British Colonialism in India
What is Colonialism?
• The policy of acquiring and maintaining colonies for exploitation
Why would countries do this?
• Natural resources• Places to sell their goods• Land for an expanding population• Be stronger, better, larger than their
rivals
Europeans in South Asia
First in =Portugal
Built a trading empire along coast of Asia – including Goa on India’s western coast
Brought Catholic Missionaries.Next = the Dutch (Netherlands)
The British & India
• Economic Interest began in 1600’s• British East India Co. set up trading
posts in Bombay, Madras, & Calcutta
Early East India Co. Trade
• English traded Gold & Silver for Indian Goods like Cotton, Silk, and Tea
• Textiles (Cloth) the most important good sent from India to England
• Calico, Dungarees, Gingham, Khaki, Madras & Shawl are all Indian words that entered the English language through this trade.
• Internal conflicts in India allowed the East India Co. to gain control of more and more land eventually ruling Southern India, Ganges Plain and Bangladesh
1757-1858• East India Co. ruled like
they were their own country/government
• Private army headed by British officers and staffed by Sepoys (Indian soldiers)
• Set up a code of laws and court system
• Ruled directly or through local rulers under treaty
“Jewel In the Crown”
• India:– Provided raw materials for British
industry (cotton, jute, indigo)– Provided opium to trade with China for
tea– Had 300 million people (they should be
able to buy lots of British stuff)– Had restrictions set up by the British that
prevented the economy from working on it’s own (only trade with British, can only buy British goods)
The Railroad
• Built the third largest rail system in the world
• Increased the area where raw materials could be grown since they could be transported easily
• Allowed more British goods to penetrate India
• Increased production of Cash Crops meaning less food for local consumption
Darjeeling Railroad, 1880
Sepoy Mutiny
Sepoy Mutiny
• Rebellion against the British• Took one year for British to regain
control• The people could not unite against
the British due to weak leadership and serious splits between Hindus and Muslims (Sikhs were loyal to the British)
British Government officially takes over the rule of India
from 1857-1947
• Queen Victoria took the title of Empress of India in 1876
• British Government ruled mostly through Direct control.
• The Rebellion left deep distrust between Indians and the British
Effect of British Colonialism
• PositivePositive– Railroad– Roads– Telephone– Bridges– Irrigation– Improved health– Education
opportunities– Ended local
warfare
• NegativeNegative– No local
control/power– No local
industries or manufacturing
– Loss of self sufficiency
– Famine due to growing of cash crops not food
Nationalism
• Deep devotion to one’s nationality• More than patriotism• Can unite people together• Can cause competition between
nationalities and countries
Nationalist Groups
• Indian National Congress – Created in 1885– Mostly Hindus– First focused on
concerns for Indians – Called for
Independence
• Muslim League– Created in 1906– Mostly Muslims
People to know for Gandhi Video
Mohandas K. Mohandas K. GandhiGandhi
Jawaharlal Jawaharlal NehruNehru
Leader of Indian Leader of Indian national Congress national Congress
before before IndependenceIndependence
Mohammed Mohammed Ali JinnahAli Jinnah
Leader of Muslim Leader of Muslim League before League before IndependenceIndependence
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