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Solutions Chapter 1 The First War of
Independence (1857)
Question 1.
What is meant by the Doctrine of Lapse?
Answer:
The Doctrine of Lapse, introduced by Lord Dalhousie meant
that when a ruler of a dependent State died without a
natural heir, the State passed back to the hands of English.

Question 2.
Name any two States that fell victim to Dalhousie’s Doctrine
of Lapse.
Answer:
 Satara 1848
Jhansi 1853
Nagpur 1854

Question 3.
Which acts of Lord Dalhousie and Lord Canning smacked of
discourtesy to the Mughal Emperor?
Answer:
Lord Dalhousie announced that after the death of Mughal
Emperor Bahadur Shah, his successor would have to leave
the Imperial Palace. (Red Fort)
Later in 1856, Lord Canning forbade Bahadur Shah’s
successors to use the imperial title i.e., ‘King’.

Question 4.
What was the main grouse of the Rani of Jhansi against the
British?
Answer:
The application of the Doctrine of Lapse, irked the Rani of
Jhansi, when after the death of the ruler of Jhansi, their
adopted son Anand Rao was not recognised as a legitimate
successor to the throne.

Question 5.
Who was Nana Saheb? What was his main grievance against
the British?
Answer:
Nana Saheb was the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II. His
main grievance against the British was Lord Dalhousie’s
refusal to grant him, any pension.

Question 6.
When and on what ground was Awadh annexed to the
Company’s dominions?
Answer:
On Feb. 7,1856, Awadh was annexed to the Company’s
Dominions on grounds that Awadh was not being managed
well.

Question 7.
Mention any two activities that caused fear that the British
government was determined to convert Indians to
Christianity.
Answer:

The teaching of Christian Doctrine was made compulsory

in the set up by the Christian missionaries.
The officials openely preached Christian Doctrines in
Mosques and Temples.
The police force was also being used for conversions.

Question 8.
Name any two acts (Laws) that interfered with the religion
and customs of the people.
Or
Mention any two social evils that existed in India during the
19th century. What measures were taken by the Biritsh to
control them?
Answer:

The Act of 1850 enabled the conversion from Hinduism to

inherit the property of his father.
The Widow-Remarriage Act of 1856 was a progressive
measure.

Or
There existed many social evils in India. In the 19th century
the British took measures to control some of the evils. The
Widow Remarriage Act, passed in 1856, was a progressive
measure. Earlier Sati and female infanticide had been
prohibited.

Question 9.
What was the people’s reaction to the introduction of
railways in the mid 1850s?
Answer:
The railways and telegraphs were looked down upon as
means to break social order and caste rules, since people of
all castes had to sit together.

Question 10.
How did the indignities hurled at Indians alienate the
British from the Indian masses?
Answer:
The Englishmen in India could insult, humiliate and even
kill the Indians at will. Besides, if an Indian was on horse
back, he had to dismount and stand in respectable manner
until the European had passed him. Such indignities
alienated the British from the Indian masses.

Question 11.
What were people’s fears regarding the introduction of
English language?
Answer:
The introduction of English language was thought to be an
attempt to discourage Hindu and Islamic studies. Secondly,
people feared that the object was not promotion of literature
rather, inducing the people to-become Christians.

Question 12.
How did the British rulers cripple Indian handicrafts? What
were its consequences?
Answer:
The popularity of Indian textiles alarmed the policy-makers
in England.,An Act of 1720 prohibited the use of Indian silks
and Calicoes in England. Secondly, heavy duties were
imposed on Indian silk and cotton textiles in Britain.
Hence, it had following consequences :

By the mid of 19 A. D, export of cotton and silk from India

practically ceased.
The art of spinning and weaving became extinct.
Manufacturing towns of Dhaka, Murshidabad and Surat
now looked helpless.

Question 13.
How was India converted into an agricultural colony of the
British?
Answer:
British converted India into an agriculture colony by forcing
Bihar, Bengal and Awadh to export jute, opium and indigo.
Secondly, India became the supplier of raw materials like-
cotton and oilseed for Industries in England.

