British Imperialism in India
British Expands Control of India
 British interests date back to 1600’s in India when
trading posts set up
 India acts as major supplier of raw materials during
I.R. Known as “jewel in the crown” (most valuable of
all British colonies)
 British East India company kept control of India
through use of “sepoys” (or Indian soldiers) led by
British officers
Restrictions
 Indians produced raw materials, but had to purchase
British finished goods
 Indian competition with British goods was
prohibited (cheap cloth and ready made clothing
from England dominated the market)
 Raw materials including tea, indigo, coffee, cotton,
and jute were transported on rail networks
Sepoy Rebellion
 As economic problems increase, so did feelings of
resentment
 Rumor spread that British supplied rifles were sealed
with beef and pork (two foods that hindus and muslims
did not eat)
 A majority of sepoys refused to accept the cartridges for
the rifles
 British respond by jailing soldiers who disobeyed
Sepoy Rebellion (cont’d)
 On May 10, 1857 sepoys rebel by marching on New
Dehli; Rebellion spreads countrywide (100,000 die)
 Many slaughtered in the sepoy mutiny; British East
India Co. Takes more than a year to regain control of
the country.
 In 1858, British gov’t takes direct command of India
Results from Sepoy Mutiny
 Area under direct British control called the “Raj”
(1858-1947)
 India divided into 11 provinces; 250 districts which
give greater control to Britain
 Each district ruled by a British viceroy (governor-
general)
 Indians made 2nd class citizens in their own country
Discrimination
 Barred from top posts in Indian Civil Service
 Paid less than Europeans in similar jobs (eg. British engineer
made 20 times more than Indian engineer)
 Indian “caste system” determined Indian occupations; aspect
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of Hindu religion (4 levels in caste system; plus
“untouchables”)
1st- Teaching; Scriptural
2nd-Public Service
3rd- Business/Merchant Class
4th- Unskilled Labor
(Servant Class)