Chapter 24: The Age of Imperialism

What were some of the motives of Imperialism? What continent is India in? What is the geography of India?

Britain set up posts since 1600’s. Britain competed against the Mughal Empire to control India until the Mughal Empire declined India is in disarray Company used their influence and army to start controlling lands. Eventually the East India Company is dictating the economic policy in 3/5 of India

The main goal of the British East India Company was to make money Company worked to improve roads, preserve peace, and reduce banditry

India was treasured by Britain India was a major supplier of raw materials for Britain’s workshop India was known as the “jewel in the crown” Britain worked to imperialize India, including educating the natives and sending missionaries to convert people to Christianity

Britain put restrictions on India’s economy. Britain called for an end to slavery, the caste system and to the sati law. Britain’s policies called for India to produce raw materials for British manufacturing and to buy British finished goods. India’s local industries were driven out by Britain’s manufactured goods.

Britain set up a railroad Railroads moved raw materials from the interior to the ports and manufactured goods from the ports to the interior. India’s crops include: tea, indigo, coffee, cotton, jute, and opium

East India Company hired Indian soldiers called sepoys to keep control of the lands dominated by the company.

1857- British made the sepoys use bullets that were greased with both beef a pork fat. This aggravated the sepoys. This led to a rebellion against the British East India Company. Sepoy Rebellion!

The British government put down the rebellion. Rebellion was the excuse that Britain needed to make India a colony and to take complete control over it. What type of rule was used? Indirect Rule.

Britain set up a Parliament system called British Raj Britain set up a viceroy in India which was governed in the name of the queen British officials held top positions in India Britain forced India to modernize and westernize After the Suez Canal opened, British trade with India soared

Plantation crops included: tea, indigo, coffee, cotton, jute, opium. The British shipped opium to China The British introduced medical improvements, technological improvements, and better farming methods to India

The Indian National Congress became known as the Congress party for India Used peaceful protests against the British Looked forward to eventual self-rule, but supported Western-style modernization

Muslims and Hindus worked together for self-rule Muslims grew resistant to Hindu domination Muslims formed Muslim League to pursue their own goals, like a separate state