Question 14.
What did the British do to reduce the landed aristocracy to
poverty?
Answer:
The British in 1852, through the Inam Commission annexed
the rent-free lands, when the land owners pleaded their
inability to produce required title deeds due to passage of
time. Government did not accept the plea and confiscated
some 20,000 estates.

Question 15.
Mention any two grievances harboured by the Indian
soldiers which created an atmosphere favourable to the
Great Uprising of 1857.
Answer:

Low Salary and Poor Prospects of Promotion.

General Service Enlistment Act of 1856, which provided
that all the recruits to the Bengal army should be ready
for service, within or outside India.

Question 16.
What was the main provision of the General Service
Enlistment Act of 1856?
Answer:
The Act provided that all the recruits to the Bengal army
should be ready for service within or outside India.

Question 17.
What impact did the defeat of the British in the first Afghan
War have on the morale of the Indian soldiers?
Answer:
The defeat in the First Afghan war, increased the self-
confidence of the Indian soliders, who felt they could
challenge the British in India, too.

Question 18.
How did the introduction of Enfield Rifles become an
immediate cause of the War of Independence in 1857?
Answer:
The Enfield Rifles, required to bite the end of Cartridges
with their teeth before fitting them in the rifles. A rumour
spread that they were greased with fat of cow and the pig.
Both Hindus and Muslims got infuriated and rose a revolt.

Question 19.
When was the 1857 Uprising supposed to have begun?
Answer:
31st May, 1857 was the fixed date for the Revolt of 1857.

Question 20.
Name the act that transferred the Government of India from
the Company to the Crown. When was it passed?
Answer:
The Act of 1858, transferred the Government of India from
the Company to the Crown. It was passed on 2nd August,
1858.

Question 21.
What was the result of the First War of Indian Independence
as far as the East India Company was concerned?
Answer:
The First War of Independence ended the East India
Company’s rule in India since the British statesmen thought
it unwise to leave the government of vast country in the
hands of private trading company.

Question 22.
Who became the first Viceroy of India under the Act of
1858?
Answer:
Lord Canning (1858 – 62) became the first Viceroy of India.

What assurance was given to the Indian Princes by Queen

Victoria in her Proclamation of 1858?
Answer:

The British government.would not annex the Indian

states.
All the treaties that the Princes had concluded with the
company would be honoured.
Their rights of adoption and succession were also
recognised.
Question 23.
What impact did the Uprising of 1857 have on the Mughal
Rule (Mughal Imperial Dynasty)?
Answer:
Bahadur Shah along with his favourite wife, Begum Zinat
Mahal, was exiled to Rangoon (in the present day
Myanmar), where he died on 7 November, 1862. The two
sons of the king and one of his grandsons were shot dead by
Lt. Hodson and thus Mugal Rule come to an end.

How was the Army organised after the First War of Indian
Independence?
Answer:
The policy of balance and counter check became the
prominent feature of the military administration.

The proportions of the British to Indian soliders were

increased.
Artillery along with other effective weapons were
reserved for the British troops. *
All the key positions in the army were kept exclusively for
the British.
The Army was organised in such a way that no sentiment
of unity could arise among them.

Question 24.
What is meant by the policy of ‘Divide and Rule’ pursued by
the British in India?
Answer:
The policy of Divide and Rule was meant to create
misunderstanding between the Hindus and the Muslims,
since English learnt the lesson that strength of the uprising
in 1857 lay in Hindu-Muslim unity.

Question 25.
How did the War of 1857 continue to inspire Indians in their
struggle against the British Raj?
Or
How can we say that the First War of Independence was
important landmark in India’s struggle against the British
Raj?
Or
What was the effect of the First War of Independence as
regards to the rise of Nationalism in India?
Answer:
The war became a symbol of challenge to the mighty British
power in India. Popular songs in praise of Tantia Tope, the
Rani of Jhansi and others kept the memory of their heroic
deeds alike. The Rani of Jhansi became Indian’s Joan of Arc,
whose very name revived the spirit of patriotism.

