Imperialism in

1. Imperialism in INDIA Samantha Bent, Maddi Beer, Melissa Ribeiro, Jimmy Joseph

2. The Mughal Empire • Prior to the British control, India was ruled by Islamic rulers who migrated from the North and seized control large areas of India • most of the conquering occurred under the reign of Akbar, or “Akbar the Great,” the successful Mughal leader

3. India’s In Trouble • Mughal rulers governed a powerful empire in India for more than 200 years; • however, in the mid-1700s, the Mughal empire was collapsing from a lack of strong rulers, allowing the British to take full advantage

4. BRITISH EAST INDIA COMPANY (BEIC) • An English joint-stock company that formed in 1600 to develop trade in INDIA and CHINA • Traded mainly cotton, indigo dye, and silk • Over time, the BEIC came to rule large parts of India, exercising military power and assuming administrative jobs which ultimately benefited Britain’s commercial purposes • They were able to take control when the Mughals’ power collapsed

6. Why India? • The British were interested in India for strictly economic benefits! • Think back to the Industrial Revolution… • Britain needed new markets for cotton clothing, and looked to sell their goods to India’s population of about 300 million people • India became the major supplier for the world workshop that Britain had made

7. Convenient Much? • The BEIC’s main goal was to trade and make more money • India’s ports allowed the BEIC to set up additional trading posts in Bombay, Madura, and Calcutta • ($$$$$)

10. The British Seize Control • By 1757, the BEIC was the leading power in India • Britain seized control in 1763, and although their main job was to make money, they did try to improve conditions in India • Worked to end slavery, built roads, tried to improve the position of women in the family • Also tried converting natives into Christians (PROBLEM)

11. Religious Ignorance & the Great Sepoy Mutiny • Sepoys were Indian soldiers trained by the British • The BEIC required sepoys to serve anywhere, either in India or overseas • However, for some Hindus, overseas travel was an offense to their religion • The BEIC also passed a law allowing Hindu widows to remarry • Hindus viewed both moves as a Christian conspiracy to undermine their beliefs

12. The Sepoy Mutiny • May 10,1857 - the British issued the Sepoys new rifles, and told them to bite off the tips of the cartridges before loading them into the rifles • PROBLEM – rumors were spread that the cartridges were greased with animal fats - either from cows or pigs • Hindus considered cows sacred • Pigs were forbidden to Muslims

13. A Rebellion Begins • Sepoys were outraged at the greased cartridges and rose up against their British officers • Rebellion swept across northern India • Sepoys took over the cities of Delhi and Kanpur • They also brutally massacred British men, women, and children

15. The Aftermath • September 20,1857 - the British recaptured Dehli, and eventually Kapur • The British also took terrible revenge for their losses, torching villages, women, and slaughtering thousands of innocent Indians

16. Back to Business… • 1858 – Parliament ended the rule of the BEIC, and placed India directly under British crown • Set up a system of colonial rule called the British Raj • A British viceroy was also sent to govern in the name of the queen, and more troops were sent

17. The British = Opportunists • The British essentially continued to develop India for its own economic benefit • They saw India as both a MARKET, and as a source of RAW MATERIALS • They built bridges, canals, buildings, and railroads, which benefited British TRADE

18. Indian Nationalism • By the late 1800s, Western-educated Indians were spear-heading a nationlist movement • 1855 – Nationalist leaders organized the Indian National Congress (Congress Party) • Called for greater democracy, which they felt would bring more power to Indians • 1906 – Muslim League