INDIAN UPRISING

• 1. Who ruled much of India in 1857?

  • Britain
• 1. What was the doctrine of lapse?


  • it was a policy where the EIC took control over more than 25 states in India in the 1800
• 1. Where did most of the East India Company's soldiers come from? How did the EIC treat them


  • most of the soldiers came from sepoys (recruits indian troops) 
  • the sepoys faced excessive taxation, mismanagement, racist regulations, and disrespect for local and religious customs
• 1. What was the "spark that lit the fire" for the 1857 uprising?


  • The "spark that lit the fire" for the 1857 uprising in India was the issue of the new Enfield rifle cartridges greased with animal fat, which offended both Hindu and Muslim soldiers' religious beliefs
• 1. What were some of the other explanations for the uprising?


  • Other explanations for the uprising include discontent among Indian soldiers (sepoys) due to various grievances such as economic exploitation, loss of privileges, and cultural disrespect by the British East India Company
• 1. What was the outcome of the uprising?


  • The outcome of the uprising was the British suppression of the rebellion, resulting in significant loss of life and property on both sides. The British government subsequently took direct control of India from the East India Company, leading to the formal establishment of the British Raj
• How did colonialism and colonial resistance reshape communities and impact the process of state building from 1750 to 1900 India


  Colonialism and colonial resistance reshaped communities in India by altering power dynamics, social structures, and cultural identities. Resistance movements fostered solidarity among diverse groups and laid the groundwork for later nationalist movements. Additionally, the process of colonial resistance and state-building efforts led to the emergence of new forms of governance and political ideologies within Indian society
• • sepoys are locally recruited Indian troops 
• • sepoys were faced with racial discrimination and their religious beliefs would be challenged by EIC policies
• • sepoys would be would be expected to adapt to the religions and culture to the needs of the army
• • only British co-workers would get those high-ranking promotion jobs, which left sepoys out
• • Sepoys helped expand the domination of the East India Company across South Asia and were shipped abroad to expand the British Empire overseas
• • By the 1800s, the Mughal Empire was a much smaller and weaker state, whose authority was recognized only by some princes and local governors. 
• • Most stopped supporting the Mughal army and paying taxes. The central authority of the Mughals was so weak they could offer little resistance to the East India Company and its increasingly massive sepoy army
• Origins and Trigger


  The uprising began in May 1857 in Meerut, triggered by the introduction of new Enfield rifle cartridges greased with animal fat, which offended the religious beliefs of Hindu and Muslim sepoys. The refusal of sepoys to use these cartridges led to their imprisonment, sparking the rebellion
• Spread and Violence


  The rebellion quickly spread to Delhi and other garrison towns, leading to widespread violence against British officials, soldiers, and civilians. European women and children were also targeted, and revenge killings were rampant
• Mughal Emperor's Involvement


  Rebel soldiers and civilians in Delhi called for the reinstatement of the Mughal Emperor, who reluctantly agreed to their demands. However, his involvement was largely symbolic, and the rebellion was driven by various grievances against British rule
• Scope and Duration


  The uprising spread across northern and northeastern India, involving diverse groups with different motivations, including concerns about economic exploitation, land laws, religious freedom, and opposition to Christian missionary activities
• Suppression and Aftermath


  It took the British a year to suppress the rebellion, with significant loss of life on both sides. The British response was brutal, with widespread atrocities and revenge killings. The end of the uprising marked the dissolution of the East India Company's rule in India, with Queen Victoria assuming direct control of the subcontinent
• Legacy and Debate


  The 1857 uprising is viewed differently by Indian nationalists and scholars. Some see it as a precursor to the Indian independence movement, while others view it as a series of localized rebellions with diverse motivations. The uprising also reshaped Indian society, leading to increased British control, economic hardships, and the perpetuation of racist policies justifying colonial rule
• Impact on Indian Society


  Reshaped Indian society with increased British control, economic hardships due to de-industrialization, and racist policies that perpetuated inequality and justified colonial rule.