Question 26.
What rumour was circulating to make people believe that
the days of the Company’s rule in India were numbered?
Answer:
People believed that the British came to power in 1757, after
the Battle of Plassey and their rule would come to an end in
1857.
Question 27.
Name any two social reformers who attacked Sati and
female infanticide.
Answer:

1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

2. Keshab Chander Sen

Question 28.
What were people’s apprehensions regarding the
introduction of telegraph service in India?
Answer:
People looked down upon the introduction of telegraphic
service as means to break social order. Another rumour was
that the telegraphic poles would be used for hanging people
who were against Company’s rule in India.

Question 29.
What advantages did the Indian soldiers have because of
disproportion between Indian and British troops in 1857 ?
Answer:
Lord Dalhousie’s inability to enlist British soldiers definitely
gave Indians both the advantage of number and courage to
take up arms against the English.

Question 30.
Name the two great patriots who hailed the Uprising of 1857
as the War of Independence?
Answer:
1. Netaji Subhash Chander Bose.
2. Veer Savarkar.

Question 31.
Who was Mangal Pandey? What episode is associated with
his name?
Answer:
Mangal Pandey was a Brahmin solider, who refused to use
the greased cartridges on 29th March, 1857 and killed two
English officers. He was hanged consequently, this resulted
in general uprising in Meerut, Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow and
Jhansi.

Question 32.
What did the Indian soldiers (sepoys) at Meerut do for
which they were sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in
May 1857 ?
Answer:
The real trouble started at Meerut on May 6, 1857 when
Indian soldiers gathered force and cut across North India
like a sword. About 86 sepoys refused to use the greased
cartridges. Hence they were dismissed and sentenced to 10
years’ imprisonment.

Structured Questions

Question 1.
Using the following points describe main political causes
which led to the First War of Independence in 1857 :
(a) British policy of Annexations. (Annexations of Awadh
and Territorial Expansion under the pretext of the Doctrine
of Lapse).
(b) Treatment meted out to the Mughal Emperor
(c) Treatment meted out to Nana Saheb.
Answer:
(a) Dalhousie was the Governor-General of India from 1846
to 1856. His policy of annexations and conquests showed
clearly that the territory of no Indian Prince was safe. The
Doctrine of Lapse created a sense of alarm among the ruling
chiefs. Dalhousie claimed that heirs adopted without the
consent of the Company could inherit only the private
property of the deceased ruler, and not his territory.

Annexation of Awadh :
On 7 February, 1856, Nawab Wazid Ali Shah was deposed on
grounds that Awadh was not being managed well. On
February 13, the Court of Directors ordered Awadh’s
complete annexation to the Company’s dominions. The
annexation of Awadh was certainly a case of high-
handedness on the part of the Company. The Nawab of
Awadh had been loyal to the Company throughout. The
British seemed to have broken all their pledges and
promises to the ruling chiefs. This caused resentment among
those soldiers of the British Indian army who came from
Awadh.

(b) The House of the Mughals were also humbled when the
English announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah II,
the Mughals would lose the title of ‘King’ and his successors
would have to leave the Red fort. It greatly hurt the
sentiments of the Muslims.

(c) The last Peshwa Baji Rao II, adopted Nana Sahib as his
son. After his death, English refused to acknowledge Nana
Sahib as the ruler of the Marathas, Hindus too turned
against the English. He was pensioned off to far away
Bithur.

Question 2.
Social and Religious causes were also at work in causing the
Great Upsurge of 1857. In this context briefly describe :
(a) Fears regarding mass Conversion to Christianity.
(b) Laws that interfered with the Religion and Customs of
the people.
(c) Indignities hurled at Indians (Policy of Racial
Discrimination)
Answer:
(a) The activities of the Christian missionaries created a
sense of alarm among both the Hindus and the Muslims.
Their fear was actively supported by

The teaching of Christian doctrine was made compulsory

in the schools established by Christian missionaries.
The Bible was introduced in all the government schools.
Prisoners began to be instructed in Christianity.
The officials openly preached Christian doctrines in
Mosques and Temples.
 Lastly, police force too was being used for conversions.
Hence, panic gripped people that they all would be lured
to Christianity by hook or by crook.

(b) The practice of Sati was abolished in 1829, along with

child marriage female infanticide and polygamy. Act of 1856
legalised Widow- Remarriage. The people thought that
English were unnecessarily interfering in their socio-
religious matters and wanted to ruin their social order.
Hence, they became resentful toward the English. The Act of
1850 which enabled even the Hindu converts to inherit the
property made cry that their religion was in danger.

