5.2.1 The Sepoy Rebellion & British Raj PDF

Thursday, January 9 DO NOW TODAY’S OBJECTIVE Turn in your graphic essay to - Understand the historical forces that led to Britain’s formal the bins colonization of India. Get...

Thursday, January 9 DO NOW TODAY’S OBJECTIVE Turn in your graphic essay to - Understand the historical forces that led to Britain’s formal the bins colonization of India. Get ready for notes AGENDA HOMEWORK Lecture: The Sepoy Rebellion and the Assignment Due British Raj Edpuzzle Sun 1/12 on Canvas Edpuzzle together  What was different about European imperialism in India, compared to imperialism in Africa? Who were the sepoys?  The Sepoy Rebellion (1857-58) Lead up - The British East India Company controlled the majority of India by the 1850s. - As a private company with a private army and exclusive trading rights in Asia, the BEIC had the money, political power, and might to do as it pleased. - BEIC instituted exploitative economic policies and taxes and pushed for unpopular social reforms. The Sepoy Rebellion (1857-58) The spark - The British introduced a new rifle whose cartridges were rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat. To load the rifles, soldiers would have to bite the ends of the cartridges. - This was offensive to both Hindu and Muslim soldiers.  The Sepoy Rebellion (1857-58) Sepoys in the city of Meerut refused to use the cartridges and were court-martialed and imprisoned. Other sepoys protested this and rose up against their British officers. Violence spread across northern and central India and several sepoy regiments marched to Delhi, the old Mughal capital to ask the last Mughal ruler to lead them. This eventually turned into a general uprising that spread across northern and central India, with civilians and sepoys joining together to fight against the British. The Sepoy Rebellion (1857-58) Many Indians sided with the British and not all regions of India took part in the uprising. Both sides of the conflict committed atrocities. The rebellion was fully suppressed by the middle of 1858. The Sepoy Rebellion (1857-58) Impacts of the uprising - A bitter legacy of fear, hatred, and mistrust on both sides. - British Parliament ended the rule of the British East India Company and put India directly under the control of the British government instead. - Growth of Indian nationalist movements.  India under British Rule The British Raj After 1858, the British government took formal, direct control of India and the colony became known as the British Raj. - A viceroy governed in the name of the British queen and British officials held top positions in the government and army. The British implemented economic and social policies designed to fit India into the overall British economy and empire. - Some British officials felt they were helping India to modernize by pushing Western technologies and culture.  India under British Rule The British Raj British saw India as a market to sell their own goods in and also a source of raw materials. They ultimately ruined the Indian textile industry and Indian agriculture. - Blocked the sale of Indian textiles and flooded India with inexpensive, machine-made fabrics instead. - Pushed farmers to grow cash crops (like cotton) instead of food, which would eventually result in terrible famines. - New land policies led to peasants losing property and a decline in the standard of living for most Indians. - Clearing trees to create new farmland led to massive deforestation and other environmental destruction.  India under British Rule The British Raj Different castes experienced the British Raj differently. - Lower castes benefitted from a nondiscriminatory British justice system but suffered greatly from the famines of the late 1800s. - Upper castes took advantage of British education, civil service, and military opportunities. Some grew rich from exporting cash crops. India remained a British colony until its independence in 1948. The British Raj