Question

1. Lord Dalhousie's single measure, which went a long way in spreading the Revolt of 1857, was:
(A) Annexation of native states on the plea of mismanagement
(B) Introduction of railway, post and telegraph
(C) Stopping or reducing the pensions of former Indian rulers
(D) Indiscriminate application of the Doctrine of Lapse​

Answer 1

Answer:

The great Revolt of 1857 is considered as the India’s first war of independence.

Lord Dalhousie was the Governor General of British India from 1848 to 1856. He was not holding any position during the revolt (1857)

There are many causes of the revolt. One of the political Causes was the very famous “Doctrine of Lapse”. Lord Dalhousie used this policy very aggressively and annexed many princely states.

Doctrine of lapse means, the Britishers can annex any state which is under the paramountacy of the British East India company will be automatically annexed if the ruler is either “manifestly incompetent or died without a male heir”

The company took over many princely states of Satara (1848), Jaitpur and Sambalpur (1849), Nagpur and Jhansi (1854), Tanjore and Arcot (1855) and Udaipur (Chhattisgarh) under the terms of the doctrine of lapse.

This made Indian very angry and furious. This was one of the reasons of the Great Revolt, 1857.

Dalhousie’ aggression to annex states through Doctrine of Lapse can be considered as one the reasons of revolt.