Delhi Public School Ruby Park, Kolkata VIII History PDF (2024-2025)

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL RUBY PARK, KOLKATA STUDY MATERIAL CLASS- VIII (2024-25) SUBJECT- HISTORY CHAPTER-FROM TRADE TO TERRITORY MERCANTILIS...

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL RUBY PARK, KOLKATA STUDY MATERIAL CLASS- VIII (2024-25) SUBJECT- HISTORY CHAPTER-FROM TRADE TO TERRITORY MERCANTILISM AND THE EXPANSION OF EUROPEAN TRADE-  The English East India Company’s origin and its power lay in the economic theory of mercantilism.  According to Mercantilism, the prosperity of a country depends on its capability to produce more than it consumes and export more than it imports in order to maintain a positive balance of trade. SEA ROUTE BETWEEN EUROPE AND INDIA-  In 1498, the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama discovered a long sea route from Europe to India.  Traders who chose this route had to sail down the coast of West Africa to the tip of South Africa and then sail up to Calicut (Kozhikode in Kerela).  This route became necessary for the European traders because the Ottoman Empire in Turkey and West Asia had disrupted traditional land routes.  EUROPEAN TRADING COMPANIES IN INDIA Portuguese Dutch French English ❖ First European ❖ Established their ❖ Established in ❖ Set up its first power to reach trading centres by 1664 trading post in India. the early 17th ❖ Important Surat in 1609. ❖ Landed in century. settlements- ❖ 1615- Sir Thomas Calicut. ❖ Important trading Pondicherry, Roe arrived at the ❖ Important centres- Surat, Chandernagore, court of Jahangir settlements- Ahmedabad, Mahe and as the English Goa, Daman Balasore, Broach Karaikal. ambassador. and Diu. etc. ❖ He stayed till 1619 and obtained a royal farman allowing the EEIC to set up more factories. ❖ Apart from Surat, the English established factories and bases at many other places including Madras, Bombay, Calcutta, Broach etc. THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER- The presence of all the European powers in India resulted in fierce rivalry with each other as all of them wanted to establish a monopoly over trade. However, this was possible only when they were able to-  Eliminate other rival companies.  Have control over political power of the countries with which they had trade relations. By the middle of the 18th century the English were victorious in India having ousted the other European powers from the Indian trade market. THE BRITISH CONQUEST OF BENGAL- Background-  By the middle of the 18th century the Mughal Empire broke down into various independent kingdoms.  They were blinded by opportunism and tended to promote their own interests.  Their internal conflicts encouraged European colonial powers to take advantage and establish their territorial control in India.  Bengal was one of the richest provinces in India.  The English East India Company had been allowed duty free trade by the Mughal emperor in 1717.  They misused this right and traded privately without paying duties and gained huge profits by buying cheap goods and selling them at higher prices thereby eliminating competitors.  The state under Nawab Alivardi Khan faced huge losses. Events leading to the Battle of Plassey (Causes)- Nawab Alivardi Khan was succeeded The British began to fortify Fort by his grandson Siraj-ud-Daulah. Willam ,Calcutta He asked them to- *Immediately stop fortifying and pay revenue. *His aim was to first to check the He marched with an army of 30,000 gross misuse of passes or dastaks soldiers and laid seige to Calcutta. that exempted companies goods from taxes. *He refused to give them further trade concessions and privileges. BATTLE OF PLASSEY (EVENT)  Robert Clive was sent from the Madras Presidency to capture Calcutta  He conspired with Mir Jafar, the commander-in-chief of Siraj-ud-Daulah.  The EEIC officials managed to win over important members of the Nawabs courts such as Jagat Seth (banker) and Omi Chand (a rich merchant)  With their support the British forces defeated the Nawab in the Battle of Plassey 1757. RESULTS OF THE BATTLE OF PLASSEY  Siraj-ud-Daulah was captured and killed.  As promised by the English East India Company, Mir Jafar became the puppet Nawab of Bengal. He granted them the zamindari of 24 districts of Bengal. All of the French settlements in Bengal were also surrendered to the English. The rich resources of Bengal made them financially stable and helped them to further their political gains. Robert Clive and Mir Jafar after the Battle of  With this victory the English East India Plassey Company started exercising real power in Bengal. They monopolised trade in Bengal and gradually ousted the French and Dutch. PROBLEMS WITH MIR JAFAR-  Mir Jafar was unable to meet the company’s heavy monetary demands.  When he refused to grant more trade privileges the English deposed him.   In his place the installed his son in law Mir Qasim. BATTLE OF BUXAR (1764) EVENTS LEADING TO THE BATTLE (CAUSES)- ❖ Mir Qasim, the new Nawab of Bengal, soon realized that he was dependent on the EEIC. He wanted to free himself from British control, which he tried to do in the following ways- He dismissed all of Mir Jafar’s officials who were close to the Company. He invited European mercenaries to train his soldiers in new warfare methods. He abolished taxes on internal trade to provide equal opportunities to the English and the Indians. He also tried to check the misuse of trade privileges of the British ❖ These initiatives by Mir Qasim alarmed the British who decided to get rid of him. ❖ He was defeated by the British and forced to flee to Awadh. BATTLE OF BUXAR (EVENT)  At Awadh Mir Qasim entered into an alliance with Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh and Shah Alam II, the Mughal emperor, for removing the English from Bengal.  In 1764 their combined forces met the English forces at Buxar. RESULTS OF THE BATTLE OF BUXAR-  Mir Qasim and his allies were defeated and the EEIC became the real master of Bengal.  Mir Qasim was expelled from Bengal and Mir Jafar was reinstalled.  Treat of Allahabad (1765) was signed between the British and Shah Alam II. By this treaty- ❖ The Mughal Emperor granted the Diwani (right to collect revenue from Bengal, Bihar and Orissa) to the Company. ❖ In return, he was given an annual tribute of 26 lakhs.  