Section 1

The British in India

Setting the Stage

-Europeans tried to colonize different areas of Asia (trade) in the 1500-1600s

                        -Started to expand in Asia by the 1700s

                                    -New technology

                    -Machine guns, steam-powered gun boats, artillery

                                    -Weakening empires

                                                -Mughal Empire (India) declined in 1700s

                                                -Ottoman Empire

                                                -Qing dynasty faced rebellions

British East India Company

            -British imperialism in India was done through BEIC

                        -Trading company

                        -Basically ruled India

-British tricked/fooled local leaders into letting British “help” them keep power

            -Played off each other (chaos)

                        -British then sent in troops to take over India

            -Changes in India

                        -New education system

                        -English language

                        -Banned certain customs (Sati)

                        -Introduced Christianity

                        -Some Indians believed British were trying to destroy society

                                    -Sepoy Mutiny (1857)

                                                -Sepoys = Indian soldiers in British army

-New rifle required soldier to bite off ammo cartridge (greased with pork/beef fat)

            -Offended Muslims and Hindus

                        -Refused to use them-->punished

                                    -Set off uprising

                                                -Very violent (women/kids killed)

-Lasted 2 years

            -BEIC ended its rule of India-->British gov’t took over

India as a British Colony

            -India = “jewel” of British colonies

                        -Lots of money

            -Indians didn’t like British rule

            -Raj = Time of British rule

                        -Indian Civil Service “ran” India

                                    -Mostly British employed

                                                -Saw themselves as superior

                                                            -Lived in exclusive neighborhoods

                                                            -Joined fancy clubs

                                                            -Saw Indians as backwards, unintelligent

                        -Built railroads, roads, canals

                                    -Move troops/goods quickly

            -Making money

                        -Trade

                        -Raw materials (cotton, tea, indigo)

                        -Taxed landowners

            -Nationalism

                        -Lots of Indians didn’t like what the British were doing

                                    -Not able to participate in govt

                                    -Prejudice against Indians

                                    -“Taking away” other things

                        -Ram Mohun Roy (1820s)

                                    -Stood up against British

                                    -Believed Indians had right to free speech, religion

                        -Indian National Congress (1885)

                                    -Began request British make changes (more Indians in ICS, etc)

                        -Began to have grass-roots movement

                                    -Wear only Indian-made clothing, etc

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