Annexation of Awadh -
- ToA was a form of the subsidiary alliance (SA) but a concrete shape was given by Wellesley 9805 when the formal SA treaty was signed in 1801.
- Awadh was important as three-fifth of indigo cultivation was in Awadh + importance of the export of Awadh raw cotton to China.
- Subsidy demanded under the Treaty of Allahabad 1765 was gradually increased by EIC to compensate for high war expenditure.
- The arrival of Wellesley 9805 - He interfered in the succession of Awadh. After the death of Asaf Ud-daula 7597, EIC refused to accept his son Wazir Ali 9798 as Nawab and made uncle Sadat Ali Khan II Nawab (in 1798) in return for some territory and 76 lakh rupees as an annual subsidy.
- Conflict arose with Sadat Ali Khan II due to interference by the British resident + misuse of the Dastaks since 1765 + Nawab defaulted on payment of subsidy in 1801. Therefore, now Richard Wellesley 9805 sent his brother Henry to impose SA on Awadh in 1801 + half of Awadh was annexed as permanent payment of subsidy (* LR from this territory = 1.3 crore v/s justified/decided 76 lakh). Therefore, EIC annexed Gorakhpur - Rohilkhand doab.
- Despite permanent payment of subsidy, EIC continues to demand more money, therefore, Nawab was forced to increase taxes and became unpopular among Zamindars and peasants + now the oppression of peasants due to high LR, therefore, fear of peasant revolts by 1855 + by 1855 British resident became the real centre of power. For example - held his informal court, therefore, degrading the status of Nawab.
- Now, Dalhousie 4856 accused Nawab of maladministration (Nawab - Wajid Ali Shah) while in reality, high subsidy demand was responsible for the situation but Nawab had no powers and all responsibilities as a British resident established indirect rule.
- In 1856, Dalhousie annexed the rest of Awadh on grounds of maladministration (to protect British paramount interests of trade and business in Awadh).
Anglo-Sikh Wars
- Background -
- As per the policy of the ring fence, the British also wanted stable frontiers to ensure the protection of the British empire from foreign invasions.
- If a neighbouring power threatened the frontiers or the frontier state became weak, then the British acted and annexed the frontier state or tried to establish indirect rule in the border Indian state or the immediate neighbourhood of India. Example - In Afghanistan.
- Make a flowchart from the board
- Reasons for 1st Anglo-Sikh war 1845 -
- After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh 0139, factionalism increased in Punjab polity with rivalries between Sindhanwalias (Misl chief), Dogras from Jammu (poor wazirs), the Khalsa army and princes from the Royal family.
- Also, there were succession disputes and political murders + there was the rise of the Khalsa army as a political power in the Sikh polity it talked about the idea of the rule of Panchayats which threatened the British, therefore, political instability in frontier states + rise of Khalsa army as a political player led to action by British in form of first Anglo-Sikh war where British + Dogras v/s Sikh state (GGI = Hardinge 1844-48).
- Results -
- This led to the humiliating treaty of Lahore 1846 where
- a) the size of the Khalsa army was decreased and an EIC army was stationed.
- b) EIC annexed Jalandhar doab.
- c) Kashmir was given to Raja Gulab Singh Dogra of Jammu (*J&K)
- d) Maharaja Dilip Singh 4349 is now to be advised by a British resident, that is, the policy of indirect rule was initiated.
- There was another treaty in December 1846, whereby, the mother of Dilip Singh was removed as regent, and a regency council headed by a British resident was set up.
- Therefore, the British control of military and internal administration.
- Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49) by Dalhousie 4856
- Reasons = two Sikh chiefs/governors revolted against the British + Dalhousie 4856 an empire builder.
- Result = full annexation of Punjab.
Expansionism of British
- Draw a diagram from the board (on the core area and a new threat).
- With empire building, the core kept on expanding leading to new fears about protecting the core and leading to further empire building, therefore, the 19th century saw a series of annexations and wars by the British.
- Proof =
- First Burma war (1824-28)
- Reason - Bengal Frontier was under threat due to expansionist Burma in the 18th and 19th centuries. Burma had made Manipur, Cachar, and then Assam its sphere of influence in the 19th century + after six years of no war after the third Anglo-Maratha war (1817-19), the EIC army wanted something, therefore argued that expansion by Burma inspiring Indian rulers against EIC and this led to first Burma war 1824-28.
- Result = treaty of Yandobo = Assam and Nagaland annexed + Arakan, Tenaserin in lower Burma annexed.
