History Handout 11

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IASBABA’S
PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE
PROGRAM (PEP) 2022
MODERN HISTORY
HANDOUTS
WWW.IASBABA.COM, PEP@IASBABA.COM
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PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT
TOPICS - Arrival of Europeans and British Conquest of India, Battle of Plassey, Anglo-
Mysore wars, Anglo- Maratha Wars, British Expansion in North India, Economic
Consequences of Colonial Rule, British Land Settlement; Educational Policies
ARRIVAL OF THE EUROPEANS

THE PORTUGUESE
Year Personality Important events

1394 – 1460 Prince Henry the  Key figure in the early days of Portuguese
Navigator Empire.
 Remembered more as a great patron and
sponsor of voyages than as a sailor.
 Nicknamed as ‘Navigator’.
1487 Bartholomew Diaz  Reached the southernmost tip of Africa.

 First known European to reach the Indian
Ocean from the Atlantic.
 Portuguese later renamed the cape as ‘Cape of
Good Hope’.
1498 Vasco Da Gama  Headed the ‘First Portuguese India Armada’.

 Discovered a new route to India from Europe.
 First European to reach India by sea.
 Sent under the patronage of King Manuel I of
Portugal.
1500 Pedro Alvarez  He aimed at making treaty with Zamorin of

Cabral Calicut and setting up a Portuguese factory.
 He ran into a conflict with local merchants.
1502 Vasco Da Gama  In 1503, 1st Portuguese factory came up in

Cochin.
 In 1505, 2nd factory was set up in Cannanore
(or Kashmir).
1503-04  Portuguese State of India established.
1505-09 Francisco De  1st Portuguese Viceroy of India.
Almeida  Adopted ‘Blue Water Policy’ aimed at
establishing naval supremacy of Portuguese in
the Indian Ocean.
 Credited with the construction of Fort
Anjediva.
 In 1508, Almeida defeated joint Muslim naval
force in the Battle of Diu.
1509-15 Alfonzo-De-  Known as real founder of Portuguese power in
Albuquerque India.
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 Set up his headquarter in Cochin.

 Encouraged his countrymen to marry Indian
women and propagate Christianity.
 Abolished sati in regions under his control.
1529-1538 Nino de Cunha  In 1530, he transferred the government head

office from Cochin to Goa.
Impact of the  They began to propagate Christianity in the

Portuguese Malabar and the Konkan coast.
 In 1540, all temples of Goa were destroyed.
 Christian missionaries started schools and
colleges.
 Medium of instruction was native language.
 They brought printing press to India. Several
types of fruits, vegetables, crops were
introduced by Portuguese in India.
 Its influence also established the significance of
navy in sea trade.
THE DUTCH

1596 Cornelius de  First Dutch traveller to reach India.
Houtman
1602 Dutch East India  1st Dutch factory was established at
Company Masulipatnam in Andhra (in 1606).
 2nd factory was set up at Pettopoli
(Nizampatam).
1610  Dutch signed a treaty with the king of

Chandragiri.
 They established their headquarters at Pulicat.
 Here, they minted their gold coins named
pagodas.
1623  Amboyna massacre took place in Indonesia

where the Dutch killed 10 Englishmen and 9
Japanese.
1690  Dutch headquarters were transferred from

Pulicat to Nagapattinam.
1759  Dutch were defeated by the English in the

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decisive Battle of Bedara, ending the Dutch

power in India.
THE ENGLISH

1600 The East India  Company was granted a royal charter by Queen
Company (EIC) Elizabeth giving it the exclusive privilege of the
Cape of Good Hope for 15 years.
1608 Captain Hawkins  Sent as a representative of the English Company to

the court of Jahangir to obtain permission to open
factory at Surat.
 First British to set foot on Indian soil.
 Obtained permission to open factories on the west
coast but Company was not happy since it wanted
permission for whole country.
1611 -  The English opened their 1st factory in the south at

Masulipatnam.
 The English defeated the Portuguese in the Battle
of Swalley Hole in Surat.
1613 -  English were allowed to set up permanent factory

at Surat.
1615 Sir Thomas Roe  Sent by King James I as an ambassador to the court
of Jahangir.
 He was successful in obtaining royal farman
permitting the British to trade and set up factories
in all parts of the Mughal Empire.
1632 -  Sultan of Golconda issued a Golden Farman in

(Madras) favour of the English.
 It permitted them to trade freely from the ports of
Golconda on annual payment of 500 pagodas.
1639 Francis Day  Was able to obtain Madras on lease from the Raja
of Chandragiri.
 English set up the factory.
 He built a small fort around it called Fort St.
George.
1651  First English factory was set up in Hugli upon

(Bengal) receiving permission from Sultan Shuja, the
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Subahdar of Bengal.
1658  All establishments of the English Company of

Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Coromandel Coast were
brought under the control of Fort St. George.
1690 Job Charnock  Established a factory at Sutanuti which was fortified

in 1696.
 It was called Fort Williams.
1698  The English Company obtained from Subahdar of

Bengal Azim-us-Shan, the zamindari of Sutanuti,
Kalikata and Gobindapur.
1700  Bengal factories were placed under Fort William.

