1. Topic 15: The Age of Imperialism
Imperialism in Asia
Topic 15: The Age of Imperialism

2. Let's Review! What were some of the motives of Imperialism?
What continent is India in?
What is the geography of India?

4. The British East India Company
Britain set up posts since 1600’s.
Britain competed against the Mughal Empire to control India until the Mughal Empire declined
British East India Company gained only limited trading rights on the fringe of the empire
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

5. The British East India Company
Before Britain stepped in, India was fragmented.
Britain stepped in to “fix the problem”
Britain used their weapons to overpower local rulers
The main goal of the British East India Company was to make money
Company worked to improve roads, preserve peace, and reduce banditry
Also set up the British education system and legal procedures
Missionaries converted Indians to Christianity

6. India’s Importance to Britain
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 outlawed the sati- windows joined their husbands in death by throwing herself in the funeral pyre

7. Britain placed restrictions on India
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.

8. Britain Prospers in India
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

9. Positives and Negatives of Imperialism of India

10. How is the Company going to rule?
East India Company hired Indian soldiers called sepoys to keep control of the lands dominated by the company.

11. The East India Company steps over the line
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!
Impact of the rebellion: Parliament ended the rule of East India Company, India was directly under the British crown

13. What next? 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.

14. Impact of British Colonial 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

15. Why did the British want India?
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

16. India Under British Rule
1858- Parliament set up a system of colonial rule in India which is known as the British Raj
British viceroy in India governed in the name of the queen, British officials held the top positions in civil service and army

17. Benefits of British Colonial Rule
Britain brought peace
Britain put into place railroads
Began using telegraphs
Upper class sent sons to British schools
Indian landowners and princes grew rich from exporting cash crops

18. Indian National Congress
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

19. The Muslim League 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