The First War of Independence, 1857

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The First War of Independence,

1857

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Causes of the First War of Independence , 1857

1. Political Causes2. Socio Religious Causes3. Economic Causes4. Military Causes

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Causes:1. POLITICAL CAUSES

1. British Policy of Expansion (Outright Wars, Subsidiary Alliance, Doctrine of Lapse, Annexation of Awadh)

2. Disrespect shown to Bahadur Shah

3. Treatment given to Nana Saheb and Rani Laxmi Bai

4. Absentee Sovereignty of the British

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A. British Policy of Expansion: The British expanded their political power in India four ways:

1. By Outright Wars: To expand their territory India, British fought many wars. Example: War of Buxar (BBO), Anglo Mysore War, Third Anglo Maratha War, Second Anglo-Sikh War etc.

2. System of Subsidiary Alliance: Lord Wellesley introduced this system in which Indian States were brought under the British control without annexing them. Under this system Indian rulers agreed to:

Accept British as Supreme Power, End foreign relations and wouldn’t enter any alliance/wars, British resident at their HQ & wouldn’t employ any European

without consulting, Maintain British troops at their own cost, Virtually lost Independence.


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3. Doctrine of Lapse: Lord Dalhousie annexed many Indian states using Doctrine of Lapse according to which heirs adopted without consent of the Company could inherit only the private property of the deceased ruler and his territory would come under the Company’s rule. Example: In 1853 Ruler of Jhansi died without natural heir. Widow Rani was retired and their adopted son Anand Rao wasn’t recognised as successor to throne. Similary, States of Satara, Nagpur, Udaipur etc had same problems.

4. On the pretext of Alleged Misrule (Annexation of Awadh): Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh on 13 Feb 1856 on the pretext of

Alleged Misrule. British broke their promises given to ruling chiefs. People had to face more hardships, had to pay higher taxes & revenues, problems of unemployment rose, property were confiscated, 75000 sepoys were worst affected & didn’t like what British did in Awadh


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B. Disrespect shown to Bahadur Shah:Bahadur Shah- A mughal ruler was under protection of the Company but after his death, Lord Dalhousie announced that ruler’s widow Zeenat Mahal and successors cant use Red Fort as Palace and in 1956 Lord Canning announced that the successors can’t use imperial titles. This hurt sentiments of Muslims.


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C. Treatment given to Nana Saheb & Rani Laxmi BaiBaji Rao II- the last Peshwa was under the protection of Company but after his death they refused to pay the grant to the ruler’s adopted son i.e. Nana Saheb. He was sent to Kanpur away from Poona. He then travelled to different parts of country to create awareness about British policies.Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi- victim of Doctrine of Lapse became bitter enemy of the British. Other rules also had a doubt in the British.


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D. Absentee Sovereignty of the British (India’s Wealth Drained to England)India was being ruled by British from England.Unlike other rulers like Mughals who spent the revenue collected from India in India. But in case of the British, Indians felt that wealth of India was drained to England and wasn’t used for the welfare of Indians.


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Causes:2. SOCIO-RELIGIOUS CAUSES

1. Interference with Social Customs: Sati, Widow Remarriage Act, Western education to girls wasn’t welcomed by masses.

2. Apprehension about Modern Innovations like Railways & Telegraphs: Indians misunderstood that telegraph poles were erect to hand them and in railways higher castes were made to seat with lower castes.

3. Policy of Racial Discrimination: Disrespect & Ill-treatment was given to Indians.

4. Corruption in Administration: rich were allowed to go away after crime and poor were looted & tortured.

5. Oppression of the Poor: Beating, Torture and Imprisonment6. Fear regarding Western Education: Pandits and Maulvis

feared that it is done to convert their children to Christians.7. Taxing religious places: lands belonging to temples and

mosques

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Causes:3. ECONOMIC CAUSES

1. Exploitation of Economic exploitation2. Drain of wealth3. Decay of cottage industries and

handicrafts4. Growing unemployment5. Inhuman treatment of Indigo

cultivators6. Poverty & Famines7. Economic decline of Peasantry8. Decline of landed Aristocracy

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1. Exploitation of Economic exploitation: India was forced to export cotton, silk at cheaper rate to

England Forced plantation of Indigo and Tea Indians had to accept ready made British goods Indian products had high import duties in England Indian handmade products couldn't compete with machine

made British products. Problem of unemployment increased India had no agricultural surplus which raised the prices of

raw material in India

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2. Drain of wealth: After Battle of Plassey, British stopped bringing gold to

India. Raw material was bought in England from the surplus revenues of Bengal and started looting India’ raw materials, resources and wealth. The transfer of wealth from India to England is called Drain of Wealth.

3. Decay of Cottage Industries and Handicrafts: Heavy duties killed Indian Cottage Industries and

Handicrafts. Imported British goods worsened their condition Export of cotton and silk was ceased Art of spinning and weaving was killed creating severe

unemployment Absence of royal buyers- Princes, Zamindars etc.

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4. Growing unemployment5. Inhuman treatment of Indigo

cultivators: forced plantation of Indigo, other crops were destroyed if didn’t follow the orders and cattle were taken away as punishment.

