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British in India
East India CompanyJoint-stock companyCotton, tea, opium, silk, indigo dyeControlled large parts of India 1757 – 1858Special relationship with British government
Gave it a monopolyFought with other countries – wanted permanent
ports in India
Treaty with Jahangir 1615 – arranged with
Emperor Jahangir (Akbar’s son) for permanent trading posts
Sarat, Madras, Calcutta However, things were not
always so peaceful…
Sir Robert CliveBorn in Shropshire, EnglandExpelled from 3 schoolsHowever, excellent soldierLargely credited with
having established British supremacy in India
Clive goes to India…India had become divided after Aurangzeb’s
deathBlack Hole of Calcutta
Alleged 123 out of 146 diedBattle of Plassey
Clive defeats Mughal-ledarmy
To the victor goes the spoils
East India Company receives 2.5 million pounds and the power to tax
Clive becomes Governor of BengalClive given 30,000 pounds
Clive tries to steal as much local wealth as possible – eventually gets put on trial:
“"A great prince was dependent on my pleasure, an opulent city lay at my mercy; its richest bankers bid against each other for my smiles; I walked through vaults which were thrown open to me alone, piled on either hand with gold and jewels! Mr. Chairman, at this moment I stand astonished at my own moderation”- Clive at his impeachment trial
Bengal Famine 17701772 – Company established
capital in Calcutta and becomes directly involved in governance
Famine estimated to have killed 1/3 of the population – about 10-15 million people
Increased taxes by 3-4 timesFood brought out of the country
Also enacted policies to prevent reserve supplies
Not all bad…Railroads Universities CitiesDemocracy English Language
Aftermath1858 – Company rule handed over to Britain –
India becomes part of British empire1916 – Gandhi leads struggle for independence1947 – independence granted
Partition (divided) India and Pakistan250,000 – 500,00 deaths