The Great Uprising of 1857 PDF

# The Great Uprising of 1857 ## Learning Objectives Students will be able to: - Analyze the reasons for the great uprising. - Trace and locate centers of the great uprising on an outline map of India. - Discuss the policy of laps. - Examine the consequences of the great uprising of 1857. After a...

# The Great Uprising of 1857 ## Learning Objectives Students will be able to: - Analyze the reasons for the great uprising. - Trace and locate centers of the great uprising on an outline map of India. - Discuss the policy of laps. - Examine the consequences of the great uprising of 1857. After a hundred years of conquest and administration, the East Indian Company faced a massive rebellion that started in May 1857 and threatened British rule in India. This rebellion is known by different names: The Revolt of 1857, The Sepoy Mutiny, and also The First War of Independence. The revolt of 1857 was the result of the accumulated grievances of the Indian people against the Company’s administration and of their strong dislike of being ruled by a foreign power. That is why some historians have termed it as The First War of Independence. ## Major Causes of Revolt of 1857 | Political Causes | Social Causes | Economic Causes | Military | |---|---|---|---| | Doctrine of Lapse policy | Social reforms like abolition of Sati | Ruining of Indian Industries and handicraft | Low salaries to Indian soldiers | | Annexation of Indian states | Spread of Christianity | Exploitation of natural resources and wealth | No chance of any promotion | ### Earlier Revolts There had been earlier revolts of the Indian people against British due to the discontentment and distrust, simmering among all sections of Indian society. This resulted in several local risings in different parts of the country, put down by the Company. ### 1. Political Causes The accession of Lord Dalhousie inaugurated a new chapter in the history of British India. He functioned as the Governor-General of India from 1848-1856. Under him, the British followed an expansionist policy. Dalhousie, through his policies, had added considerable territories to the British Empire in India. **Lord Dalhousie introduced the Doctrine of Lapse** which enabled him to annex vast territories. According to this Doctrine, if a ruler of a dependent state died without leaving a natural heir, the state would pass over to the British. The doctrine did not recognize adopted children as rightful heirs. **His Doctrine of Lapse alarmed the ruling classes who had over the years seen one state after the other passing into the hands of the Company.** This caused a feeling of insecurity and resentment among the Hindu rulers. Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi wanted the Company to recognize her adopted son as the heir to the Kingdom after the death of her husband. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II pleaded that he be given his father's pension when the latter died. But the Company in its arrogant manner had turned down such requests. **The Company even began to plan how to bring the Mughal dynasty to an end.** The name of the Mughal king was removed from the coins minted by the Company. In 1849, Governor General Dalhousie announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place in Delhi to reside in. In 1856, Governor General Canning decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal king and after his death none of his descendants would be recognized as kings - they would just be called princes. **Lord Dalhousie had annexed Oudh to the British Empire on the pretext of mismanagement.** Most of the country was under British Raj. Those states which were not directly under them had the British ‘residents' in their courts, so they dared not fight against the Company. ### 2. Social and Religious Causes The English introduced a number of changes in the Indian social life and customs, like abolition of Sati, forbidding child marriage, allowing widow remarriage and banning girl-child infanticide. The orthodox Hindu regarded these innovations as an interference in their social set-up. The Christian missionaries made criticism of Hinduism and Islam. They tried to convert Indians to Christianity by propaganda and by offering them good jobs in the railway. The orthodox section considered it an attempt to defame their religion. - The Government made teachings of Christianity in Government schools and jails obligatory. - A law of 1850 provided that a convert to Christianity from any religion would be entitled to inherit ancestral property. This was an indirect encouragement to the people to embrace Christianity. - The spread of western culture and English education was resented by the orthodox section of society, as they thought it to be an affront to their authority and influence. All these measures produced resentment in the general public. ### 3. Economic Causes - Economic exploitation of India and her people became the most potent cause of unrest. The English