British Imperialism in India 1757-1911

1. British Imperialism in India1757-1911

2. Background • British economic interest in India began in the 1600s, when the British East India Company set up trading posts Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta. • At first, India’s ruling Mughal Dynasty kept European traders under control. • By 1707, however, the Mughal Empire was collapsing.

3. East India Company Dominates&“Jewel in the Crown” Produces Trade Products • The East India Company quickly took advantage of the growing weakness of the Mughal Empire • The company even had its own army, led by British officers and staffed by sepoys, or Indian Soldiers • The Industrial Revolution had turned Britain into the world’s workshop, and India provided the raw materials for that workshop • The British considered India the brightest “jewel in the crown” – the most valuable of all of Britain’s colonies

4. Impact of Colonialism • India both benefited from and was oppressed • Positive: The laying of the world’s third largest railroad network • The railroad enabled India to develop a modern economy and brought unity to connecting regions • Along with railroads, Britain set up a modern road network, telephone and telegraph lines, dams, bridges, and irrigation canals; education and sanitation improved; literacy increased • British troops put an end to local warfare among competing local rulers • Negative:Britain held much of the political and economic power; they restricted Indian-owned industries; they adopted a hands-off policy regarding Indian customs and religions

5. Indians Rebel: Sepoy Rebellion • Indians believed that the British were trying to covert them to Christianity in addition to controlling their home land. • Many of the sepoys believed that the cartridges for the bullets were sealed with pork & beef. (cows are sacred to the Hindus & Muslimsdon’t eat pork) • Many soldiers refused to take the cartridges, so they were put in jail. • The sepoys then rebelled, causing the Sepoy Mutiny.

6. Indians Rebel: Turning Point • In 1858, the Sepoy Mutiny caused Britain to take direct control over India, this was called the Raj. • Sometimes only a few British officers were put in control over a million Indians. • Many of the English treated the Indians badly, mostly through racism. • One political pamphlet that the Indians “are being ruined under the tyranny and oppression of the . . . treacherous English.

7. Indian Nationalist Movements Begin • Indians wanted more modernization and a greater role the government. • Ram Mohun Roy became the “Father of Modern India” because of his campaigns towards modernization. • In the province of Bengal, Britain divided it into a Hindu section and a Muslim section. This caused acts of terrorism, so Britain changed the division.