- Later in 1830, Cachar annexed.
- Coorg was annexed in 1834 and Coorg became the first coffee-producing area.
- First Afghan War (1838-42)
- Reason = Fear of Russia that is, the northwest frontier.
- Result = British established indirect rule in Afghanistan.
- Sindh was annexed in 1843.
- Annexations by Dalhousie - Sambhalpur in 1849, Bhagat in 1850, Udaipur in 1852, Nagpur in 1853, and Jhansi in 1854.
- 2nd Burma War (1852-53) - annexed Pegu
- In 1853, Berar of Hyderabad was annexed instead of subsidy under SA 1798.
- In 1856, the annexation of Awadh was on grounds of maladministration.
- No more annexations were done after the revolt of 1857. By 1857, India = British India (direct rule of EIC and it was 67% of the territory and 78% of the population), and the rest were 565 princely states (indirect rule via a policy of paramountcy).
Revolt of 1857
- Question) What began as a fight for religion ended as a war of independence as there is no doubt that rebels wanted to get rid of the alien government and restore the old order of which the King of Delhi was the rightful representative. Do you support this view?
- 1857 revolt = Sepoy mutiny + Civil rebellion/uprising
Reasons
- The grievance of Sepoys
- Service-related -
- a) discrimination between Indian sepoys and European sepoys in salaries and pensions.
- b) there was a focus on building a uniform military culture by the British and a decrease in financial expenditure which contributed to the grievances of sepoys.
- c) to compensate for high war expenditure, there was a decrease in the salaries of sepoys + in 1856, there was an end of allowance for service outside their region which caused grievance among sepoys.
- Socio-religious -
- a) there was high racism toward Indian sepoys For Example - were usually referred to as Suar/pigs.
- b) there were Christian missionaries in barracks which created fear of conversion among Indian sepoys.
- c) Since the 1813 charter act, there was a focus on the westernization of India including the spread of Christianity in India.
- d) Also British now tried to develop a uniform culture in the army as it would lead to better control over sepoys, increased unity among sepoys over time, decreased loyalty to caste and religion, and increased commitment to the employer.
- e) There was also a rumour of mixing cow and pig bone dust with flour and a rumour of cartridges of the new Enfield rifle that replaced Brown Bess musket, having grease made of cow and pig fat and they were to be bitten off before loading.
- Political reasons -
- a) Awadh was annexed in 1856.
- Agrarian/Economic grievance -
- a) Sepoy was a peasant in uniform since he came from a peasant family and therefore was hurt by the loss of family land to the British government due to high land revenue and to the moneylender due to indebtedness.
- b) Also now, the rural population joined, therefore sepoy mutiny was followed by civil rebellion.
Reasons for civil rebellion
- Feudal elements/Rajas/Nobility –
- a) Loss of kingdom due to annexations by the British by application of Doctrine of Lapse or taking over of Awadh on grounds of maladministration led to grievances among dispossessed rulers.
- b) These annexations were done in line with the policy of paramountcy. Examples – Satara 1848, Nagpur, Sambalpur, and Bhagat 1850, Udaipur 1852, and Jhansi 1853. (Do-Lapse). Along with Nawab, the entire aristocracy was negatively affected. Therefore, these disposed princes offered leadership.
- Big Landowners/Taluqdars/Zamindars -
- a) Application of Mahalwari settlement in North-west provinces and Awadh led to the loss of land for Taluqdars as in this system, land ownership in many cases was given to the actual cultivator leading to loss of personal estates for Taluqdars. Therefore, it led to the loss of economic status.
- b) British focussed on building a strong centralized state and therefore, private forts and private armies of Taluqdars were disbanded leading to a loss of military status. Now there was to be the rule of law under the British that is equality before the law which hurt their social status and therefore, Taluqdars provided leadership to peasants.
- Artisans/Peasants-
- a) Artisans were utterly destroyed by the British-made machines as machines produced a cheaper and better quality product.
- b) Peasants - High land revenue and indebtedness to moneylenders which lead to landlessness.
- Religion -
- The whole rural society had a fear that their religion is under threat -
- a) Since 1813, there was an inflow of Christian missionaries and there were forced conversions under police protection.
- b) The socio-religious reforms of the British, for example - The widow remarriages act 1856 escalated the fear that the British wanted to destroy traditional customs and religious practices.
