Revolt of 1857: first war of indian independence

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Causes for the revolt

The revolt was a result of the accumulated grievances of the people against Company’s administration and a loathing for the character and policies of the colonial rule. The causes can be classified as social, economic, religious and military.

WHY DID THE SEPOYS REVOLT?

• The conditions of service in the Company’s army and cantonments increasingly came into conflict with the religious beliefs and prejudices of the sepoys.
• The unhappiness of the sepoys first surfaced in 1824 when the 47^th Regiment of Barrackpur was ordered to go to Burma. To the religious Hindu, crossing the sea meant loss of caste. The sepoys refused. The regiment was disbanded and those who led the opposition were hanged.
• The rumors about the Government’s secret designs to promote conversions to Christianity further exasperated the sepoys.
• The greased cartridges
• They were also unhappy with the emoluments
• Discrimination and racism
• Misery brought to the peasants by the British rule. E.g. the land revenue system imposed in Oudh, where about 75000 sepoys came from, was very harsh.
• The civilians also participated

• After the capture of Delhi, a letter was issued to the neighboring states asking for support.
• A court of administrators was established in Delhi
• Ill-equipped, the rebels carried on the struggle for about a year
• The country as a whole was not behind them. The merchants, intelligentsia and Indian rulers not only kept aloof but actively supported the British.
• Almost half the Indian soldiers not only did not revolt but fought against their own countrymen.
• Apart from a commonly shared hatred for alien rule, the rebels had no political perspective or definite vision of the future
• Delhi fell on September 20, 1857.
• Rani of Jhansi died fighting on June 17, 1858
• Nana Saheb escaped to Nepal hoping to revive the struggle.
• Kunwar Singh died on May 9, 1958
• Tantia tope carried on guerrilla warfare until April 1959 after which he was betrayed by a zamindar, captured and put to death.

Important Persons relating to the Revolt

Bahadur Shah Zafar: BSZ was the last Mughal emperor of India.

Nana Saheb

Rani Lakshmi Bai

Kunwar Singh

Nawab Wajid Ali Shah

Birjis Qadr: The son of Wajid Ali Shah and the leader of the revolt in Lucknow.

Shah Mal: He belonged  to a clan of Jat cultivators in parganan Barout in UP. During the revolt, he mobilized the headmen and cultivators of chaurasee des (84 villages: his kinship area), moving at night from village to village, urging people to rebel against the British.

Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah: Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah was one of the many maulvis who played an

important part in the Revolt of 1857. 1856, he was seen moving from village to village preaching jehad (religious war) against the British and urging people to rebel. he was elected by the mutinous 22nd Native Infantry as their leader. He fought in the famous Battle of Chinhat in which the British forces under Henry Lawrence were defeated.

Begum Hazrat Mahal:

Chapter 2: Civil Rebellions and Tribal Uprisings

• The backbone of the rebellions, their mass base and striking power came from the rack-rented peasants, ruined artisans and demobilized soldiers

CAUSES

• The major cause of the civil rebellions was the rapid changes the British introduced in the economy, administration and land revenue system.
• The revenues were enhanced by increasing taxes.
• Thousands of zamindars and poligars lost control over their land and its revenue either due to the extinction of their rights by the colonial state or by the forced sale of their rights over land because of their inability to meet the exorbitant land revenue demanded.
• The economic decline of the peasantry was reflected in twelve major and numerous minor famines from 1770 to 1857
• The new courts and legal system gave a further fillip to the dispossessors of land and encouraged the rich to oppress the poor.
• The police looted, oppressed and tortured the common people at will.
• The ruin of Indian handicraft industries pauperized millions of artisans
• The scholarly and priestly classes were also active in inciting hatred and rebellion against foreign rule.
• Very foreign character of the British rule

REBELLIONS

• From 1763 to 1856, there were more than forty major rebellions apart from hundreds of minor ones.
• Sanyasi Rebellion: (1763-1800)
• Chuar uprising (1766-1772 & 1795-1816); Rangpur and Dinajpur (1783); Bishnupur and Birbhum (1799); Orissa zamindars (1804-17) and Sambalpur (1827-40) and many others

WHY FAILED?

• These rebellions were local in their spread and were isolated from each other.
• They were the result of local causes and grievances, and were also localized in their effects.
• Socially, economically and politically, the semi-feudal leaders of these rebellions were backward looking and traditional in outlook.
• The suppression of the civil rebellions was a major reason why the revolt of 1857 did not spread to South India and most of Eastern and Western India.

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The Revolt of 1857, also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Sepoy Mutiny, or the First War of Indian Independence, was a major uprising in India against British rule. The revolt began on 10 May 1857 at Meerut, in the North-Western Provinces of India, and spread rapidly to other parts of the country. The rebels were led by a number of Indian princes and soldiers, and they were motivated by a variety of factors, including religious and economic grievances, as well as a desire for independence from British rule. The revolt was ultimately unsuccessful, but it had a profound impact on Indian history. It led to the end of the East India Company’s rule in India, and it also helped to inspire the Indian independence movement of the early 20th century.

The causes of the Revolt of 1857 are complex and varied. Some of the most important factors include:

• Religious and economic grievances: Many Indian Hindus and Muslims were unhappy with British rule, which they saw as interfering with their religious practices and economic interests.
• A desire for independence: Many Indians wanted to be free from British rule and to establish their own independent country.
• The introduction of new technologies: The British introduced a number of new technologies to India, such as the telegraph and the railway, which many Indians saw as a threat to their traditional way of life.
• The use of Indian soldiers in the Crimean War: The British used Indian soldiers to fight in the Crimean War, which many Indians saw as a betrayal of their trust.
• The greased cartridges: The British issued new cartridges for their rifles that were greased with animal fat, which many Hindus and Muslims saw as a sacrilege.

