British Imperialism in India Lets play “Is this racist?”

What is imperialism? What opinion is being expressed by this picture? It is when one country takes over another for its own economic, political, and military gain.

Who were the two biggest European imperialist powers? Britain and France

Markets for Finished Goods Social & Economic Opportunities What were the motives for imperialism? European Nationalism Markets for Finished Goods Source for Raw Materials Missionary Activity European Motives For Imperialism Social & Economic Opportunities Humanitarian Reasons “White Man’s Burden” Social Darwinism Racist! Racist!

How are these pictures related to imperialism?

How are these pictures related to imperialism?

How are these pictures related to imperialism? Racist!

What was social Darwinism? It was the belief that certain people were biologically superior to others. Racist!

How was social Darwinism related to imperialism? It was used by whites to justify their takeover of the world. Racist!

What is the White Man’s Burden? It is a poem by Rudyard Kipling urging the U.S. to colonize the Philippines after the Spanish American War. Rudyard Kipling US President McKinley considering colonizing the Philippines

What is the main idea of the White Man’s Burden? It was the duty of white men to civilize the world.

What opinions are being expressed in these political cartoons? “CIVILIZATION BEGINS AT HOME” Racist? Racist?

What is the meaning of the expression: “The sun never sets on the British Empire?” The British Empire in 1921.

Literal meaning? Figurative meaning? Since the British had colonies around the world, the sun was always shining on a part of the empire. Figurative meaning? The British empire will never end.

What company did the British set up to control British trade in India? The East India Company ruled India from 1757 to 1858.

How did the company (and later the British government) rule India?

How did the company (and later the British government) rule India? Directly- through British officials

How did the company (and later the British government) rule India? Indirectly- through Indian rajahs (princes)

What was sati? It was the ritual suicide of Hindu widows upon the death of their husbands.

Why did widows commit sati? Mountstuart Elphinstone, On the Practice of Suttee (Sati), 1840 It is well known that Indian widows sometimes sacrifice themselves on the funeral pile of their husbands, and that such victims are called suttees. The practice is ascribed by our missionaries to the degraded condition to which a woman who outlives her husband is condemned. If the motive were one of so general an influence, the practice would scarcely be so rare. It is more probable that the hopes of immediately entering on the enjoyment of heaven and of entitling the husband to the same felicity, as well as the glory attending such a voluntary sacrifice, are sufficient to excite the few enthusiastic spirits who go through this awful trial.

The mode of cremation is various: in Bengal, the living and dead bodies are stretched on a pile where strong ropes and bamboos are thrown across them so as to prevent any attempt to rise. In Orissa, the woman throws herself into the pyre, which is below the level of the ground. In the Deccan, the woman sits down on the pyre, with her husband's head in her lap, and remains there till suffocated, or crushed by the fall of a heavy roof of logs of wood, which is fixed by cords to posts at the corners of the pile.

What was the major rebellion against Britain? Sepoy Rebellion of 1857

Who were the sepoys? They were Indian troops who fought for the British.

resented missionaries Indian princes resented loss of power British outlawed sati and other Hindu practices What were the underlying causes of the rebellion? Underlying Causes of Rebellion Hindus & Muslims resented missionaries High taxes angered farmers

What sparked the rebellion? There were rumors that the new cartridges for their rifles were greased with animal fat. Hindus don’t eat beef. Cows are sacred. A new law said that sepoys would be sent to fight overseas. Muslims don’t eat pork.

British Enfield rifle 1853. Muzzle-loading, percussion,. 577 caliber British Enfield rifle 1853. Muzzle-loading, percussion, .577 caliber. The paper ammunition wrapper, said (inaccurately) to be greased with the fat of cows and pigs, was one of the causes for the Sepoy Rebellion.

What were the effects of the rebellion? British government took over India East India Company control of India ended Distrust between British and Indians deepened Last Mughal emperor exiled Effects of Sepoy Rebellion New class of British-educated Indians created Queen Victoria became empress of India Indians given British citizenship and freedom of religion British reformed law codes and court system

What was the British Raj? It was when the British government ruled India as a colony from 1858 to 1947.

Why did Queen Victoria refer to India as the “jewel in her crown”? It was Britain’s most valuable colony. Koh-i-Noor British Crown Jewels Queen Victoria 1837-1901