- c) They gave the right of inheritance to those who converted to Christianity and therefore, escalated religious conversions.
- d) British began taxing revenue-free lands of religious sects, mosques, and temples and therefore, Hindus and Muslims both felt a threat to their religion, and Pundits and Maulvis spread hatred against the British among the people.
- There was a common feeling among the Indians that British rule is immoral due to all of the above-mentioned grievances and therefore, the goal of the 1857 revolt was to restore the pre-British order - political, economic, social, and religious.
Agents
- Sadhus and Maulvis were the agents of spreading hatred against the British.
Topics for the Next Class - Dictation of the Revolt of 1857
Here are 40 multiple-choice questions
1. Annexation of Awadh was a form of which alliance?
a) Subsidiary Alliance (SA)
b) Wellesley Alliance
c) Bengal Alliance
d) Awadh Alliance
Answer: a) Subsidiary Alliance (SA)
2. Who signed the formal SA treaty with Awadh in 1801?
a) Asaf Ud-daula
b) Wazir Ali
c) Sadat Ali Khan II
d) Richard Wellesley
Answer: d) Richard Wellesley
3. What was the main reason for the importance of Awadh?
a) Indigo cultivation
b) Export of raw cotton to China
c) Tea production
d) Oil extraction
Answer: a) Indigo cultivation and b) Export of raw cotton to China
4. Why did EIC gradually increase the subsidy demanded under the Treaty of Allahabad 1765?
a) To compensate for high war expenditure
b) To fund infrastructure development
c) To promote education in Awadh
d) To support local industries
Answer: a) To compensate for high war expenditure
5. Who was appointed as Nawab of Awadh after the death of Asaf Ud-daula in 1798?
a) Wazir Ali
b) Sadat Ali Khan II
c) Richard Wellesley
d) Henry Wellesley
Answer: b) Sadat Ali Khan II
6. How did Richard Wellesley impose the Subsidiary Alliance on Awadh?
a) By sending his brother Henry to Awadh
b) By annexing half of Awadh's territory
c) By increasing the annual subsidy
d) By establishing a trade agreement with China
Answer: b) By annexing half of Awadh's territory
7. Why did the EIC continue to demand more money from Awadh despite the permanent payment of subsidy?
a) To fund military campaigns
b) To promote economic development
c) To expand its territory
d) To compensate for increased expenses
Answer: d) To compensate for increased expenses
8. What led to the oppression of peasants in Awadh?
a) High land revenue
b) Unfair taxation policies
c) Exploitation by British residents
d) Lack of agricultural resources
Answer: a) High land revenue
9. What was the fear regarding peasant revolts in Awadh by 1855?
a) High taxation
b) Oppression by British residents
c) Lack of social reforms
d) Economic inequality
Answer: a) High taxation
10. Who became the real center of power in Awadh by 1855?
a) Nawab of Awadh
b) British resident
c) Zamindars
d) Peasants
Answer: b) British resident
11. Who accused Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of maladministration?
a) Asaf Ud-daula
b) Richard Wellesley
c) Henry Wellesley
d) Dalhousie
Answer: d) Dalhousie
12. In what year was the rest of Awadh annexed by the British?
a) 1798
b) 1801
c) 1843
d) 1856
Answer: d) 1856
13. What policy did the British follow to ensure the protection of the
British empire from foreign invasions?
a) Frontier Protection Policy
b) Annexation Policy
c) Subsidiary Alliance Policy
d) Ring Fence Policy
Answer: d) Ring Fence Policy
14. What led to the first Anglo-Sikh war in 1845?
a) Factionalism in Punjab polity
b) Succession disputes
c) Rise of the Khalsa army
d) Rivalries between various factions
Answer: a) Factionalism in Punjab polity, b) Succession disputes, and c) Rise of the Khalsa army
15. What were the results of the first Anglo-Sikh war?
a) Decrease in the size of the Khalsa army
b) Annexation of Jalandhar doab
c) Kashmir given to Raja Gulab Singh Dogra
d) British resident advising Maharaja Dilip Singh
Answer: a) Decrease in the size of the Khalsa army, b) Annexation of Jalandhar doab, c) Kashmir given to Raja Gulab Singh Dogra, and d) British resident advising Maharaja Dilip Singh
