The British Rule of IndiaEuropean Imperialism

British Raj

2011

European Imperialism

The British Empire

The Devilfish in Egyptian Waters

How did the British rule India?

• It wasn’t a sudden process– Began in 1750s, East Indian Company– Took full control in 1857

• The East India Company-took over from the declining Mughals Empire

• A trading relationship at first, trade domination shifts to political domination! (1600’s)

The 1857 Rebellion

• Called the “Sepoy Rebellion”

• Problem over loading bullets-lasted for over a year

• South Asia is now a colony of Britain!

• 100,000 British soldiers ruling over more than 200 million people.

Picture of Sepoy rebellion

Justice!

From “Punch” Magazine:Benjamin Disraeli gives Victoria her new crown

The Jewel of the British Empire

The Queen With Two Heads

Queen Victoria, the Empress of India!

Honoring the empress

Two views of Indian Life

Two Views of Indian Life

Victorian ValuesGod’s Chosen People

Protestant/Evangelical Sanctity of Family & Home

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGNew Delhi, India

Rudyard KiplingThe White Man’s Burden

Sir Thomas Macaulay (1800-1859)

• In 1830s there was a big dispute over which language should be used for education in India & over content of the government’s education system.

• What then shall that language be? One-half of the Committee maintain that it should be the English. The other half strongly recommend the Arabic and Sanskrit. The whole question seems to me to be, which language is the best worth knowing?

• I have never found one among them who could deny that a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia. The intrinsic superiority of the Western literature is, indeed, fully admitted by those members of the Committee who support the Oriental plan of education.

• Advocates the creation of a class of anglicized Indians who would serve as cultural intermediaries between the British & their Indian subjects.

Macaulay’s Minute on Education

Indian Civil Service

• Viceroy-• Elite-Englishmen &

Indian officials

Arrogance of the British

• Census, tracking of Hindus & Muslims- defining Indians by religion

• Divide & Conquer strategy- if distrust between the two groups they cannot unite against the British

• Remember; Muslim’s had ruled over sub-continent for over 500 years.

Was colonial rule a positive or negative?

Modernization, education, infrastructure- Railroads

• Improved Roads & sea ports

• Built Railroads & telegraphy system

• Improved healthcare & sanitary conditions

• Established schools for elite class of Indians (based on western values & history)

Racism & economic exploitation

• Discouraged Indian industries- need Indians to buy expensive western goods

• Emphasized cash crops, lead to widespread famine & food shortages.

• Criticism of Indian religions, culture and customs.

Rise of Nationalism

Indian National Congress

• Political organization/political party in modern times.

• Gandhi & J. Nehru

Muslim League

• Political organization to protest Muslim rights/party

• M. Ali Jinnah

Stop here. Complete after the Gandhi Film.

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

Gandhi Spinning Cloth

Gandhi’s Satyagraha

• Harbor no anger, but suffer the anger of the opponent. Do not return assaults

• Do not submit to an order given in anger

• Refrain from insults and swearing

• Protect the opponents from insult or attack, even at the risk of life

• If taken prisoner, behave in an exemplary manner

• Obey the orders of the satyagraha leaders

Principles of resistance to British rule, using non-violent, peaceful protests/actions.

Civil Disobedience, act of refusal to obey unjust laws.

The 1930 Salt March(ex. of civil disobedience)

• According to law, the British had a monopoly on the manufacture and sale of salt.

• Indians were arrested if they tried to make salt.

• Gandhi directly defied British law and marched to the ocean to collect salt.

Salt March Monument

Gandhi picks up a grain of salt in defiance of British law.