Imperialism in India: The "Jewel in the Crown" for the British Empire

QUESTION OF THE DAY!!!!

What is the difference between Indirect Control and Direct Control in the Imperialism era?

I want you to first... THINK

Then I want you to... PAIR

Finally, we are going to... SHARE

India's reaction (RESENTMENT) towards Imperialism

Imperialism in India

Sepoy Mutiny (1857)

• British/ European sense of superiority ("White Man's Burden" )
• Resentments
• British control of land
• British control of economy
• Constant racism and lack of respect for ethnicity and religion
• ex) Rumors of beef and pork fat used in new gun cartridges (Cows sacred to Hindus and Muslims/ Pork considered unclean)
• British attempts to convert them to Christianity

• Sepoys refused new cartridges
• British officers working for British East India Company jailed the Sepoys
• Next day Sepoy forces rebel; take Delhi & spread rebellion to north and central India
• Takes full year for BEIC to regain control with help of the British Army
• Hindus and Muslims do not unite against British

The "Jewel in the Crown" for the British Empire

Today we will...

The Bad

Let's Recall

Some "Positives" to British Imperialism in India

• Indian life and culture disrupted by the British
• British became wealthy by exploiting Indian labor
• Indians faced poverty and racism
• Indian food crops exported while others converted to cash crops
• And... Starvation: Great Famine (1876-78)

1) Discuss the impact of British imperialism in India

2) Look at the Indian Reactions to Imperialist policies

3) Examine how the British went from having ECONOMIC control over India to having POLITICAL control over India

• World's 3rd largest railroad network
• Introduced modern technologies phones, irrigation canals, etc.)
• Built systems of roads
• Ended warfare among local rulers

7:05- 9:46

The Raj

Consequences of the Sepoy Rebellion

• The British government takes full control of all of India
• Direct Rule
• European officials replace local leaders
• Used by British and French whenever local leaders resisted colonial rule
• British had promised that some areas will stay independent, but this didn't happen
• Period of British government control of India (1858-1947) called Raj

Indian Imperialism (at first)

British in India

Why did Britain care about India?

Natural Resources: Cotton, Coffee, Tea, Opium

People: 300 Million

• British first go to India in the 1600s
• Mughal (Muslim) Empire beginning to decline
• Seven Years War (1756-1763): Robert Clive led the British East India Company (BEIC) to victory over Indian troops in 1757- Battle of Plassey
• BEIC gains economic power over India
• The largest company in the world
• Controlled all trade from Britain to Asia, and had economic control of India
• Had its own army staffed by Sepoys (Indian Soldiers)

The "Jewel in the Crown " for the British Empire

- India was Britain's most valuable colony

- Why? India's labor and resources made the products, and unlike in Africa, the British sold products back to the Indian population

Indirect:

1) Local leaders are allowed to maintain their authority

2) Colonial power cooperates with local leaders

3) Has less of an affect on culture