Examine the expansionist policy of Warren Hastings.
Answers
He was a very diligent and shrewd administrator, who worked to expand and consolidate the British control over India. He controlled and managed dissent and rebellion from Indian rulers, through reforms and treaties, which were designed and drafted to ultimately benefit the British rule and increase its presence in India.
Answer:
Warren Hastings was known for his expansionist policy. His
administration witnessed the Rohilla War, the First Anglo-Maratha
War and the Second Anglo-Mysore War.
The Rohilla War (1774)
Rohilkand was a small kingdom situated in between Oudh and
the Marathas. Its ruler was Hafiz Rahmat Khan. He concluded adefensive treaty in 1772 with the Nawab of Oudh fearing an attack
by the Marathas. But no such attack took place. But, the Nawab
demanded money. When Rahmat Khan evaded, the Nawab with the
help of the British invaded Rohilkand. Warren Hastings, who sent
the British troops against Rohilkand was severely crticised for his
policy on Rohilla affair.
First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-82)
The Marathas were largely remained disunited since the Third
Battle of Panipet (1761). The internal conflict among the Marathas
was best utilized by the British in their expansionist policy. In 1775,
there was a dispute for the post of Peshwa between Madhav Rao
and his uncle Ragunatha Rao. The British authorities in Bombay
concluded the Treaty of Surat with Raghunatha Rao in March 1775.
Rahunatha Rao promised to cede Bassein and Salsette to the British
but later when he was unwilling to fulfill his promise, the British
captured them. This action of the Bombay Government was not
approved by Warren Hastings. In 1776, Warren Hastings sent Colonel
Upton to settle the issue. He cancelled the Treaty of Surat and
concluded the Treaty of Purander with Nana Fadnavis, another
Maratha leader. According to this treaty Madhava Rao II was
accepted as the new Peshwa and the British retained Salsette along
with a heavy war indemnity.
However, the Home authorities rejected the Treaty of
Purander. Warren Hastings also considered the Treaty of Purandar
as a ‘scrap of paper’ and sanctioned operations against the Marathas.
In the meantime, the British force sent by the Bombay Government
was defeated by the Marathas.
In 1781, Warren Hastings dispatched British troops under the
command of Captain Popham. He defeated the Maratha chief,
Mahadaji Scindia, in a number of small battles and captured Gwalior.
Later in May 1782, the Treaty of Salbai was signed between Warren
Hastings and Mahadaji Scindia. Accordingly, Salsette and Bassein
were given to the British. Raghunath Rao was pensioned off and
Madhav Rao II was accepted as the Peshwa.
The Treaty of Salbai established the British influence in Indian
politics. It provided the British twenty years of peace with the
Marathas. The Treaty also enabled the British to exert pressure on
Mysore with the help of the Marathas in recovering their territories
from Haider Ali. Thus, the British, on the one hand, saved themselves
from the combined opposition of Indian powers and on the other,
succeeded in dividing the Indian powers.
The Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84)
The first Anglo-Mysore War took place in 1767-69. Haider Ali
emerged victorious against the British and at the end of the War a
defensive treaty was concluded between Haider Ali
and the British. After eleven years, the Second
Mysore War broke out and the main causes for the
second Anglo-Mysore War were:
1. The British failed to fulfill the terms of the
defensive treaty with Haider when he was
attacked by the Marathas in 1771.
2. There was an outbreak of hostilities between
the English and the French (an ally of Haider)
during the American War of Independence.
3. The British captured Mahe, a French settlement within Haider’s
territories.
4. Haider Ali formed a grand alliance with the Nizam of
Hyderabad and the Marathas against the British in 1779.
The War began when the British led their forces through Haider’s territory without his permission to capture Guntur in the
Northern Sarkars. Haider Ali defeated Colonel Baillie and captured
Arcot in 1780. In the next year, Warren Hastings, by a clever stroke
of diplomacy, divided the Confederacy. He made peace with the
Nizam, won the friendship of Bhonsle and came to an understanding
with the Scindia (both Marathas). Consequently, Haider was isolated
without any alliance. He was defeated by Sir Eyre Coote at Porto
Novo in March 1781. In December 1782, Haider died of cancer at
the age of sixty and his death was kept secret till his son Tipu Sultan
assumed power.
The Second Mysore War came to an end by the Treaty of
Mangalore in 1783. Accordingly, all conquests were mutually
restored and the prisoners on both sides were liberated.