Case Study: India

Early Trade Relationships  1498, Vasco de Gama successfully sails around Africa to reach India  European trading posts along India’s coastline soon follow.

 The French and British squabbled over Indian politics and trade.  Britain became the dominant power during the Seven Year’s War.  British East India Company gained administrative rights from the Mughal Emperor,  The East India Company gradually conquered the rest of India.

Rule under the East India Company  East India Company used a local network of ruling authorities (Zamindars) to collect taxes.  Zamindars could keep 11% of the tax for themselves, but if they failed to pay the tax, their lands would be seized.

The Trouble with Taxes  Zamindars wanted to get rich from taxes.  The easiest way to do this was to force tenants to grow cash crops instead of food.

Cash Crops  Why might this be a problem?

Military Rule  East India Company used a militia of Sepoys, local soldiers, to control the country.  These soldiers were of mixed ethnicity and religious views.

Trouble  Cartridges for the rifles soldiers used were covered with fat, and soldiers had to bite into them to release the gunpowder.

 Rumors had been circulating in India for decades that the British were going to force all Indians to convert to Christianity.  The greased cartridges seemed to confirm this fear.

 The resulting rebellion against company rule was extremely violent.  The worst event of the war happened in the massacre at Cawnpore.

 British vengeance was equally swift and merciless.

Perspectives  What is the difference between:  Mutiny  Rebellion  Fight for Independence

The Raj  The British Government seized control of India from the EIC after the rebellion.  British rule continued for nearly a century.

Effects of British Rule  Population  Political Autonomy  Culture, Language, Religion  Territory

Independence  How would you seek to free your country from foreign policy?

Protest  Mohandas Gandhi  Nonviolent resistance  Swadeshi

British Response  Silenced the press  Arrested protestors  Banned public meetings

Independence  WWII drained Britain’s resources; she could no longer afford to be imperialist.  India sent 2.5 million troops to aid Britain in WWII.

Aftermath  India was divided according to dominant religions.  Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh all eventually became separate nations.

Review time!  How did the triangle trade work?  What were the three ingredients for a strong country under mercantilism?  Who controlled the economy under mercantilism?  How did mercantilism create global expansion?

 Name a plant, animal, or product introduced to a new continent during the Great Exchange, and explain how it affected society in the new location.

 Name one way people justified slavery.  Name one way abolitionists tried to gain support for the anti-slavery movement.

 Who controls the economy under capitalism?  Name one technological improvement from the Industrial Revolution

 Name one negative consequence of the Industrial Revolution  How do the Industrial Revolution and Capitalism relate to global expansion?

 What is ethnocentrism?  How does Eurocentrism still affect our world?  How did Social Darwinism contribute to Imperialism?

 Name one factor that promoted European conquest of Africa.  Name one effect of Imperialism in Africa.

 How did Leopold II gain control of the Congo?  Name one impact of imperialism on the Congo.

 How did the East India Company rule India?  Name one impact of British rule on Indian society.