6. Poverty & Famines:12 Minor Famines, British didn’t bother

7. Economic decline of Peasantry: Peasants had to pay heavy taxes & land revenues.

8. Decline of landed Aristocracy: Hereditary landlords & Taluqdars’ 2000 estates were confiscated (who couldn't produce evidences of ownership) and auctioned. Merchants and moneylenders bought these estates and exploited tenants.

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Causes:4. MILITARY CAUSES

1. Ill treatment of Indian Soldiers2. Lower Salaries3. Deprivation of Allowances4. Less Chances of Promotions5. General Service Enlistment Act6. Larger Proportion of Indians in the

British Army7. Faculty distribution of Troops8. Poor performance of British Troops

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1. Ill treatment of Indian Soldiers: Indian soldiers were ill treated, poorly fed & badly housed. Didn’t bother about their sentiments and didn’t allow to keep beard, wear turbans etc.

2. Lower Salaries: Indian soldiers were paid eight times less salaries than British soldiers.

3. Deprivation of Allowances: British empire was spread across the nation and soldiers had to serve in areas away from their homes without extra payment and additional Bhatta (foreign service allowance) Free post facility for Sepoys was also taken off.

4. Less Chances of Promotions: All higher posts were reserved for British (irrespective of their performances). Indians soldiers had thin chances of promotions. They couldn’t go above the post of Subedar. With promotions future of Indian soldiers was bleak (miserable)

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5. General Service Enlistment Act: It was considered as Taboo for Brahmin to cross the sea. In spite of that British sent Indians overseas on duty. Didn’t bother about the sentiments.

6. Larger Proportion of Indians in the British Army: in 1856, 2,38,000 Indian soldiers worked in British army as compared to 45,322 British Soldiers.

7. Faulty distribution of Troops: Strategic important places like Delhi & Allahabad had no British armies and was held by only Indian soldiers. When England was busy fighting wars outside Indian soldiers decided to strike British.

8. Poor performance of British Troops: Without support of Indian soldiers, British army was weak this fact was realized by the Indian soldiers. Also in various other wars British had to face defeat this broke the myth that British were invincible.

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1. End of East India Company’s Rule2. Queen Victoria’s Proclamation3. End of Mughals and Peshwas4. Relations with Princely States5. Policy of Divide and Rule6. Widening Gulf between Hindus and Muslims7. Racial Antagonism8. Increased Racial Bitterness9. Religious Changes10. Foreign Policy11. Changes in the Army12. Economic Exploitation13. Rise of Nationalism

CONSEQUENCES OF THE FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

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End of the East India Company’s rule:Crown took over the charge from CompanySecretary of State for India was appointed who reported to British Parliament.

Queen Victoria’s Proclamation: 1 Nov, 1958 at Allahabad the transfer of governance was done. Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India. Promised not to intervene in social and religious matters, would bring equality, pardon soldiers, best for Indian industries etc.

End of Mughals and Peshwas: Bahadur Shah II went to Yangon and Nana Saheb went to Nepal. Two foes of British came to an end.

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Relations with Princely States: Policy of Annexation and Doctrine of Lapse were abandoned.

Policy of Divide & Rule: After 1858, British started Divide and Rule Policy. Caste against Caste, Princes against people and Hindus against Muslims.

Widening Gulf between Hindus and Muslims: British sowed seeds of hatred among Hindus & Muslims.

Racial Antagonism: British believed that they were superior and maintained distance from Indians. Railways, Parks, Hotels etc had seats “Reserved for Europeans Only’

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Increased Racial Bitterness: British believed that Indian aren’t trust worthy and remodeled the structure of Indian government based on the idea of a superior race.

Religious changes: British rulers declared that they would not intervene in religious affairs, customs and traditions.

Foreign Policy: India foreign policy was decided by British with two aims: a) protection of its Indian empire and b) expansion of British economic & commercial interests.

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Changes in Army: to avoid another uprising Indian army was reorganised after 1858 in following manner:

1. No. of Indian troops was decreased to 1,40,00 and No. of European troops was increased to 65,000.

2. European troops were kept in key locations.3. Policy of excluding Indians from officer positions was

strictly followed.4. Weapons were never placed under the charge of Indians.5. Divide and Rule policy was practiced during the

recruitment in the army. Discouraged nationalism through caste/religion discrimination in regiments.

6. Soldiers weren’t allowed to read newspapers & journals.

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Economic Exploitation: i. India became a colony to export raw material and

import finished goods.ii. Salaries of soldiers, military officers, Council

members was taken from India’s resourcesiii. Peasants were bankrupt/poor during British rule.

(Indigo peasants) iv. Indian cottage industries and handicrafts

collapsedv. Indians had to pay heavy taxes, revenues and

dividend to British.

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Rise of Nationalism:i. Uprising of 1857, paved way for the Rise of

the National Movement.ii. Sacrifices made by Rani Laxmi Bai, Nana

Saheb, Mangal Pandey inspired Indians.iii. Started a tradition of resistance to the

British rule.


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Drawbacks of First War of Independence

Lack of planning, organisation and leadershipLack of common causeLack of participation from all sections of the

societyLack of resourcesLack of nationwide dimensionsBeginning of the movement before the fixed

date (May 31, 1857)