The Nawab of Awadh had to pay war indemnity of 50 lakhs but his kingdom was restored to him as a British protectorate.  The Battle of Buxar also displayed the superior military power of the British. DUAL ADMINTRATION IN BENGAL(DYARCHY) - BY ROBERT CLIVE  The Nawab was responsible for the military and criminal jurisdiction, while the Company had control of the revenue.  The Company had all power without any responsibility while the Nawab had all responsibilities but no actual power or resources.  Bengal suffered tremendously under this system.  In 1772, Warren Hastings ended this system and brought Bengal under the direct control of the Company's administration. EXPANSION OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE: A) ANNEXATION THROUGH SUBSIDIARY ALLIANCE  Introduced by Marquess Wellesley, Governor General of India from 1798 to 1805.  Its purpose was to gain control over large areas of India without direct wars or spending money on maintaining troops. Main principles of the Subsidiary Alliance were- ❖ The Indian rulers accepting subsidiary alliance had to disband their army and keep British forces within their territory. ❖ They paid for the maintenance of the troops and these forces were supposed to protect them from external and internal dangers. ❖ In case the Indian rulers failed to make payments either the whole or a part of the territory was ceded to the British as penalty. ❖ The Indian rulers were also forced to keep a British official or Resident at their court. ❖ They had to expel all non-English foreigners from the states. ❖ The rulers had to surrender control of foreign affairs to the British and agree to abide by the decisions of the English East India company. Advantages for the British- Disadvantages for the Indian rulers- ❖ On the pretext of protecting a state the company ❖ The Indian rulers were deprived of opportunities could maintain a large standing army at the to join hands against the Company. expense of the Indian princess ❖ They lost their right of decision making and had ❖ It gave the company a chance to expand its to face interference of the British residents in territories further because the British had everyday affairs. gathered influence and power. ❖ Indian rulers lost their administrative as well as financial independence. Territories annexed under the Subsidiary Alliance- The Nizam of Hyderabad in 1798 accepted the subsidiary Alliance. The Nawab of Awadh accepted in 1801 Peshwa Baji Rao II accepted in 1802 A British Resident in the court of a Nawab  B. ANNEXATION THROUGH DOCTRINE OF LAPSE  The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy introduced by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor General of India between 1848 and 1856. Features- The rulers of Indian princely states, territories under Subsidiary Alliance with the British and those without a natural heir to the throne had to take British permission to adopt an heir and the British had the right to sanction or refused to recognize such an adoption. The territories of rulers who were without a male heir were annexed if the adoption was not sanctioned. This took away the traditional right of an Indian ruler without an heir to choose or adopt a successor. Territories annexed under the Doctrine of lapse- ❖ Satara-1848 ❖ Jaitpur, Sambalpur-1849 ❖ Nagpur, Jhansi-1854 ❖ Awadh-1856  Dalhousie also abolished title and pensions of the heir of childless Indian rulers and annexed their territories. Example-Tanjore and the Carnatic  Peshwa Baji Rao II’s pension was denied to his adopted son Nana Sahib.  The Imperial title of the Mughal emperor was also abolished. C. EXPANSION THROUGH DIRECT MILITARY CONFRONTATION NAME NO. OF BATTLES TREATIES SIGNED Carnatic Wars Three Treaty of Aix- Treaty of Treaty of Paris la-Chapelle Pondicherry (1763) (1748) (1754) Anglo-Mysore Wars Four Treaty of Treaty of Treaty of Madras (1769) Mangalore Seringapatam (1784) (1792) Anglo-Maratha Wars Three Treaty of Bassein Anglo- Sikh Wars Two Treaty of Lahore The British also fought wars with Sindh and Afghanistan to establish control there.  Administrative structure under the British Judicial- Army- Civil- 1.1772-each district had a 1.Most of the army was 1.Lord Cornwallis is Civil Court and a Criminal made up of Indian regarded as the father of Court. soildiers or sepoys. Indian Civil Administration. 2.Regulating Act of 1773- 2.Officers were Supreme Court was exclusively British. 2. 1800- Fort Willaim established in calcutta. College was established to 3.Highest postion held by train Civil sevants. 3.1793- Cornwallis code- an Indian soldier was that To guide the officers of the of a Sudedar. 3.The ICS Act of 1861 new judicial service. established the Indian Civil Service. 4.1833- A graded system of courts started. 4.British India was divided into districts with ecah having a Collector to collect revenue, a Magistrate to maintain law and order and a Judge to administer justice. ASSIGNMENT 1. Which of the following option (s) properly describes- Mercantilism. a) The prosperity of a country depends on its capability to consume more than it produces. b) The prosperity of a country depends on its capability to produce more than it consumes. c) The prosperity of a country depends on its capability to import more than it exports. d) The prosperity of a country depends on its capability to export more than it imports 2. Identify the important French settlement- a) Goa b) Daman and Diu c) Karaikal d) Balasore 3. There are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as per the codes given below - Assertion (A) : Lord Cornwallis is regarded as the father of Indian Civil Administration. Reason (R) : The famous Cornwallis Code was compiled for the guidance of the officers of the new judicial service. a) Both A and R are True and R is the correct explanation of A b) Both A and R are True, but R is not the correct explanation of A c) A is True, but R is False d) A is False, but R is True 4.After which battle did the EEIC become real masters of Bengal/List the results of this battle. 5.Analyse the disadvantages of the subsidiary alliance.