistance movement in Kitoor after Rani Channamma's arrest?
Signup and view all the answers
What territory did the British gain after the Second Anglo-Maratha War?
Signup and view all the answers
Which Maratha ruler's death in 1839 led to prolonged wars for his kingdom?
Signup and view all the answers
What policy did Lord Hastings introduce during his tenure as Governor-General?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the outcome of the First Anglo-Maratha War?
Signup and view all the answers
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.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
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.