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The British Empire in India

In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms:

Imperialism

Sepoy Rebellion

British East India Company

Effects of British Imperialism on India

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Imperialism is the practice of one countryextending its control over the political

and economic life of another country. TheBritish conquered and colonized India.

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The British East India Company controlledtrade between India and Britain. In the1700s, the British East India Companybegan to control India’s political and

economic life.

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In the 1830s, the East India Companycame under the control of the Britishgovernment. Many Indians resented

British rule.

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In 1857, a large number of British-trainedIndian soldiers, known as sepoys, rebelled

against their British officers.

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Sepoys had to bite off bullet cartridgeswhich they thought were greased with

pork or beef fat. Muslim and Hindusoldiers believed they were being forced

to violate their religion.

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The angry sepoys rose up against theirBritish officers. The Sepoy rebellion

quickly spread to cities across northernand central India. One effect of the

mutiny was that the British governmentabolished the East India Company and

took over formal rule of India.

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The Sepoy Rebellionwas put down and

India becamea British possession.

The British ruledIndia for two

centuries. They changed many

aspects of Indianlife.

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The British provided a single system oflaw and government, unifying India. They

also introduced English as a unifying language.

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The British built roads, bridges, andrailroads in India. They set up

telegraph wires. However, India’scottage industries, in which goodswere made in homes, were hurt by

competition with British goods.

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The British built hospitals, introducednew medicines, and provided faminerelief. At the same time, health careimprovements led to a population explosion without an increase in

economic opportunities.

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Indians were also looked downupon by the British and their culture was treated as inferior to European

culture. Indian workers provided theBritish with inexpensive labor.

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Indians worked for long hours underterrible working conditions. The British

gained wealth while Indians wereexploited.

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Questions for Reflection:

• Why did the British conquer and colonize India?

• Who were sepoys and why did they rebel against the British?

• How did the Sepoy Rebellion change the political situation in India?

• What were the effects of British Imperialism on India?