BRITISH RULE OF INDIA

PRIOR TO 1857 THE BRITISH EAST INDIA COMPANY DOMINATED INDIA & ITS PEOPLE FOR ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS. THIS COMPANY HAD ITS OWN ARMY THAT CONSISTED OF INDIAN SOLDIERS CALLED “SEPOYS”.

BRITISH INTEREST IN INDIA INDIA BECAME THE “JEWEL IN THE CROWN” FOR THE BRITISH EMPIRE BECAUSE OF ALL THE VALUABLE RESOURCES THERE.

IMPACT OF BRITISH RULE -THE BRITISH TOOK OVER INDIA’S ECONOMY. -THE INDIANS HAD TO PRODUCE RAW MATERIALS FOR THEM AND THEN BUY BRITISH GOODS.

-THE BRITISH FORCED THE INDIANS TO PAY TAXES & LAND RENT, AND GROW CASH CROPS FOR THEM. -THE BRITISH WERE THE RULERS, WHILE THE INDIANS WERE THE SERVANTS. -THE BRITISH OFTEN OFFENDED INDIAN CULTURE.

THE SEPOY MUTINY OF 1857 -INDIAN SOLDIERS REBELLED AGAINST THE BRITISH BECAUSE OF A RUMOR ABOUT THEIR BULLET CASINGS BEING GREASED WITH BEEF & PORK FAT.

-THE REBELLION LASTED A YEAR, BEFORE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT SENT IN TROOPS TO PUT IT DOWN. -MANY INDIANS WERE KILLED, & THE BRITISH WOULD IMPOSE DIRECT RULE ON INDIA AFTER IT WAS OVER.

POSITIVES OF BRITISH RULE THE BRITISH MODERNIZED SOME PARTS OF INDIA BY IMPROVING SANITATION, BUILDING HOSPITALS, RAILROADS, TELEGRAPH LINES, AND SCHOOLS.

NEGATIVES OF BRITISH RULE -INDIANS WERE TREATED AS 2ND CLASS CITIZENS. -BRITIAN’S ECONOMIC POLICIES KEPT MOST INDIANS IN POVERTY. -RELIANCE ON CASH CROPS LED TO FAMINES IN SOME AREAS.

BY THE EARLY 1900s MANY INDIANS WERE SICK OF BRITISH RULE AND STARTED CALLING FOR INDEPENDENCE.

BRITISH RESPONSE TO THIS -TRIED TO KEEP THE HINDUS & MUSLIMS DIVIDED. -PASSED LAWS THAT ALLOWED INDIANS TO BE JAILED WITHOUT TRIAL. -OUTLAWED PUBLIC MEETINGS.

AMRITSAR - 1919 -THOUSANDS OF INDIANS GATHERED TO PROTEST BRITISH RULE. -THE BRITISH MILITARY CAME IN AND OPENED FIRE ON THE CROWD, KILLING HUNDREDS.

MOHANDAS GANDHI

-BECAME THE KEY LEADER OF INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT. -CALLED FOR INDIANS TO FIGHT BRITISH RULE WITH THE POLICY OF NON-COOPERATION AND NON- VIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.