The British Raj and

the First
war of Independence
 European Traders
 Can you guess who traded with India several hundred years ago?
 Several hundred years ago, the Arabs and the Europeans traded with India. They traded mainly over
land.
 At that time, is India was rich? Also for what India was famous?
 India at that time was a very rich country, famous for its spices,
gold, pearls and silk.
 Who was the first European to find a sea route to India?
 The first European to find a sea route to India was the Portuguese
Vasco da Gama.
 Where did Vasco da Gama landed in India and which route did he follow ?
 He went around Africa and landed at Calicut, in Kerala, a little over
500 years ago.
 What Portuguese started trading with India?
 The Portuguese started trading with India, mainly in spices.
 Who followed Portuguese in trading with India?
 They were followed by the Dutch, French and English traders.

 Soon, they started fighting against each other to get a bigger share of the trade for themselves.Finally,
the British defeated the others.
 What did British form for trading in India and when?
 The British formed East India Company in the year 1600 for trading in India.
They made trading centres in the western and eastern coasts.
 What did British buy initially in India?
 They bought mainly spices and textiles from India. For some time their main
concern was only trading.
 What did Portuguese establish in India and where?
 The Portuguese established trading centres along the west coast of India.
 What these centres were called ?
 These Centres were called factories.
 Why these centres were called Factories?
 Because they were the places where factors, or officials of the company, bought and sold goods
for the company. The factories were fortified, or made strong, to protect them from attack.
 British Control
 Where the wealth taken back by East India Company was used in Britain?
 The wealth taken back to Britain by the traders of the East India Company was used to fund the
industrial revolution in Britain.
 After Industrial revolution what does Britain need?
 The British now needed a steady supply of raw materials for their factories. They also needed a
market to sell the goods being made by the factories.
 Did British were happy with mere trading with India?
 No. Soon the British were not content with being mere traders in India. They wanted to control
the land.
 How did British started controlling Land in India?
 Around 250 years ago, the Mughal Empire in India had started declining. Several regional
kingdoms emerged. The British took advantage of the constant fighting between them, and
started gaining control over India.
 How did the first stage of the British Conquest of India was marked?
 The first stage of the British Conquest of India was marked by the Battle of Plassey
 When was Battle of Plassey took place?
 Battle of Plassey took place in 1757
 In Battle of Plassey who defeated whom and what was effect?
 In the battle of Plassey , the British defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, and became
very powerful in Bengal. Over the next 100 years they extended their control over most of India.
 DISCONTENT AMONG I NDIANS
 How East India Company Officers cheated Indians?
 The officers of the East India Company used unfair means to get rich. They did so at the cost of
the Indians. The farmers in India were forced to grow crops like indigo and cotton, which
provided the British with raw materials for their factories. The British purchased these at very
low prices. As a result, the farmers suffered. They became poorer, while the British made huge
profits.
 The mill cloth made by the British industries was sold in India. This was cheaper and of better
quality than the cloth made by local weavers, so more and more people bought it. As a result of
this, the Indian handloom industry suffered and the
workers became poorer. Traders also
suffered because of the goods coming
from Britain.
 What type of Unjust Laws did British use to take control of More kingdoms in India?
 The British made unjust laws through which they could take control of more and more kingdoms in
India. One such law said that if a ruler died without a child, his kingdom would be taken over by the
British. This made the Kings and Nawabs of India very unhappy.
 What did dissatisfied Indians do with British Rule?
 Many of the Indians - the farmers, workers, traders, and rulers.-were angry and dissatisfied with the
British rule. Whenever such a situation exists, there are chances of a revolt or an uprising. People
forget their fears and differences, and together rise against the rulers. This is what happened in India
in 1857. A small incident started a revolt that quickly spread through the population.
 The Revolt of 1857-The First War of Independence
 What was the reason for First War of Independence and how it was wide spread?
 Before the revolt started there were several months of tension among the Indian soldiers because of
the new rifles they had to use. To load these rifles, the soldiers had to bite off the ends of greased
cartridges. A rumour spread among the soldiers that the cartridges were greased with the fat of
cows and pigs. The Hindus regard cows as sacred, and Muslims regard pigs as unclean . So the
rumour angered both the Hindu and the Muslim soldiers.
 On 29 March 1857, an Indian soldier Mangal Pandey attacked a British officer near Calcutta (now
Kolkata). There was widespread discontent and anger among the Indian soldiers when Mangal
Pandey was hanged on 8 April 1857. On 10 May 1857, Indian soldiers in Meerut shot down their
officers and took over Meerut. Then they marched to Delhi and persuaded the last Mughal emperor
Bahadur Shah Zafar to lead the revolt.
 The Revolt spread rapidly to other parts of India. Different leaders led the revolt in
different parts of India. Some of the prominent leaders were Nana
Sahib, Tantia Tope, Rani Lakshmi Bhai , and Begum Hajrat Mahal.
 But the British had superior weapons and
greater military strength. Many Indians also
sided with the British. The Revolt of 1857,

also known as the First War of Independence,

was finally crushed by the British. However,
the British were alarmed by the
Revolt.
 In 1858, the British Government decided to
take India under its direct control. The rule
of the East India Company ended. A Viceroy
was appointed to rule over
India, on behalf of the Crown.
 Though the Revolt failed, Indians were inspired by the bravery of those
who fought against the British. It made them realise the injustice of the
British rule, and the value of freedom. It made them
aware that if they stood united, they could
defeat the British and gain independence.