Cause & Effect: British
Rule in India
Rise of the British East India Company
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Causes
land and trade
lack of Indian unity/rival kingdoms/conflict
long decline of Mughal Empire
Seven Years War (1756 – 1763)
British/French Rivalry
 Treaty of Paris 1763: Britain rights in India
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Robert Clive: BEIC
Rise of the British East India Company
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Effects
competition between British and French for
control of India – defeat of French in Bengal
wealth from India
right to collect taxes from Mughal Empire
protect BEIC with laws and courts
control more land – direct/indirect rule
Sepoy Rebellion (1857)
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Causes
sepoy: Indian troop who served in British Army
1st wide spread Indian rebellion
grievances against British rule
interfered with social and religious customs
Examples
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High taxes on farmers
Resentment of Christian missionaries
Lose caste if traveled overseas
Muslim and Hindus together
cartridge grease
Mangal Pandey
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(19 July 1827 – 8 April 1857)
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Indian soldier who played a
key part in events immediately
preceding the outbreak of the
Sepoy
contemporary British opinion
considered him a traitor and
mutineer
Pandey is widely regarded as a
freedom fighter in modern
India.
1984, the Indian government
issued a postage stamp to
commemorate him.
Sepoy Rebellion
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Effects
India becomes a British colony/direct rule
(1858)
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Act for Better Government For India
increased distrust between Indians and British
official start of British Raj (British rule in India)
British Improved Indian
Infrastructure
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Causes
the British wanted to increase trade and control
their colony
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Sepoy Rebellion
British Improved Indian
Infrastructure
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Effects
improved/built roads, railroads, modernized
ports, telegraphs, schools, health care
improved response to uprisings/disasters
increased trade
better control of colony by British
India more connected
New Economic Patterns
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Causes
British Raj
Industrial Revolution
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Need for raw materials and foreign markets
Discouraged local Indian industries and limited
Indian imports to Britain
New Economic Patterns
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Effects (Listing Question)
Destroyed Indian traditional economy
Locally made goods disappeared
 Indians bought expensive British made products:
imports
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Cash crop economy
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Less food crops
India dependent on Great Britain
Social Changes
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Causes
British Raj: imposed British way of life
better health care/improved sanitary conditions
need for jobs
schools/colleges for higher castes
ethnocentrism of British education
Outlawed certain customs
Social Changes
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Effects (Listing Question)
population growth
Urbanization
Loss of traditional ways of life
British educated Indian middle class
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make like British (p.197)
English a common language
learned about liberty, freedom, democracy
resentment to British rule = rise of Indian
nationalism
Formation of the INC (1885)
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Causes
Indian Educated elite = learning about liberty,
freedom, democracy
wanted to return to Hindu traditions = Hindu
nationalism
wanted political reform
Formation of the INC (1885)
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Effects
gradual political change/more gov’t jobs to
Indians
1920: Gandhi: wanted home rule
Formation of the Muslim League (1906)
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Causes
Hindu Nationalism/Formation of INC
respect for Muslim Culture/past conflicts
protection of Muslim rights
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Formation of the Muslim League (1906)
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Effects
Increased tension between Hindus and Muslims
Push to divide India into 2 nations based on
religion
Closure
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With a partner or independently evaluate
whether the economic and social changes were
positive (+) or negative (-) on India.
1.
2.
Place a “+” for positive or a “-” next to each effect
under “New Economic Patterns” and “Social
Changes”
On the back of the Chart:
Were the effects of the British Raj on India mostly
positive or negative? Support your answer with
several pieces of evidence.