Indian Discontent

• By the 1850s, most of India was ruled by the EIC. Their employees lived in luxury and made huge fortunes.
• The British ignored or replaced long standing Indian traditions, rights and customs. They also replaced the aristocracy. This led to frustration and discontent.
• The British hired local Indian soldiers known as Sepoys.
• In 1839, the East India Company introduced new rifles that used cartridges greased with animal fat (pig).
• Sepoys believed they were mistreated, had little hope of promotion and often were first to be sent to dangerous situations.
• Some Sepoys felt pressured to convert to Christianity.
• Indians resented being treated like second class citizens.
• The Sepoys objected to the new cartridges but the British ignored them.
• 9th May 1857, in Meerut 85 Sepoys refused to use the cartridges and were imprisoned for 10 years.
• 10th May 1857: other Sepoys rose up and broke the prisoners out of jail. British officers were killed and the homes of British civilians were set on fire.
• The main battles between 1857 - 58 were in Delhi, Lucknow and Cawnpore. At Cawnpore in July 1857, there was a massacre of 200 British women and children, known as the Bibighar Massacre.
• There were brutal massacres on both sides. Soon after the massacre at Cawnpore, 70,000 troops were sent to India.
• Peace was declared on the 8th of July 1858.