The British in India

1. The British in India

2. The Spice Trade • Pepper, cinnamon, rice, tea, cotton, indigo etc. all were in great demand in Europe • Very expensive due to taxes and tariffs by Italians and Turks

3. 15th and 16th centuries • Vasco da Gama sailed round Cape of Good Hope and finds new trade route to India • British and French set up trading posts • Trading posts become centers of power • not established by govt., but by trading companies

4. British Expansion • British East India Company • Monopoly over trade in India, China and East Indies • Had power to sign treaties, maintain armies and govern itself • Attracted Indians to work for company • Sepoys – Indians serving in the army of European country

5. Reasons for British Successin India • British brought all of India under their control: • Collapse of ruling Moghul empire-disorganized • “Divide and conquer” policy – played on weaknesses of local rulers • Superior military and naval power

6. Drastic Changes • Made English official language • Abolished Suttee • Stopped female infanticide • Set up postal and telegraph system • Railroads, canals for irrigation, roads • Education in every province, higher education in English • Private ownership of land introduced

7. Great Uprising of 1857 • Immediate causes: • New cartridges were greased with animal fat • Requirement that sepoys must serve outside of India • Forced Christianity • British were destroying Indian traditional culture • Meerut army post, the sepoys killed every European man, woman and child… spread to other posts as well

8. Sepoy Rebellion • Mutiny defeated after 1 yr., British reprisals were brutal • ie: Entire population driven from Delhi and thousands slaughtered Both Indians and Muslims fighting side by side South India did not join, nor did Sikhs in the North

9. The British Raj • After revolt, British Parliament passed “An Act for the Better Government of India” – completely takes over the East India Co.’s empire • British govt. of India is Raj – the Hindi word for kingdom

10. Government of India • India divided into 2 unequal parts: • British India – 3/5 of subcontinent in most productive areas • Native India – 1/3 of land in princely states scattered all over • Some ruled by Hindu leaders, maharajahs • Some ruled by Islamic rulers, nawabs or nizams • British official advisor, resident • Princes could control schools, courts and soldiers • British controlled foreign affairs and internal relations

11. Colonization • 1876, Parliament makes Queen Victoria the Empress of India and ruler over all parts of India • British India ruled by a Viceroy, with help of other British officials • Indian govt. positions mainly given to selected men from the Indian Civil Service, (most were British) • Under Raj, Indians had almost no voice in their govt.

12. Benefits of British Rule • PaxBritanica – law and order creates political unity previously unknown in India • Best railroad system in Asia, 4,000-40,000 miles • National Postal and telegraph system • Canal system irrigates millions of acres • Public health measures against cholera, smallpox, etc. lower death rate

13. Benefits of British Rule Famine relief system aided millions when harvests were poor New schools at all levels – English is used in higher levels of ed. – study ideas of democracy and nationalism Equality before law regardless of status Industrialization, shipping and banking facilities expanded

14. Limitations of British Rule • Many profits drained from India go to benefit Britain • The improvements mentioned were paid for by Indian taxes, (one of reasons for American Revolution) • Famines caused by British production of commercial crops instead of food

15. Limitations of British Rule • British manufactured goods sold cheaper than Indian hand-made goods • Taxes collected in cash, bad for poor, increases debt and poverty • Separation of ruler from ruled Indians treated as inferiors socially, morally and culturally • British segregated society further, “Europeans Only” signs for public facilities