The First War of Independence,

1857
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 Causes of the First War of Independence , 1857
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1. Political Causes
2. Socio Religious Causes
3. Economic Causes
4. Military Causes
 Causes:
1. POLITICAL CAUSES
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1. British Policy of Expansion (Outright Wars,

Subsidiary Alliance, Doctrine of Lapse, Annexation
of Awadh)
2. Disrespect shown to Bahadur Shah

3. Treatment given to Nana Saheb and Rani

Laxmi Bai

4. Absentee Sovereignty of the British

 Causes:
1. POLITICAL CAUSES
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A. British Policy of Expansion: The British expanded

their political power in India four ways:
1. By Outright Wars: To expand their territory India, British fought
many wars. Example: War of Buxar (BBO), Anglo Mysore War, Third
Anglo Maratha War, Second Anglo-Sikh War etc.
2. System of Subsidiary Alliance: Lord Wellesley introduced this
system in which Indian States were brought under the British control
without annexing them. Under this system Indian rulers agreed to:
 Accept British as Supreme Power,
 End foreign relations and wouldn’t enter any alliance/wars,
 British resident at their HQ & wouldn’t employ any European without
consulting,
 Maintain British troops at their own cost,
 Virtually lost Independence.
 Causes:
1. POLITICAL CAUSES
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3. Doctrine of Lapse: Lord Dalhousie annexed many Indian states

using Doctrine of Lapse according to which heirs adopted without
consent of the Company could inherit only the private property of
the deceased ruler and his territory would come under the
Company’s rule. Example: In 1853 Ruler of Jhansi died without
natural heir. Widow Rani was retired and their adopted son Anand
Rao wasn’t recognised as successor to throne. Similary, States of
Satara, Nagpur, Udaipur etc had same problems.
4. On the pretext of Alleged Misrule (Annexation of Awadh):
Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh on 13 Feb 1856 on the pretext of
Alleged Misrule. British broke their promises given to ruling chiefs.
People had to face more hardships, had to pay higher taxes &
revenues, problems of unemployment rose, property were
confiscated, 75000 sepoys were worst affected & didn’t like what
British did in Awadh
 Causes:
1. POLITICAL CAUSES
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B. Disrespect shown to Bahadur Shah:

Bahadur Shah- A mughal ruler was under protection of
the Company but after his death, Lord Dalhousie
announced that ruler’s widow Zeenat Mahal and
successors cant use Red Fort as Palace and in 1956 Lord
Canning announced that the successors can’t use imperial
titles. This hurt sentiments of Muslims.
 Causes:
1. POLITICAL CAUSES
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C. Treatment given to Nana Saheb & Rani

Laxmi Bai
Baji Rao II- the last Peshwa was under the
protection of Company but after his death they
refused to pay the grant to the ruler’s adopted son
i.e. Nana Saheb. He was sent to Kanpur away from
Poona. He then travelled to different parts of country
to create awareness about British policies.
Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi- victim of Doctrine of
Lapse became bitter enemy of the British. Other
rules also had a doubt in the British.
 Causes:
1. POLITICAL CAUSES
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D. Absentee Sovereignty of the British (India’s

Wealth Drained to England)
India was being ruled by British from England.
Unlike other rulers like Mughals who spent the
revenue collected from India in India. But in case of
the British, Indians felt that wealth of India was
drained to England and wasn’t used for the welfare
of Indians.
 Causes:
2. SOCIO-RELIGIOUS CAUSES
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1. Interference with Social Customs: Sati, Widow Remarriage

Act, Western education to girls wasn’t welcomed by masses.
2. Apprehension about Modern Innovations like Railways
& Telegraphs: Indians misunderstood that telegraph poles were erect
to hand them and in railways higher castes were made to seat with lower
castes.
3. Policy of Racial Discrimination: Disrespect & Ill-treatment
was given to Indians.
4. Corruption in Administration: rich were allowed to go away
after crime and poor were looted & tortured.
5. Oppression of the Poor: Beating, Torture and Imprisonment
6. Fear regarding Western Education: Pandits and Maulvis
feared that it is done to convert their children to Christians.
7. Taxing religious places: lands belonging to temples and mosques
 Causes:
3. ECONOMIC CAUSES
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1. Exploitation of Economic exploitation

