Empire Building

Empire Building: The British in India

British East India Company: The Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) left Britain the major power in India. Princes who ruled portions not governed directly by Britain usually signed treaties placing their states under British protection.

         With some restrictions, the East India Company ruled India until 1857. It exported Indian cotton, silk, and sugar. Within India, it built telegraph, railroad, and irrigation systems and set up a postal service and school system. It supervised the Sepoy units (Indian soldiers) defending India. British missionaries arrived to convert Hindus and Muslims.

Status of Indians: The East India Company denied Indian equal rights and opportunities. Factory workers and servants earned low wages. Farmers get very little for their produce. Indians could not hold important government positions. Moreover, schools taught English and Western ideas, while ignoring Indian history and advanced culture. After the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the British government took over the administration of India.

British Rule: The British government appointed a viceroy (governor) to head the Indian government. An Indian Civil Service (ICS) was created. Although the ICS employed Indians and Anglo-Indians in clerical and other positions, higher level administrators were British.

European Imperialist Rule in India

DIRECTIONS: Read the information below, then decide whether this was a positive or negative effect of imperialism on India.

·      Creation of a Court System based on English laws

·      English was made the official language of India

·      British education was set, giving many the opportunity to be educated

·      British created a civil service exam (needed to pass this in order to get a government job)

·      Western medicine introduced, hospitals were built

·      Ancient Indian culture and practices were banned

·      British law outlawed the Caste System

·      Few Indians held government positions

·      British education stressed Western culture, history, and attitude

·      British encouraged production of cash crops, which led to a decrease in food crops