16. Which policy of the British was initiated after the first Anglo-Sikh war?
a) Indirect rule
b) Direct rule
c) Paramountcy
d) Subsidiary Alliance
Answer: a) Indirect rule
17. What led to the second Anglo-Sikh war in 1848-49?
a) Revolt by Sikh chiefs/governors
b) Dalhousie's ambition for expansion
c) Conflict between British and Sikh state
d) Rivalries among the Khalsa army
Answer: a) Revolt by Sikh chiefs/governors and b) Dalhousie's ambition for expansion
18. What was the result of the second Anglo-Sikh war?
a) Full annexation of Punjab
b) Restoration of Sikh rule
c) British withdrawal from Punjab
d) Establishment of a Sikh-British alliance
Answer: a) Full annexation of Punjab
19. What led to the annexation of Coorg in 1834?
a) Coorg's aggression towards the British
b) Coorg's economic potential
c) Coorg's resistance against British rule
d) Coorg's involvement in a rebellion
Answer: c) Coorg's resistance against British rule
20. What was the reason for the first Burma war in 1824-28?
a) Threat to Bengal Frontier by Burma's expansion
b) Economic rivalry with Burma
c) Political instability in Burma
d) British desire for territorial expansion
Answer: a) Threat to Bengal Frontier by Burma's expansion
21. What were the outcomes of the first Burma war?
a) British control over Arakan, Tenasserim, and Assam
b) Treaty of Yandabo
c) Burmese payment of war indemnity
d) Opening of Rangoon as a port
Answer: a) British control over Arakan, Tenasserim, and Assam, b) Treaty of Yandabo, c) Burmese payment of war indemnity, and d) Opening of Rangoon as a port
22. What led to the second Burma war in 1852?
a) British commercial interests in Burma
b) Burmese refusal to sign a commercial treaty
c) British desire to eliminate Burmese monarchy
d) Border disputes between British and Burmese territories
Answer: a) British commercial interests in Burma and b) Burmese refusal to sign a commercial treaty
23. What were the outcomes of the second Burma war?
a) Full annexation of Lower Burma by the British
b) Deposition of King Mindon Min
c) Formation of the province of British Burma
d) British control over Mandalay and Irrawaddy Valley
Answer: a) Full annexation of Lower Burma by the British, c) Formation of the province of British Burma, and d) British control over Mandalay and Irrawaddy Valley
24. Which Indian state was annexed by the British in 1849?
a) Mysore
b) Travancore
c) Jhansi
d) Punjab
Answer: d) Punjab
25. What led to the annexation of Nagpur in 1854?
a) Economic instability in Nagpur
b) British desire for territorial expansion
c) Conflict between Nagpur and neighboring states
d) Political instability in Nagpur
Answer: b) British desire for territorial expansion
26. Who initiated the annexation of Oudh (Awadh) in 1856?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord William Bentinck
c) Lord Cornwallis
d) Lord Curzon
Answer: a) Lord Dalhousie
27. What was the reason for the annexation of Oudh (Awadh)?
a) Alleged misrule and maladministration by the Nawab
b) Awadh's involvement in a rebellion against the British
c) British desire to control Awadh's resources and revenue
d) Fear of Russian influence in Awadh
Answer: a) Alleged misrule and maladministration by the Nawab and c) British desire to control Awadh's resources and revenue
28. Who led the rebellion against the British in Awadh in 1857?
a) Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi
b) Nana Sahib
c) Begum Hazrat Mahal
d) Kunwar Singh
Answer: c) Begum Hazrat Mahal
29. Which region saw the culmination of the 1857 rebellion against British rule?
a) Bengal
b) Punjab
c) Delhi
d) Bihar
Answer: c) Delhi
30. Who was the last Mughal emperor during the 1857 rebellion?
a) Bahadur Shah Zafar II
b) Akbar II
c) Shah Alam II
d) Alamgir II
Answer: a) Bahadur Shah Zafar II
31. What were the consequences of the 1857 rebellion?
a) End of Mughal Empire
b
) Transfer of power from East India Company to the British Crown
c) British government's policy of divide and rule
d) Suppression of rebellion and execution of rebels
Answer: a) End of Mughal Empire, b) Transfer of power from East India Company to the British Crown, and d) Suppression of rebellion and execution of rebels
32. Who replaced Lord Dalhousie as the Governor-General of India in 1856?
a) Lord Canning
b) Lord Bentinck
c) Lord Cornwallis
d) Lord Curzon
Answer: a) Lord Canning
33. Who introduced the Doctrine of Lapse?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord William Bentinck
c) Lord Cornwallis
d) Lord Curzon
Answer: a) Lord Dalhousie
34. What was the significance of the Doctrine of Lapse?
a) It allowed the British to annex Indian states without direct heirs.
b) It established the policy of subsidiary alliance.
c) It granted religious freedom to Indians.
d) It promoted education and social reforms.