2. Drain of wealth
3. Decay of cottage industries and handicrafts
4. Growing unemployment
5. Inhuman treatment of Indigo cultivators
6. Poverty & Famines
7. Economic decline of Peasantry
8. Decline of landed Aristocracy
 Causes:
3. ECONOMIC CAUSES
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1. Exploitation of Economic exploitation:

 India was forced to export cotton, silk at cheaper rate to England
 Forced plantation of Indigo and Tea
 Indians had to accept ready made British goods
 Indian products had high import duties in England
 Indian handmade products couldn't compete with machine made
British products.
 Problem of unemployment increased
 India had no agricultural surplus which raised the prices of raw
material in India
 Causes:
3. ECONOMIC CAUSES
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2. Drain of wealth:
 After Battle of Plassey, British stopped bringing gold to India. Raw
material was bought in England from the surplus revenues of Bengal
and started looting India’ raw materials, resources and wealth. The
transfer of wealth from India to England is called Drain of Wealth.
3. Decay of Cottage Industries and Handicrafts:
 Heavy duties killed Indian Cottage Industries and Handicrafts.
 Imported British goods worsened their condition
 Export of cotton and silk was ceased
 Art of spinning and weaving was killed creating severe
unemployment
 Absence of royal buyers- Princes, Zamindars etc.
 Causes:
3. ECONOMIC CAUSES
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4. Growing unemployment
5. Inhuman treatment of Indigo cultivators:
forced plantation of Indigo, other crops were destroyed if didn’t
follow the orders and cattle were taken away as punishment.
6. Poverty & Famines:12 Minor Famines, British didn’t bother
7. Economic decline of Peasantry: Peasants had to pay
heavy taxes & land revenues.
8. Decline of landed Aristocracy: Hereditary landlords
& Taluqdars’ 2000 estates were confiscated (who couldn't produce
evidences of ownership) and auctioned. Merchants and moneylenders
bought these estates and exploited tenants.
 Causes:
4. MILITARY CAUSES
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1. Ill treatment of Indian Soldiers

2. Lower Salaries
3. Deprivation of Allowances
4. Less Chances of Promotions
5. General Service Enlistment Act
6. Larger Proportion of Indians in the British
Army
7. Faculty distribution of Troops
8. Poor performance of British Troops
 Causes:
4. MILITARY CAUSES
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1. Ill treatment of Indian Soldiers: Indian soldiers

were ill treated, poorly fed & badly housed. Didn’t bother about their
sentiments and didn’t allow to keep beard, wear turbans etc.
2. Lower Salaries: Indian soldiers were paid eight times less
salaries than British soldiers.
3. Deprivation of Allowances: British empire was
spread across the nation and soldiers had to serve in areas away from
their homes without extra payment and additional Bhatta (foreign
service allowance) Free post facility for Sepoys was also taken off.
4. Less Chances of Promotions: All higher posts were
reserved for British (irrespective of their performances). Indians
soldiers had thin chances of promotions. They couldn’t go above the
post of Subedar. With promotions future of Indian soldiers was bleak
(miserable)
 Causes:
4. MILITARY CAUSES
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5. General Service Enlistment Act: It was considered as

Taboo for Brahmin to cross the sea. In spite of that British sent
Indians overseas on duty. Didn’t bother about the sentiments.
6. Larger Proportion of Indians in the British Army:
in 1856, 2,38,000 Indian soldiers worked in British army as
compared to 45,322 British Soldiers.
7. Faulty distribution of Troops: Strategic important places
like Delhi & Allahabad had no British armies and was held by only
Indian soldiers. When England was busy fighting wars outside Indian
soldiers decided to strike British.
8. Poor performance of British Troops: Without support
of Indian soldiers, British army was weak this fact was realized by the
Indian soldiers. Also in various other wars British had to face defeat
this broke the myth that British were invincible.
 CONSEQUENCES OF THE FIRST WAR OF
INDEPENDENCE
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1. End of East India Company’s Rule

