Britain Takes India

JOIN ME ON PAGE 631

Chapter 15 sec 3 and Chapter 25 sec 4

EQs: How did Europeans come to control India? How did British rule effect India?

Europeans Enter India

• Before the 1700’s, there was VERY LITTLE European influence in India…Portuguese traders traded peacefully along the coast

• Mughal Emperors saw no threats in granting trade rights to other European nations that began to arrive in the 1600s (Dutch, Britain, France)

• After the rule of Akbar the Great, the Mughal Empire began to decline as civil wars broke out…as this occurred, the Britsh and French made alliances with different kingdoms in order to gain influence

• By 1756, Britain and France were fighting the 7 Years War (French and Indian War in America) and it spilled over into India

• In 1757, the director of the British East India Trading Co., Robert Clive, won battles in the Bengal region of E. India, claiming vital territory for British rule.

• The British East India Company hired local Indian troops called sepoys to fight for Britain…they had control in India for the next 100 years

The British East India Company Runs India

• The British East India Company used the diversity of the Indian people to dominate the subcontinent…just like in Africa, they pitted local groups against each other

• The BEIC was only interested in making money…but they did attempt to “Christianize the heathens” and teach them to speak English…they also interfered with traditional social/caste practices (like sati)

• These moves caused discontent– Sepoys were forced to serve

wherever they were told to go (sometimes that even meant overseas)

– The British passed laws to allow widows to remarry (insult to their religion)

– In 1857, the British issued new rifles with animal fats on them (an insult to their religion)

• In 1858, the Sepoys rose in rebellion against the British, massacring anyone British (men, women, children)…the revolt was eventually crushed

• As a result, direct control of India was taken away from the East India Company and put in the hands of British Parliament

Direct British Rule• After 1858, Parliament set up a system

of colonial rule in India.– They appointed a viceroy to rule as

governor of India– They made India their “crown

jewel”, the most important colony in their empire…they built roads, railroads and took over India’s textile industries…they made it illegal for Indians to make their own cloth

– Britain transformed Indian agriculture, forcing nomads to settle, exporting crops on a large scale and causing massive deforestation.

– Better health care and increased food production led to rapid population growth. Over-population led to terrible famines.

– Upper-class Indians sent their sons to British schools.

Opposing Views on Culture

• During the Age of Imperialism, Indians and British developed different views of each other’s culture.

Some educated Indians were impressed by British power and technology and urged India to follow a western model of progress.

Other Indians felt the answer to change lay with their own Hindu or Muslim cultures.

Most British knew little about Indian achievements and dismissed Indian culture with contempt.

A few British admired Indian theology and philosophy and respected India’s ancient heritage.

INDIAN ATTITUDES BRITISH ATTITUDES

Indian Nationalism

• The British believed that western-educated Indians would form an elite class which would bolster British rule…As it turned out, exposure to European ideas had the opposite effect. By the late 1800s, western-educated Indians were spearheading a nationalist movement.

• In 1885, nationalist leaders organized the Indian National Congress. Its members looked forward to eventual self-rule, but supported western-style modernization.

• In 1906, Indian Muslims formed the Muslim League to pursue their own goals, including a separate Muslim state.

For the remainder of the period…

• Complete Chapter 25 sec 4 puzzle & Read “Biography: Rabindranath Tagore” and answer questions…homework if not finished by period’s end!

• Reminder: Hotel Rwanda reactions are due TOMORROW!