Topic: War of Independence 1857

23/04/2021
EXPLAIN THE IMMEDIEATE AND UNDERLYING
CAUSES THAT LEAD TO THE WAR OF
INDEPENDECE.
IN JANURARY 1857, THE BRITISH ANNOUNCED THEY WERE INTRODUCING A
NEW RIFLE WITH A PAPER CARTIDGE COVERED IN GRASE TO KEEP THE
POWDER DRY. BEFORE THE CARTIDGE HAD TO BE RELOADED IT HAD TO BE
BITTEN OFF. HOWEVER, THEY WERE RUMORS, THAT IT WAS MADE UP OF
COWS AND PIG FATS. SEPOYS BEGUN DEFYING THEIR ORDERS AND IN MAY
A SEPOY REFUSED TO TOUCH THE CARTIDGES, THEY ESCAPED THE PRISON
WITH HIS FELLOW SOLDIERS AND MEERUT WAS SACKED. THE UPRISING
BEGUN AND DELHI WAS CAPTURED WITH BAHADUR SHAH WAS THE
UNIFYING SYMBOL.
WHAT HAPPENED AT CAWNPORE:
IN CAWNPORE, INDIAN TROOPS LED BY NARA SAHIB ROSE UP AGAINST THE
BRITISH AND KEPT THEIR FORCES TRAPPED FOR OVER THREE WEEKS.
AFTER BEING PROMISED SAFE PASSAGE OUT OF THE CITY, THE BRITISH
FORCES SURRENDERED, BUT NANA SAHIB TURNED ON THEM AND THEY
WERE MASSACRED ALONG WOMEN AND CHILDREN. WHEN THE BRITISH
CAME BACK AND RECAPTURED THE CITY, THEY CARRIED OUT EVEN WORSE
ATROCITIES IN REVENGE.