2. Queen Victoria’s Proclamation
3. End of Mughals and Peshwas
4. Relations with Princely States
5. Policy of Divide and Rule
6. Widening Gulf between Hindus and Muslims
7. Racial Antagonism
8. Increased Racial Bitterness
9. Religious Changes
10. Foreign Policy
11. Changes in the Army
12. Economic Exploitation
13. Rise of Nationalism
 CONSEQUENCES OF THE FIRST WAR OF
INDEPENDENCE
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 End of the East India Company’s rule:

Crown took over the charge from Company
Secretary of State for India was appointed who reported to British
Parliament.
 Queen Victoria’s Proclamation: 1 Nov, 1958 at Allahabad
the transfer of governance was done. Lord Canning became the first
Viceroy of India. Promised not to intervene in social and religious
matters, would bring equality, pardon soldiers, best for Indian
industries etc.
 End of Mughals and Peshwas: Bahadur Shah II went to
Yangon and Nana Saheb went to Nepal. Two foes of British came to an
end.
 CONSEQUENCES OF THE FIRST WAR OF
INDEPENDENCE
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 Relations with Princely States: Policy of Annexation

and Doctrine of Lapse were abandoned.
 Policy of Divide & Rule: After 1858, British started
Divide and Rule Policy. Caste against Caste, Princes
against people and Hindus against Muslims.
 Widening Gulf between Hindus and Muslims:
British sowed seeds of hatred among Hindus & Muslims.
 Racial Antagonism: British believed that they were
superior and maintained distance from Indians.
Railways, Parks, Hotels etc had seats “Reserved for
Europeans Only’
 CONSEQUENCES OF THE FIRST WAR OF
INDEPENDENCE
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 Increased Racial Bitterness: British believed that

Indian aren’t trust worthy and remodeled the structure of
Indian government based on the idea of a superior race.

 Religious changes: British rulers declared that they

would not intervene in religious affairs, customs and
traditions.

 Foreign Policy: India foreign policy was decided by

British with two aims: a) protection of its Indian empire
and b) expansion of British economic & commercial
interests.
 CONSEQUENCES OF THE FIRST WAR OF
INDEPENDENCE
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 Changes in Army: to avoid another uprising Indian army

was reorganised after 1858 in following manner:
1. No. of Indian troops was decreased to 1,40,00 and No. of
European troops was increased to 65,000.
2. European troops were kept in key locations.
3. Policy of excluding Indians from officer positions was
strictly followed.
4. Weapons were never placed under the charge of Indians.
5. Divide and Rule policy was practiced during the
recruitment in the army. Discouraged nationalism
through caste/religion discrimination in regiments.
6. Soldiers weren’t allowed to read newspapers & journals.
 CONSEQUENCES OF THE FIRST WAR OF
INDEPENDENCE
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 Economic Exploitation:
i. India became a colony to export raw material and import
finished goods.
ii. Salaries of soldiers, military officers, Council members
was taken from India’s resources
iii. Peasants were bankrupt/poor during British rule. (Indigo
peasants)
iv. Indian cottage industries and handicrafts collapsed
v. Indians had to pay heavy taxes, revenues and dividend to
British.
 CONSEQUENCES OF THE FIRST WAR OF
INDEPENDENCE
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 Rise of Nationalism:
i. Uprising of 1857, paved way for the Rise of the
National Movement.
ii. Sacrifices made by Rani Laxmi Bai, Nana Saheb,
Mangal Pandey inspired Indians.
iii. Started a tradition of resistance to the British rule.
 Drawbacks of First War of Independence
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 Lack of planning, organisation and leadership

 Lack of common cause
 Lack of participation from all sections of the society
 Lack of resources
 Lack of nationwide dimensions
 Beginning of the movement before the fixed date (May
31, 1857)