Summary
Summary The Indian Mutiny
- Module
- The Indian Mutiny
- Institution
- University Of Winchester Winchester
Provides long and short term causes for the Indian mutiny as well as stages during the rebellion.
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The Indian mutinyThe Indian mutiny was a rebellion against the rule of the East Indian company. It took place
from May 1857 to July 1859. It was the most critical challenge to British rule in India and
brought the end of the east Indian company and the forming of the British Raj.
The east Indian company
Had been trading in India since the late 16th. As their power grew they went from trading to
building warehouses and forts to guard them. Then later forming their own army and navy
made up of both British and Indian soldiers which was completely separate to the British
Army and Royal Navy. 1757 they won the battle of Plassey under Robert Clive which allowed
them to go from a trading company to an imperial administrator.
This allowed their influence to spread across India when in 1857 it directly ruled 2/3 rds of the
Indian subcontinent. With the rest ruled by dynasties under the influence of the company.
The directly ruled areas were split into 3 areas divided into their own presidencies that were
totally separate to each other.
- South – Madras
- West – Bombay
- North – Bengal (most important)
Causes for the Mutiny
- Religious
o Animal fat greased on bullets.
o Aggressive evangelism to Hindus and Muslims
o 1856 general service act
- Economic
o Imports of British goods
o Pay of Sepoys
Caused resignment.
o Doctrine of Lapse used to gain land from Widows.
Seen as illegal by Indian population.
- Growing oppression / westernization
o British officers often became Indianized however, as the British dominated
this became less so. 1780 1 in 3 English officers married Indian woman while
in 182o dropped to 1 in 7.
Long term causes
- Grievances on how India was being ruled by east Indian company.
- Economic disagreements
- British taking land.
Short term trigger
Religion
Hindi centred
- British tried to introduce a new type of cartridge for guns.
o This was the catalyst for the rebellion.
o Their mouth had to touch it for it to be ripped open
o Later it was rumoured to be the paper as well so they couldn’t touch it either
, - The Bengal army was made up of higher Hindu society meant that they had a Hindi
centred view of their military life.
- The 1856 General service Enlistment act
o decreed that henceforth troops recruited in Bengal were expected to fight
overseas in places like China. Meant that had to travel in ship meaning that
the Hindus could not set up camp and make their own food according to
religious customs.
This was viewed as a sin.
- 1830s missionaries were allowed to come to India.
o Evangelical Christian wave in Britain and with enormous pressure from the
British government the east Indian company were allowed missionaries.
o The missionaries influenced the government to issue laws that in their eyes
would liberate people from the misery of their religions.
Like banning the act of Sati.
The vast majority of India was alarmed. English language schools were
established as well as British legal codes. The Anglication of the sub-
continent as many Indians wished to return to the old ways.
- Land meant for temples were being taken for churches.
Economic
Differences in pay.
o They received the same amount of pay that had at the turn of the century.
Meaning that their social and spending power declined. The Bengal army
came from the now annexed kingdom of Oudh. This meant that their luxuries
were watered down.
One member of the Bengal army stated that he had once returned
how as a great man but now the lowest members of his village puffed
smoke in his face. – important because the Bengal army was made up
of higher Hindu society. Meant they had a Hindu view on their military
life.
- Imports of British goods
o Cloth
o Seen as westernization.
- Doctrine of Lapse
o Used to take land from widows.
o Seen as illegal by Indian population.
o Allowed the British to annex any Indian ruler who dies without a natural heirs
or who were viewed as incompetent. unless the adoption had been clearly
approved earlier by British authorities.
- British economic exploitation caused all classes to suffer and made India
underdeveloped.
Feudal nobility
- Many longed for the days of independent power with influence from the EIC.
Cartridges
In 1857 many believed that the new cartridges had been greased in animal tallow. Mainly
that of cows and pigs, both witch were sacred to Hindus and Muslims. To open a cartridge
you would tear the paper with your mouth, meaning your mouth would touch the fat.
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