Company and her officials carried away India’s wealth to England in several ways. - By abolishing duties on British goods and imposing heavy duties on Indian products, Indian industries and crafts were ruined by the British. - They would buy the raw materials from farmers and weavers at cheap rates and sent them to England to feed their factories. Cotton cloth from England flooded the markets and the local weavers were unable to compete with machine-made cloth. Thus, the Indian weavers could not earn their livelihood. - By paying high salaries to the Company’s officials, both in the civil and military administration in British India and Princely states, India’s wealth was drained away to England. Indian states were required to pay a heavy cost for maintaining the Company’s forces and the Residents in their areas. This money was sent to England as their saving. ### 4. Military Causes - The Indian soldiers were discriminated. They were considered inferior. - The Indian soldiers could not hope to rise in the hierarchy of the army as the avenues of promotion were closed to them. The higher posts were reserved for the European officers. - There was a great disparity between the salaries of Indian and European soldiers. The extra allowance which was given to the Indian soldiers during the war was withdrawn. - Some of the new rules, moreover, violated their religious sensibilities and beliefs. Did you know that in those days many people in the country believed that if they crossed the sea they would lose their religion and caste? So when in 1824 the sepoys were told to go to Burma by the sea route to fight for the Company, they refused to follow the order, though they agreed to go by the land route. They were severely punished, and since the issue did not die down, in 1856 the Company passed a new law which stated that every new person who took up employment in the Company’s army had to agree to serve overseas if required. ### 5. The Immediate Cause The Company introduced enfield rifle in the Indian Army. Greased cartridges were to be used in this rifle. The soldiers had to bite the end of the cartridge before using it. The cartridges were said to be greased with the fat of cows and pigs. Both Hindu and Muslim soldiers resented the use of these cartridges. They regarded it as an attempt to pollute them and their religion. This feeling produced a spark to inflame the uprising of 1857. The use of greased cartridges became the immediate cause of this national event. ## Leaders and Spread of the Uprising On 29th March 1857, Mangal Pande, a Brahmin sepoy at Barrackpore, refused to do the greased cartridge. When he was forced to do so, he flew up in the rage and killed two English soldiers. He was arrested and later on summarily tried and executed. The execution of Mangal Pande sparked off revolts in Meerut, Delhi, Kanpur, Jhansi, Lucknow, Banaras, Awadh, Bareilly, Gwalior and other places in northern and central India. ### 1. Meerut After the incident of hanging of Mangal Pande, sepoys of the regiment at Meerut refused to do the army drill using the new cartridges. Eighty-five sepoys were dismissed from service and sentenced to ten years in jail for disobeying their officers. The soldiers marched to the jail in Meerut and released the imprisoned sepoys. They attacked and killed British officers. They captured guns and ammunition and set fire to the buildings and properties of the British and declared war on the firangis. The soldiers were determined to bring an end to their rule in the country. ### 2. Delhi After setting fire to the bungalows of English officials, the Meerut sepoys marched towards Delhi. The local soldiers and soldiers of adjoining areas joined them. The Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, became the rallying point of all those who were ready to end the British rule in India. But Lord Sir John Nicholson became successful in suppressing this rising. In this war, Bahadur Shah was imprisoned and sent to Rangoon Jail, where he died in 1862. ### 3. Kanpur At Kanpur, Nana Sahib, who was denied his pension by the British, declared himself a Peshwa and led the rising. His sepoys killed several British men and women mercilessly and expelled the British troops from Kanpur. Being a great patriot and skilful in gorilla warfare, his commander, Tantia Tope, won the glory. But the English troops under General Havelock took the revenge of it and murdered a number of Indians. Nana Sahib ran away to Nepal and escaped being imprisoned by the English. ### 4. Lucknow Begum Hazarat Mahal of Oudh, who was the regent of her son, led the rising at Lucknow with the help of the disbanded soldiers of Oudh. She besieged Sir Henry Lawerence and other officials in the Residency. She shot dead Sir Henry Lawerence. Although General Havelock came to help the English troops, but he failed in his mission. General Neil was also murdered in this rising. At last Sir Collin Campbell became successful in defeating the rebels and in recapturing