British Imperialism in India

British Imperialism in India Ch 11 Sec 4

Setting the stage: British interest in India began in the 1600’s with the British East India Company but by 1707 the ruling Mughal Dynasty was in collapse allowing the BEIC to establish power and control over India.

I. British Expand Control over IndiaA. East India Company Dominates • 1. This company (BEIC) ruled India with little interference from the British government. • 2. They had their own army called sepoys- Indian soldiers

B. Britain’s “Jewel inthe Crown” • 1. India was a major supplier of raw materials for Britain’s Industrial Revolution • 2. With 300 million people to buy British goods and the resources made India the “jewel inthe crown”

B. Britain’s “Jewel of the Crown” • 3. Negatives of British control • restricted Indian goods from competing against British goods within India, • had to provide raw materials, • local producers were virtually wiped out by cheaper British goods

I. British Expand Control over IndiaC. British Transport Trade Goods • 1. The railroad network increased trade from the interior of India to the ports

I. British Expand Control over IndiaC. British Transport Trade Goods • 2. Tea, indigo, coffee, cotton, and opium were the plantation crops transported the most. Exchanged opium for tea with China.

I. British Expand Control over IndiaC. British Transport Trade Goods • 3. Trade was closely related to international events. • E.g. The US Civil War caused Britain to produce cotton in India

I. British Expand Control over IndiaD. Impact of Colonialism • 1. Negatives: • Britain held much of the political and economic power, • ended food crops for cash crops, • Racist attitudes of the British threatened Indian life

I. British Expand Control over IndiaD. Impact of Colonialism • 2. Positives: • Britain built the world’s third largest railroad network, this allowed the economy to grow, • built telephone lines, dams, bridges and irrigation canals.

II. The Sepoy MutinyA. Indians Rebel • 1. As economic problems increased for Indians so did their feelings of resentment and nationalism

II. The Sepoy MutinyA. Indians Rebel • 2. Rumors spread that caused an uproar for the sepoys who thought that their cartridges were greased with beef and pork

II. The Sepoy MutinyA. Indians Rebel • 3. British arrested those that refused to accept the ammo and the next day a rebellion began. The rebel sepoys took Delhi and it then spread to northern & central India

British Imperialism in India