Answer: a) It allowed the British to annex Indian states without direct heirs.
35. Who introduced the Vernacular Press Act in 1878?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord William Bentinck
c) Lord Lytton
d) Lord Curzon
Answer: c) Lord Lytton
36. What was the purpose of the Vernacular Press Act?
a) To regulate the freedom of the press in India
b) To promote the use of the English language
c) To encourage the publication of vernacular literature
d) To support Indian independence movements
Answer: a) To regulate the freedom of the press in India
37. Who was the viceroy of India during the partition of Bengal in 1905?
a) Lord Curzon
b) Lord Ripon
c) Lord Hardinge
d) Lord Minto
Answer: c) Lord Hardinge
38. What was the reason behind the partition of Bengal in 1905?
a) Administrative convenience
b) Religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims
c) Economic development of Eastern Bengal
d) Political strategy to weaken nationalist movement
Answer: a) Administrative convenience and d) Political strategy to weaken nationalist movement
39. Who led the Swadeshi movement against the partition of Bengal?
a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) Jawaharlal Nehru
c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
d) Rabindranath Tagore
Answer: c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
40. Which event led to the suspension of the partition of Bengal in 1911?
a) Morley-Minto Reforms
b) Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
c) Delhi Durbar
d) First World War
Answer: c) Delhi Durbar
Sure! Here are three long-answer type questions based on the class notes you provided:
1. Discuss the reasons for the annexation of Awadh by the East India Company. Analyze the factors that led to the conflict between the Nawab of Awadh and the British, and explain the consequences of the annexation on the socio-economic and political conditions of the region.
Answer:
The annexation of Awadh by the East India Company was a significant event in modern Indian history. The reasons behind this annexation were multifaceted and complex. One primary reason was the increasing subsidy demanded by the British under the Treaty of Allahabad, which was initially signed in 1765. The EIC gradually increased the subsidy to compensate for their high war expenditures.
The arrival of Richard Wellesley in 1805 marked a turning point in the relationship between the Nawab of Awadh and the British. The British interfered in the succession of Awadh after the death of Asaf Ud-daula in 1797. They refused to accept his son Wazir Ali as Nawab and instead appointed Sadat Ali Khan II as the Nawab in return for territory and an annual subsidy. Conflict arose due to the British resident's interference, misuse of Dastaks (passes for tax exemptions), and the Nawab defaulting on the payment of subsidies in 1801.
In response to these conflicts, Richard Wellesley sent his brother Henry to impose the subsidiary alliance on Awadh in 1801. As a result, half of Awadh was annexed to serve as a permanent payment of subsidy. Despite the annexation, the EIC continued to demand more money, leading to increased taxes imposed by the Nawab. This resulted in discontent among the Zamindars and peasants, leading to the fear of peasant revolts by 1855. The British resident gradually became the center of power, diminishing the status of the Nawab.
Dalhousie accused Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of maladministration, but in reality, the high subsidy demands imposed by the British were responsible for the deteriorating situation. The annexation of the rest of Awadh in 1856 further intensified the socio-economic and political consequences. The annexation aimed to protect British paramount interests in trade and business in the region. The annexation led to a loss of power for the Nawab and the aristocracy, and the British established indirect rule, further consolidating their control.
2. Evaluate the causes and consequences of the Anglo-Sikh Wars. Analyze the political and military factors that led to the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1845 and the subsequent annexation of Punjab by the British after the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1848-49.
Answer:
The Anglo-Sikh Wars played a significant role in shaping the course of British expansion in India. The causes of these wars can be attributed to various political and military factors. After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1839, factionalism and political instability plagued the Sikh polity. Rivalries between different groups, such as the Sindhanwalias, Dogras from Jammu, the Khalsa army, and the royal family, created a fragmented political environment.
The rise of the Khalsa army as a political power posed a threat to the British, as it advocated for the rule of Panchayats, which challenged British authority. The British perceived the political instability in the Sikh frontier state as a potential danger to their own interests, especially in maintaining stable frontiers and protecting the British Empire from external invasions.
These factors led to the outbreak of the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1845. The British, along with their allies, the Dogras, fought against the Sikh state. The war resulted in the humiliating
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