Lucknow. The Begum fled to Nepal and escaped being caught by the English. ### 5. Central India Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi led the rising in Central India. She was a brave and patriotic woman. The valiant General Tantia Tope also joined her. Although Rani Lakshmi Bai fought very fearlessly, courageously and bravely, yet she was defeated by the English forces due to the traitors in her own camp. The Rani ran away to Kalpi; the English General Sir Hugh Rose, followed both the Rani of Jhansi and Tantia Tope. From Kalpi, she went to Gwalior and seized it from Scindia, who was the great supporter of the British rule in India. Rani Lakshmi Bai died fighting in the battlefield. Tantia Tope was captured and sentenced to death. ## The Rising of 1857 Unprecedented The Rising of 1857 A.D. was unprecedented. It was so due to the following reasons: - This rising was faster in its speed and wider in its extent than earlier revolts which took place between 1765 and 1857 against the English. - The people of all castes and religions took part in this rising, leaving behind peasants or landlords, princes or paupers. - All the people, whether they were educated or uneducated, were affected by the Rising of 1857. - The foundation of the Company was shaken by this rising. - According to some historians, it was the first rising against the British rule, which was carried on with a planning. ## Consequences of the Rising The British had regained control of the country by the end of 1859, but they could not carry on ruling the land with the same policies any more. Given below are the important changes that were introduced by the British. 1. **The British Parliament passed a new Act in 1858 known as Government of India Act 1858 and transferred the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown in order to ensure a more responsible management of Indian affairs. The Board of Control was abolished and the Board of Directors had no powers left. A member of the British Cabinet was appointed Secretary of State for India and made responsible for all matters related to the governance of India. He was given a council to advise him, called the India Council. The Governor-General of India was given the title of Viceroy, that is, a personal representative of the Crown. Through these measures the British government accepted direct responsibility for ruling India.** 2. **All ruling chiefs of the country were assured that their territory would never be annexed in future. They were allowed to pass on their kingdoms to their heirs, including adopted sons. However, they were made to acknowledge the British Queen as their Sovereign Paramount. Thus, the Indian rulers were to hold their kingdoms as subordinates of the British Crown.** <start_of_image>地图 - Chief Regions of the Revolutions Up to 1856 and Major Centres of 1857 Revolt in Southern & Northern India. **Image of the map showing the regions of the revolts.** - Chief Centres of Revolt in Northern & Southern India - Regions of Revolt prior to 1857 - Sanaysis in Bengal and Bihar - 1763 - Peasants Revolt - 1766 - Khasi’s Revolt - 1783 - Vellore - 1866 - Mysore in 1830 - Bhils Revolt 1808-1809 - Kols Revolt 1820-1837 - Poligars Revolt 1795-1805 - Wahabis Revolt - Mers Revolt 3. **It was decided that the proportion of Indian soldiers in the army would be reduced and the number of European soldiers would be increased. It was also decided that instead of recruiting soldiers from Oudh, Bihar, central India and south India, more soldiers would be recruited from among the Gurkhas, Sikhs and Pathans.** 4. **The land and property of Muslims was confiscated on a large scale and they were treated with suspicion and hostility. The British believed that they were responsible for the rebellion in a big way.** ## The Hanging of Two Participants in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 **Image of two men hanging on the gallows, with people watching.** 5. **The British decided to respect the customary religious and social practices of the people in India.** 6. **Policies were made to protect landlords and zamindars and give them security of rights over their lands.** ## Recapitulation This document provided a detailed look into the political, social, economic and military causes that led to the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The rebellion was a culmination of grievances against the British rule and it resulted in a major shift in the power dynamics between the British and the Indian people. This uprising ultimately led to the end of the East India Company’s rule and the transfer of power to the British Crown. The document further delves into the consequences of the rebellion, highlighting the changes implemented by the British to consolidate their control over India, including the establishment of a new administrative structure, the suppression of religious and social practices, and the implementation of policies aimed at protecting the interests of landlords and zamindars.