The British Empire in India
I- Indian imperialism began with
•British East India Companyset up trading posts in India to
control trade between India and
Britain.
N No total British control of India,
-
yet…
•India’s ruling Mughal Empire kept
European traders under control.
D Decline of the Mughal Empire
-
•Beginning in 1707 allowed for
British East India Company to begin
controlling India’s political and
economic life.
I India = Britain’s “Jewel in the Crown”
-
• Industrial Revolution turned Great Britain
into industrial giant & India provide raw
materials for production
• “Jewel in the Crown”–most
valuable of Britain’s colonies
• British set up restrictions that prevented
Indian economy from operating on its own
forced to sell raw materials to Britain only
and purchase only British goods  growing
resentment among many Indians
The East India Company even had its own
army, led by British officers
and staffed by sepoys, or Indian soldiers.
 Video
•By 1830s, East India Company
(regulated by British Government) ruled
India.
•Many Indians resented British rule.
A Angry Indians = total British control
-
•1857, large number of British-trained Indian soldiers
(Sepoys) rebelled against their British officers
•Sepoys believed their bullet
cartridges were sealed with
pork & beef fat.
•Muslims don’t eat pork & Hindus believe cow is
sacred  had to break cartridges w/ teeth
•Soldiers believed they were forced to violate their
religion  SEPOY MUTINY (or REBELLION)
Sepoy Rebellion
•The Sepoy
Rebellion was put
down & India
became a British
possession
•British rule in
India from 17571947
•Became known as
RAJ
British
Imperialism in
India
Positive
Negative
Positive Effect
British provided a single system of
Law/government, unifying India.
English became unifying
language.
Positive Effect
British built roads, bridges, &
railroads in India & set up
telegraph wires. However, India’s
cottage industries (home-made
goods) were hurt by
competition with British goods.
Positive Effect
British built hospitals, introduced
new medicines, & provided famine relief.
Negative Effect
health care improvements led to a
population explosion without an increase in
economic opportunities.
Negative Effect
Indians were looked down
upon by British & their culture
was treated as inferior to European
culture. Indian workers provided the
British with inexpensive labor.
Negative Effect
Indians worked for long hours under
terrible working conditions. British
gained wealth while Indians were
exploited.
British Imperialism Video
https://www.flocabulary.com/imperialism/?a
uthkey=cd9995be548691d705f6caaf0ea26
28a4fdfb6dc
(3:30 minutes)
“You Are There” Diary
Your task:
Write a diary entry as if you were a sepoy living in
India during the Sepoy Rebellion
Keep in mind this is not a report on the event but the thoughts and feelings of
someone living through it.
Your diary should include any key terms or people involved with the event in
some way.
Instructions:
•Write a one-paragraph entry about the beginning of the event. Include the date.
Briefly described how the event began.
•Write a one-paragraph entry about the middle of the event. Include the date.
Mention whether things are better than the beginning or not.
•Write a one-paragraph entry about the end of the event. Include the date.
Describe your character’s feelings about the event now that he/she has lived
through the whole thing.