THE BRITISH IN INDIA Ruled largely by the British East India Company They hired sepoys, Indian soldiers, for protection

Key Events Sepoy mutiny (The Great Rebellion) – a revolt of the sepoys, the First War of Independence, in Began because of a growing Indian distrust of the British. After its failure, India officially became a British possession

Key People Queen Victoria – British Queen (Empress of India) Mohandas Gandhi – leader of the nonviolent movement for independence Rabindranath Tagore – writer and poet, social reformer, spiritual leader, educator, philosopher, singer, painter, and international spokesperson for moral concerns

RESULTS Political: British provided a single system of law and government that unified India. Provided jobs, educational opportunities, and English as a unifying language Economic: built roads and railroads and set up the telegraph system. Destroyed India’s cottage industry by selling British manufactured goods

RESULTS CONTINUED… Health: Built hospitals, introduced new medicines, and provided famine relief. Health care led to a population explosion (with no increase in economic opportunities) Social: British looked down upon Indians and treated Indian culture as inferior. Indian workers provided inexpensive labor (worked long hours under poor conditions)

IMPACT OF BRITISH RULE IN INDIA POLITICAL:ECONOMIC: HEALTH:SOCIAL:

Assignment Make two separate charts listing the advantages and disadvantages of British rule in India. Consider both the Indian perspective and the British perspective. AdvantagesDisadvantages Indian Perspective British Perspective