(c) The English belonged to the ruling class and had a feeling
of superiority. They looked down upon Indian to insult,
humiliate and even kill at will. The English crossed all limits
of decency and humiliated by calling them ‘swines’ and
branded them as ‘heathens’
In short, there was unrest among the masses because they
felt that the government was interfering in their social
order, destroying their religious customs and converting
them into Christians.

Question 3.
Economic exploitation of the country caused grave
discontent that culminated in the Great Uprising of 1857.
Examine this factor with reference to the following:
(a) The Ruin of Trade and Handicrafts (Unhappiness of
Indian Artisans and Craftsmen)
(b) Impoverishment of the Cultivators
(c) Subordination of Indian economy to British Interests
(Making India an Agricultural Colony of British capitalism)
Answer:
(a) The East India Company was established in 1600 as a
trading concern. Soon after 1668, Indian textiles became so
popular in England, that an Act was passed in 1720
prohibiting the use of Indian silks and calicoes in England.
The British deliberately crippled Indian handicrafts by

Imposing heavy duties on Indian silk and cotton textiles

in England.
British goods were imported into India at a nominal duty.
The art of spinning and weaving became extinct.
Manufacturing towns of Dhaka, Murshidabad and Surat
now looked desolate.
Hence, deplorable economic condition paved the way for
Revolt of 1857.

(b) The Cultivators impoverished under the land-revenue

policies of the Engish. Be it Permanent settlement in Bengal
and Bihar, Ryotwari system in Bombay or Mahalwari
System, almost half the net produce was claimed as land-
revenue. Bad monsoons brought famines that further
increased the poverty of the peasants. Unable to pay land-
revenue, the farmers were driven more and more in the
clutches of money-lenders. What could impoverished asked
other than driving the English out of India.
(c) The English subordinated the Indian economy to the
interests of British trade and Industry. Indian Industry
began to decline because heavy duties were imposed on the
Indian silk and cotton textiles. The English exported raw
material from India and poured into India large quantities
of goods manufactured in England. In short, India was
reduced to the Agriculture colony. Her trade and commerce
began to be controlled and dominated by the English.

Question 4.
The discontent against the British Raj was by no means
confined to the civil population, but also extended to the
Indian section of the Company’s Army. In this context of the
military causes of the First War of Independence given an
account of the following:
(a) Discontent on account of low Salary and poor prospects
of Promotion.
(b) Discontent and Disaffection in the Bengal Army
(c) The General Service Enlistment Act
(d) Introduction of Greased Cartridges
Or
What were the main causes of Sepoys’ discontentment
which became a major contributory factor to the Revolt of
1857?
Answer:
(a) The wages of the Indian soldiers were too small to
support their families. An English soldier was paid more
than 8 times the English sepoy even though his duties were
of similar nature. Besides, they had no chance of promotion.
The highest rank held by an Indian was that of Subedars.
Artillery and other key weapons were only reserved for the
English soldiers. Indian soldiers resented discriminatory
policy adopted by the English.

(b) Bengal army composed of the sepoys and officers of high

caste 130 Arundeeps History & Civics-10 Hindus (Brahmins
and Rajputs) of Awadh. During the First Anglo- Afghan war
of 1839-1842, they had to cross the Sindhu and go outside
India. This was disliked because they thought that sea
voyage was forbidden by their religion. In 1844, some
Bengali regiments reiused to serve in Sindh till extra
allowances were given to them.

(c) Lord Canning passed the General Enlistment Act. The Act
caused bitterness among the sepoys, as it bound them to be
sent to fight to an overseas front. ActTvas contrary to their
religious beliefs. Political, Social and Economic atmosphere
was conducive for an outbreak, but it could not erupt as
long as the Indian soldiers were loyal to the English. Though
above mentioned military causes roused discontentment
among the sepoys as well, who started the revolt.

(d) The cartridges to be used by soldiers for the Enfield Rifles

were greased with the fat of cows and pig. The cow, is scared
for the Hindus and pig for Muslims., for this reason the
army posed a threat to the British Rulers.