The course of the Revolt of 1857 was complex and varied. The rebels initially had some success, capturing Delhi and other important cities. However, the British were able to regroup and eventually suppress the revolt. The last major rebel stronghold, Gwalior, fell in June 1858.

The consequences of the Revolt of 1857 were profound. The East India Company’s rule in India came to an end, and the British government took direct control of the country. The revolt also led to a number of reforms, such as the Indian Councils Act of 1861, which gave Indians a greater role in government.

The impact of the Revolt of 1857 on Society/”>Indian Society was also profound. The revolt led to a great deal of violence and destruction, and it also had a lasting impact on Indian culture and identity. The revolt also helped to inspire the Indian independence movement of the early 20th century.

The legacy of the Revolt of 1857 is complex and controversial. Some see it as a heroic struggle for independence, while others see it as a bloody and chaotic event. However, there is no doubt that the revolt was a major turning point in Indian history.

The revolt began on 10 May 1857, when a group of Indian soldiers in Meerut refused to use the new cartridges. The soldiers were arrested and punished, which sparked a rebellion among other Indian soldiers in the city. The rebels then marched to Delhi, where they captured the city and proclaimed Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal emperor, as their leader.

The revolt quickly spread to other parts of India, and soon large parts of the country were in open rebellion against British rule. The rebels were successful in capturing a number of important cities, including Agra, Lucknow, and Kanpur. However, the British were able to regroup and eventually suppress the revolt. The last major rebel stronghold, Gwalior, fell in June 1858.

The Revolt of 1857 had a profound impact on Indian history. It led to the end of the East India Company’s rule in India, and it also helped to inspire the Indian independence movement of the early 20th century. The revolt also had a lasting impact on Indian culture and identity. The violence and destruction of the revolt left a deep scar on the Indian psyche, and the revolt continues to be a source of debate and controversy among Indians today.

1. What was the Revolt of 1857?

The Revolt of 1857, also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Sepoy Mutiny, or the First War of Indian Independence, was a major uprising against British rule in India. It began on 10 May 1857 at the British Indian Army garrison in Meerut, and quickly spread to other parts of northern India. The rebels were motivated by a variety of factors, including religious and economic grievances, as well as a desire for independence from British rule. The revolt was ultimately unsuccessful, but it had a profound impact on the history of India.

1. Who were the main participants in the Revolt of 1857?

The main participants in the Revolt of 1857 were the British Indian Army and the Indian rebels. The British Indian Army was a professional army that was made up of both British and Indian soldiers. The Indian rebels were a diverse group that included soldiers, peasants, and religious leaders.

1. What were the main causes of the Revolt of 1857?

The main causes of the Revolt of 1857 were religious and economic grievances, as well as a desire for independence from British rule. The British had imposed a number of policies that were seen as offensive to Hindus and Muslims, such as the introduction of the Enfield rifle, which was greased with pig and cow fat. The British had also imposed a number of economic policies that were seen as unfair to Indian peasants, such as the introduction of the Permanent Settlement, which gave landlords permanent ownership of land. The British had also refused to give Indians any political representation, which led to a growing sense of resentment among the Indian Population.

1. What were the main events of the Revolt of 1857?

The main events of the Revolt of 1857 began on 10 May 1857 at the British Indian Army garrison in Meerut. The rebels killed their British officers and then marched to Delhi, where they captured the city. The revolt then spread to other parts of northern India, including Agra, Lucknow, and Kanpur. The British were able to suppress the revolt by the end of 1858, but it had a profound impact on the history of India.

1. What were the consequences of the Revolt of 1857?

The consequences of the Revolt of 1857 were far-reaching. The British government abolished the East India Company and took direct control of India. The British also introduced a number of reforms, such as the Indian Councils Act of 1861, which gave Indians some political representation. The revolt also led to a growing sense of nationalism among the Indian population.

1. What is the legacy of the Revolt of 1857?

The legacy of the Revolt of 1857 is complex and controversial. Some historians see it as a heroic struggle for independence, while others see it as a chaotic and violent event. The revolt is still a source of debate and controversy in India today.

The following are multiple choice questions about the Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny or the First War of Indian Independence:

1. What was the immediate cause of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
   (A) The introduction of the Enfield rifle, which used cartridges that were greased with pig and cow fat, which was offensive to both Hindus and Muslims.
   (B) The British East India Company’s monopoly on trade in India.
   (C) The British government’s decision to annex the princely state of Awadh.
   (D) The British government’s decision to abolish the practice of sati, or widow burning.

2. Which of the following was not a leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
   (A) Mangal Pandey
   (B) Rani Lakshmibai
   (C) Bahadur Shah Zafar
   (D) Mahatma Gandhi

3. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was ultimately unsuccessful. What was one of the main reasons for this?
   (A) The British were better armed and better organized than the rebels.
   (B) The rebels were divided by religious and ethnic differences.
   (C) The British were able to win the support of some Indian princes and nobles.
   (D) All of the above.

4. What were some of the long-term consequences of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
   (A) The British government took direct control of India from the British East India Company.
   (B) The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885, which would eventually lead to India’s independence in 1947.
   (C) The British government instituted a number of reforms in India, including the introduction of Western Education and the establishment of a system of courts.
   (D) All of the above.

5. Which of the following is not a true statement about the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
   (A) The rebellion began in Meerut on May 10, 1857.
   (B) The rebellion spread to other parts of India, including Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, and Kanpur.
   (C) The rebellion was ultimately suppressed by the British, who executed many of the rebels.
   (D) The rebellion had a profound impact on the history of India.