1 / 12

Imperialism in India

Imperialism in India. World History: Libertyville HS. Native India. Mughal Empire (1526-1857) Empire founded by Mongols Ruled most of northern and central India Fell into decline in early 1700s Southern Indians were getting stronger European forces getting stronger.

chelsea-roth
Download Presentation

Imperialism in India

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Imperialism in India World History: Libertyville HS

  2. Native India • Mughal Empire (1526-1857) • Empire founded by Mongols • Ruled most of northern and central India • Fell into decline in early 1700s • Southern Indians were getting stronger • European forces getting stronger

  3. European Imperialism Background • British East India Company (EIC) exploited weakness of Mughals • Founded in 1598 by British merchants • Competed against Dutch, French trading companies in India • Became favorites of Mughals during 1600s • Eventually turned on Mughals, defeated them • Became leading European power in India after 1757

  4. British East India Company • Officially, British government regulated the EIC • Actually, EIC ruled India after 1720 • Gov’t needed money to fight wars • EIC loaned money to British government in exchange for free hand in India • EIC maintained a private army, staffed by former British officers and sepoys (native troops)

  5. “Jewel in the Crown” • Most valuable of Britain’s colonies • New market of 300 million for British goods • Ind. Rev created surplus of mfg’d goods in Britain • Laws restricted sale of Indian goods, forcing them to buy British

  6. Indian Raw Materials & Cash Crops • Tea • Coffee • Cotton • Opium

  7. Effects of Indian Colonialism • Positive effects • Major railroad network built, making India the world’s most connected country • Infrastructure built up, strengthening country (roads, canals, telephone lines, irrigation, dams) • British built schools & college, increasing (English) literacy • British cleared India of bandits, ending local tribal warfare

  8. Effects of Indian Colonialism • Negative effects • British held all political & economic power and kept industrialization low • Emphasis on cash crops hurt native villages • Racism threatened traditional Indian way of life • Social division • Upper class Indians becoming “British” • Lower class Indians clung to their traditions

  9. Sepoy Mutiny (1857) • Rumors spread that cartridges for guns of sepoy were sealed with pig or cow fat • Sepoy had to bite cartridge to break seal • Muslims don’t eat pork • Hindus considered cow sacred • Both religious groups were outraged and refused the cartridges • British handled it badly, imprisoning sepoy who refused cartridges

  10. Sepoy Mutiny • Sepoy rebelled, slaughtering their white officers and other British citizens • Uprising spread throughout India • Brutal fighting occurred, as both sides tried to kill the other side completely • EIC needed British gov’t help • Indians failed to coordinate their attacks against the EIC, British • Result was that British Army crushed mutiny

  11. The Raj (1857-1947) • British cabinet minister put in charge of India • British governor carried out orders of Home Government • Increased racism • Led to birth of Indian Nationalism • Indians resented 2nd class status in own country • Denied good jobs • Paid less than whites • Nationalist groups formed, gained popularity

  12. Mohandas Gandhi • Lawyer and leader of Indian independence movement • Pioneered resistance to British domination • Mass civil disobedience • Total non-violence • Inspired civil rights movements around world • Assassinated by another Indian nationalist in 1948 b/c of his tolerance of Muslims

More Related