Question

icse class 10
History:The first war of independence key notes

Answer 1

First War of Independence, 1857
Immediate Cause --> * Soldiers made to bite off ends of greased cartridges in ‘Enfield Rifles’ having fat of cows and pigs
* Barrackpore – Mangal Pande refused to use catridges and attacked Adjutant of his regiment, for fear of moss of his
caste and religion. (Arrested and hanged on 8th April, 1857)
Events --> Delhi
* Revolutionaries killed British soldiers, captured Delhi, and proclaimed Bahadur Shah II the ruler of India.
* British adamant on recapturing Delhi; Sir John Nicholson along with loyal Sikh soldiers captured Delhi after four months.
* Bahadur Shah sentenced to life imprisonment; Two sons were killed before him. – End of Mughal Rule
Kanpur
* Led by Nana Sahib, adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II.
* General Havelock captured Kanpur after defeating Nana Sahib, on 17th June, 1857; Nana Sahib fled to Nepal.
* Tantia Tope captured Kanpur, but was defeated by the British.
Lucknow
* Led by Begum of Oudh; Sir Henry Lawrence shot dead.
* Defeated and recaptured by Sir Colin Campbell in 1858.
Central India
* Led by Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi and Tantia Tope.
* Occupied Gwalior
Causes --> Military
* General Service Enlistment Act, 1856
* Numerical Strength of Indian Soldiers
* Effect of Annexation of Oudh
* Unjust Treatment
* Loss of British Prestige in Afghan War
Religious
* Social and Religious Reforms – Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Raja Rammohan Roy
* Introduction of Railways and Telegraphs
* Government Support to Missionaries
* Introduction of New Laws – Lord Dalhousie
* Introduction of Modern Education
Economic
* Exploitation of Natural Resources
* Subordination of Indian Industry
* Collapse of Handicrafts and Cottage Industries
* Economic Draining of India
* Unemployment among People
* Resumption of Tax-free Lands – Confiscation by Lord Dalhousie; Introduction by Lord William Bentinck
* Unemployment, Poverty, and Famine
Political
* Policy of Annexation – Doctrine of Lapse; Lord Dalhousie; Annexed Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur.
* The Annexation of Oudh – Lord Dalhousie
* Disrespect shown to Bahadur Shah
* Disrespect to Nana Sahib and Rani of Jhansi
* Disbanding the Armies of the Annexed States
* Inefficient Handling of the Situation – Corrupt and greedy British officials.
* Spreading of a Rumor – Belief that rulers in India change after every 100 years.
Consequences --> End of Company’s Rule