19th century British dominance of India

1795-1905

Presentation created by Robert Martinez

Primary Content Source: A Short History of the World

Images as cited.

During the second half of the 18th century, the British East India Company increased its

control of India. Initially, it had no plans for the conquest of India, but viewed its role as

primarily commercial. Territories were only annexed to protect the company’s commercial

interests.

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The threat of an invasion of India by Napoleon prompted a more proactive British policy.

Mysore was defeated in 1799 and the Maratha Confederacy was conquered in 1818.

Annexed territories included Kumaon and Ceylon, Peishwa’s Lands and Chota Nagpur.

Independent states such as Hyderabad, Rajputana and Kashmir were reduced to

dependencies, with British troops garrisoned on their territory.

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From 1848, Lord Dalhousie, the

governor-general, followed the policy of ‘lapse.’ When a Hindu

prince died without heir, his lands

automatically passed to the Company.

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The British acquired several new territories in the course of military campaigns to protect

India’s borders to the northwest and east. To secure the northwest frontier from the

possibility of Russian incursion, the Company

twice attempted to take control of Afghanistan.

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In both the First and Second Afghan Wars (1839-1842 and 1878-

1880), the British occupied Kabul but

failed to dominate the rest of the country.

The northwest frontier of British India was extended with the

conquest of Sind the Punjab.

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In response to a threat from Burma in the east, the Company took over Assam, Arakan and Tenasserim (1824-1826). Burma was brought under full British

control in 1886.

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The East India Company was successful in defending India from external threats,

but was often less sure-footed in its

dealings with India’s people.

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The prohibition of local customs and traditions under

Lord Bentinck (governor-general 1828-1835), the

practice of Christian conversion, and the

insistence on English as the language of education and

commerce, all contributed to growing discontent among

Indians. This flared into a full-scale rebellion known as the

Indian Mutiny, in 1857.

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The Indian Mutiny began in one of the Company’s native armies, the Bengal sepoys, who were stationed in Meerut, near Delhi. A

rumor spread among Hindu and Muslim soldiers that the rifle cartridges had been

greased with pork and beef fat, which would

have violated the dietary laws of both religions.

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The rebellion spread quickly

through northern and central India.

Delhi was captured and two other cities besieged. However,

the rebels were poorly organized

with few weapons, and by 1859, they

had been defeated. en.wikipedia.org

Nevertheless, the rebellion sent shockwaves through British India, and caused widespread

changes. The first and most noticeable change came in 1858. The East India Company was

dissolved and the British government began to rule India directly.

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There were other less overt changes. A mutual distrust soured relations between the rulers

and the indigenous population from that time on. The Anglo-Indian community became more

insular and disconnected from the native population.

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Gurkha and Sikh troops, who had remained loyal during the rebellion,

formed the core of the reformed British Indian army.

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The period in which India was ruled directly by the British government is known as the Raj. In

the administration of its territories, the East India Company had already introduced British-

style institutions, including a British judicial system.

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The process of Westernization gathered pace during the Raj. Railway, telephone and telegraph networks were constructed;

irrigation schemes expanded; and universities

established.

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Indians were educated in the principles of a competitive market economy and Protestant

values. However, in many ways Britain’s economic interests would not have been well

served by transforming India into a fully Westernized nation.

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In fact, the British did little to promote industrialization, aware that India’s primary

purpose was to supply raw materials for British manufacturers – particularly cotton for the textile industry – and to provide a captive

market for British goods.

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After the Indian Mutiny, Indians were increasingly denied a role in the administration of their country. Many began to desire a more

representative form of government.

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The other resource that India had in abundance was

people. Thousands of Indian men

served as soldiers, defending the British Empire

around the world.

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The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885, initially to promote the cause Indians

within the empire. However, by the early 1900s it had emerged as the major voice of Indian

nationalist aspirations, calling for a government and constitution that reflected the

will of the entire population.

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Soon this demand would evolve into a

movement to end British rule in India.

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