The Great Uprising of 1857 - Class 8 Social Sciences

The Revolt of 1857

• The Revolt of 1857 is also known as the First War of Indian Independence.
• It holds an important position in Indian history and tells us about the sacrifices of Indian freedom fighters.

Causes of the Revolt

• Economic reasons:
  • Heavy taxes and rigid methods of revenue collection.
  • Competition between handmade and machine-made goods (due to the Industrial Revolution in England).
  • Removal of Indian artisans and craftsmen due to unfair competition.
• Political reasons:
  • Annexation of Indian provinces by the British.
  • Removal of Indian Rulers and loss of their powers.
  • Doctrine of Lapse (1848) - an annexation policy where Indian kingdoms would pass over to the British if a ruler died without a male heir.
• Cultural and social reasons:
  • Banning of 'Sati Pratha' and widow remarriage.
  • Introduction of Western education and conversion to Christianity.
• Military reasons:
  • Less wages to Indian sepoys.
  • Unfair treatment and no promotion for Indian sepoys.
  • Conditions of service and introduction of new Enfield rifles and cartridges.

Effect of the Revolt

• Peasants were forced to take money from moneylenders to pay taxes.
• Indian textiles and craft items were ruined due to unfair competition with machine-made goods.
• Indian Rulers, Artisans, Musicians, Craftsmen, and Priests lost their source of livelihood.
• The British Empire expanded its territory and power in India.

Key Figures

• Rani Laxmi Bai - Queen of Jhansi who fought bravely against the British.
• Nana Saheb - Adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao-II who wanted pension after his father's death.
• Mangal Pandey - A key figure in the Revolt of 1857.
• Birjis Qadr - Son of Wajid Ali Shah, Nawab of Awadh.
• Bahadur Shah Zafar - The last Mughal Ruler.### The British Rule and Indian Rebellion
• Britishers annexed territories, including Awadh, on the basis of misgovernance
• They ended the Mughal dynasty by removing the Mughal king's name from coins
• Britishers banned Sati Custom, which allowed widows to remarry, and introduced English education

Reasons for the Revolt of 1857

• Fear among Indians that the British were destroying their religion
• The British passed a law allowing Christian converts to inherit ancestral property
• Indians felt their religion was under threat due to the British policies

Sepoys' Anger against the British

• Sepoys were unhappy with the British due to:
  • Low wages
  • Unfair treatment by British Officers
  • Banned from wearing caste and religious marks
  • Threat of traveling overseas, which could result in being outcaste
• Sepoys refused to travel to Burma to fight in the Anglo-Burmese War
• Refusal to follow British orders led to severe punishment

The Cartridge Incident

• New Enfield-Rifle was introduced, requiring soldiers to bite off greased cartridges made from cow and pig fat
• Sepoys refused to use the new cartridges, leading to the Revolt of 1857

The Revolt of 1857

• Mangal Pandey, a Sepoy, protested against the new cartridges and was hanged to death
• 85 soldiers of the 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry refused to do army drill using the new cartridges
• Sepoys marched to Meerut, released imprisoned Sepoys, and killed British officers
• The rebellion spread across India, with various leaders and kingdoms joining the fight against the British

Key Figures in the Revolt

• Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal ruler, was convinced to lead the rebellion
• Nana Saheb, adopted son of the Late Peshwa Baji Rao, declared himself as Governor under Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar
• Begam Hazrat Mahal, wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, took an active part in organizing the uprising
• Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi fought against the British along with Tantia Tope
• Other leaders included Ahmadullah Shah, Bakht Khan, and Kunwar Singh### The Revolt of 1857
• The Revolt of 1857 was a significant event in Indian history that took place against the British rule.
• The revolt was led by Rani Laxmi Bai, who fought for Jhansi, and Tantia Tope, who fought against the British.
• The British had regained control of the country by the end of 1858.
• The revolt was sparked by the introduction of the Enfield rifle, which used greased cartridges that offended both Hindu and Muslim soldiers.

Aftermath of the Revolt

• The British Parliament passed an Act in 1858, transferring the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown.
• A member of the British Cabinet was appointed as the Secretary of State for India, responsible for all matters related to the governance of India.
• The Indian Council was established to advise the Secretary of State.
• The Viceroy was the personal representative of the Crown, and the British Government accepted direct responsibility for ruling India.
• All ruling chiefs of the country were assured that their territory would never be annexed in the future, but they were made to acknowledge the British Queen as their Sovereign.
• The Indians were allowed to hold their kingdoms as subordinates of the British Crown.

Changes in the British Policy

• The British decided to respect the customary religious and social practices of the people in India.
• Policies were made to protect landlords and Zamindars, giving them security of rights over their lands.
• The British recruited Sepoys from specific groups, such as Gurkhas, Sikhs, and Pathans, who had helped them suppress the revolt.
• The land and property of Muslims were confiscated on a large scale, and they were treated with suspicion and hostility.

Key Figures

• Rani Laxmi Bai: The queen of Jhansi who fought against the British.
• Tantia Tope: A leader who fought against the British using guerrilla warfare.
• Nana Saheb: The adopted son of Baji Rao II, who was involved in the revolt.
• Mangal Pandey: The first Sepoy who refused to use the greased cartridges.
• Birjis Qadr: The ruler of Lucknow who was taken from the British in March 1858.