Question 5.
Describe the results of the First War of Independence with
reference to the following :
(a) Changes relating to Constitutional or the Administrative
Set¬up of the British territories in India
(b) Rights granted to the Indian Princes and Chiefs
Answer:
(a) The war ended the EIC’s rule in India. The Act of 1858
transferred the Government of India from the company to
the crown. Secondly, the Board of control and court of
directors were abolished. Their powers were transferred to
the secretary of state, who was to be assisted by the Indian
Council consisting of 15 members. Secretary of state was to
draw salary and allowances from the revenues of India.

Thirdly, appointments to the civil service were to be made

by open competition. Lastly, Governor-General received the
additional title of viceroy. The title denoted the new position
of the Governor-General as the representative of the Crown
in India vis-a vis the native princes and Nawab.

(b) Queen Victoria declared in her Proclamation of 1858 that

the British government would not annex the Indian states.
Secondly, all the treaties that the princes had concluded with
the company would be honoured. Thirdly, their right of
adoption and succession were to be recognised.

At the same British government took all possible steps to

render Indian states militarily weak by limiting their
number of troops.
Question 6.
With reference to the consequences of the First War of
Independence, 1857 answer the following questions :
(a) How was the Army organised after the War of
Independence?
(b) What was the effect of the First War of Independence as
regards the rise of Nationalism in India?
Or How did the First War of Independence become an
important landmark in India’s struggle against the British
Raj?
(c) How India became the big field of Economic Exploitation
by the Britishers after First War of Independence?
Answer:
(a) The policy of balance and counter check became the
prominent feature of the military administration.

The proportions of the British to Indian soliders were

increased.
Artillery along with other effective weapons were
reserved for the British troops.
All the key positions in the army were kept exclusively for
the British.
The Army was organised in such a way that no sentiment
of unity could arise among them.

(b) The war became a symbol of challenge to the mighty

British power in India. Popular songs in praise of Tantia
Tope, the Rani of Jhansi and others kept the memory of their
heroic deeds alike. The Rani of Jhansi became Indian’s Joan
of Arc, whose very name revived the spirit of patriotism.

(c) In the first place, recruitment of English in both private

and public was a large drain on the country’s resources.
Secondly, India was turned into an agriculture colony
exporting raw material and importing finished goods.
Thirdly, rapid rise of indebtedness of the peasants reduced
them to poverty and slavery. Fourthy, British invested their
surplus capital in railways, plantation and coal mines in
India, which was a total drain on commercial interests of
Indians. Even the dividends were distributed among the
share-holders of the company.
On the whole the Indians were reduced to misery and
poverty.

Question 7.
With reference to the picture given below, answer the
questions that follow :
(a) Identify the Queen seated on the throne
(b) What solemn promises did she make to the people of
India in her Proclamation of 1858?
(c) Why did the British follow the policy of ‘Divide and Rule’
after 1857? What was its consequence?
Answer:
(a) Seated on the throne is Queen Victoria.

(b) Solemn promises made to the People of India

 Queen Victoria in her Proclamation of 1858 promised not
to interfere with the religious of India.
The Queen also promised equal treatment to all her
subjects, Indians and Europeans. All appointments,
declared the Queen, would be strictly on the basis of
education, ability and integrity.
An official pardon was granted to people, excepting such
persons as had been guilty of the murder of British
subjects.
The Proclamation ended with a promise that the material
and moral advancement of the people would henceforth
be the main concern of the Government.
Queen promised material and moral advancement of her
subjects.

(c) The Hindus and the Muslims had showed utmost zeal
and enthusiasm in the Rising of 1857. Hence, British
pursued the policy of creating misunderstanding between
the two communities so as to perpetuate the British rule.
Muslims started harboring hatred and mistrust against the
Hindus because of the role played by the Sikhs and Gorkha
soldiers in perpetuating excesses upon them.

The British turned against the Muslims, after the revolt of

1857. At a later stage, nationalism displayed by the Hindus,
made them unfriendly- in the eyes of the British. The
Muslims were taken back into the confidence and favour.
Hence policy of divide and rule was exploited to widen the
gap between the two communities and ensure British rule in
India.

ICSE History and Civics Class 10 Goyal Brothers Prakashan

Solutions