Question

Describe the causes and the consequences of the first carnatic war.

Answer 1

The seven Year’s War broke out in Europe in 1756 A.D. In this War England and France joined opposite camps. Its repercussion was immediately felt in India. The two Companies renewed their hostility. Thus began the Third Carnatic War. This time the war passed beyond the limits of the Carnatic and reached Bengal as well, where the English captured the French possession of Chandernagore in 1757. But as the most decisive battles of the wars were fought in the Carnatic, it is rightly called as the Third Carnatic War.

This time the French Government made a determined effort to oust the English from India. For this purpose the French sent a strong contingent of force headed by Count-de-Lally.

Lally started his work vigorously. He attacked Fort St. David and captured it and other small English possessions in this region. He then made an attack on Madras. This attack ended in failure and the French troop became demoralized. At this critical juncture Lally committed another great blunder by recalling Bushy from the Nizam’s court and the French influence at Hyderabad at once collapsed. An English army under Colonel Forde sent from Bengal occupied the Northern Circar, so long held by the French. The Nizam, Salabat Jang, switched over to the English and ceded the Northern Circar to them. The battle still continued but Lally was eventually defeated decisively at the Battle of Wandiwash in 1760. He retreated to Pondicherry which was besieged by the English. Lally defended it gallantly for some time but was starved into submission in 1761. The fall of Pondicherry sounded the death knell of French dominions in India.

The Third Carnatic War ended officially in 1763 with the conclusion of the Peace of Paris. Pondicherry and other French possessions in India were restored to France. But these could be held only as mere trading centers without any fortifications and armies. Thus the French dream of building an empire in India was shattered. It cleared the way for the establishment of the British Empire in India unhampered by any European rival.

Reaction of the Rulers of the Carnatic: At first the Nawabs of the Carnatic did not like the Anglo-French conflicts within their kingdom. They tried to chastise the offenders. But soon they realized that militarily they were no ma

Answer 2

The main cause for the first  Carnatic War was the conflict on the issue of imperialism between France and Britain. there were several causes for this war, including the war of Austrian Succession that broke out in Europe in 1740, made the Britain and France on different sides. The rivalry between the French and Britain led their trading companies in India competing with each other for supremacy. France had an imperialistic design on India, and as a part of this policy the French Governor- General Dupleix captured Madras, which was under the control of the English. Therefore the war took place between 1746-1748.

This war came to an end with the termination of the  War of Austrian Succession in Europe. A treaty concluded this war in India which is known as the  Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748). Through this treaty, Madras was handed over to the English in return of the  French fortress of Louisbourg in North America, which was earlier captures by the British.