 Soon, the villages grew into a city known as
Calcutta.
1662  King Charles II received Bombay as dowry on

(Bombay) marrying a Portuguese princess.
 In 1668, the king transferred Bombay to the
Company on an annual rent of 10 pounds.
1717  Farrukhsiyar granted the English Company valuable

trading privileges under the Farman of 1717
described as Magna Carta of the Company.
THE FRENCH

1664 French trading company  Colbert formed the Companie des Indes
Orientales.
 The French trading Company (under
governorship of Colbert) was granted a
license by King Louis IV to trade with India
and East Indies.
1667 Francis Caron (Director  1st French factory at Surat.
General)
1669  Factory was set up at Masulipatnam.
1672 Francois Martin  Received a village as grant from the king of

Bijapur Sher Khan Lodhi.
 He founded it as Pondicherry which later
emerged as French capital of India.
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1674  French received a site near Calcutta where

they built a town of Chandernagore (1690-
92).
1693  The Dutch snatched Pondicherry.

 It was restored to the French under the
Treaty of Reswick.
1697-  Other French factories – Mahe, Karaikal,

1739 Balasore and Kasimbazar.
THE CARNATIC WARS (1740-1763)
Wars / Events Important details

First Carnatic War,  Immediate context: war of Austrian succession in
1740 – 48, Europe.
 England and France had joined opposite camps.
People involved: Joseph  Main battle fought: Battle of Saint Thomas
François Dupleix (French  It was Dupleix who first showed the way of
Governor-General), Major intervening in disputes of the Indian rulers and
Stringer Lawrence (British), thereby acquiring political control - a technique which
Anwaruddin Khan (Nawab of was later perfected by the English company.
the Carnatic),  Result: ended with the Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle in
Europe.
Result: Inconclusive.  It was a drawn struggle.
 Madras was given back to the English in exchange for
Louisburg in North America to France.
 Dupleix understood the superiority of the European
armies who used this advantage to influence Indian
princes and establish French hegemony in South
India.
Second Carnatic War,  Immediate context: succession disputes at Carnatic

1749-54 and Hyderabad.
 Dupleix was able to interfere in the war of
People involved: succession that started after the death of a subject
Muhammad Ali and Chanda  Pledged French support to Muzaffar Jung and
Sahib (for the Nawabship of Chanda Sahib.
the Carnatic or Arcot);  A tripartite understanding was developed among
Muzaffar Jung and Nasir Jung the French, Chanda Sahib and Muzaffar Jung.
(for the post of the Nizam of  The three allies ambushed and killed Anwaruddin at
Hyderabad). the Battle of Amber.
 Chanda Sahib became the Nawab of Karnataka
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Result: Muzaffar Jung  Awarded the French with a grant of 80 villages near
became Hyderabad’s Nizam. Pondicherry
Muhammad Ali became the  Feeling the extension of French influence, the British
Nawab of the Carnatic. decided to support Nasir Jung.
 Battle for the Throne of The Nizam has begun the
second phase of Anglo French war known as second
Carnatic War
 French Army surprised and killed Nasir Jung in
Hyderabad
 Installed French protege Muzaffar Jung.
 He awarded Dupleix by giving him honorary governor
Siege of Arcot.
 Chanda Sahib got captured and was beheaded by the
Raja of Travancore.
 Muhammad Ali then became the Undisputed Nawab
of the Carnatic.
 Dupleix was recalled.
 Signed a peace Treaty- the Treaty of Pondicherry with
the English in 1755.
 According to it, both the companies agreed not to
interfere in the quarrels of the Indian princes.
 Result: it proved inconclusive though the English had
an edge over the French.
Third Carnatic War,  Immediate context: Seven years’ war in Europe.

1757-63,  Once again England and France joined opposite
camps ending the short peace between European
People involved: Count de companies in India as well.
Lally (French General), British  Main battle fought: Battle of Wandiwash in 1760.
Lieutenant-General Sir Eyre  The English Army led by General Eyre Coot totally
Coote routed the French Army.
 The war ended with the Treaty of Paris.
Result: British victory  According to which, Pondicherry and some other
French settlements were returned to France but they
were never to be fortified again and could only
function as main trading centres
 Result: the British decisively defeated the French in
India.
Reasons for defeat of the  Continental ambitions of France: France remained

French against the English preoccupied with its Continental ambitions. It
diverted its energies away from colonial acquisitions.
England, on the other hand, followed its single-
minded objective of colonial expansion.
Different systems of government: French

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government was autocratic and suffered from

corruption and inefficiency the English government
was run by an enlightened oligarchy.
Difference in the organisation of the two

companies: The French company has been formed
with the majority of capital contributed by the
monarch the British company was an independent
commercial corporation which was interested in the
Welfare of the company.
 Responsibility of Dupleix: He could never escape the
responsibility for French defeat he failed to attend to
the fast deteriorating financial and trading aspects of
the company.
 Impact of British success in Bengal: British had
occupied Bengal and its resources were liberally used
in the third Carnatic War.
 Recall of Dupleix: It proved to be a mistake of the
French.
 Rashness and arrogance of Lally: He was rash,
arrogant. His behaviour alienated his subordinates.
 Absence of permanent Naval presence: The French
had no permanent Naval presence British had a
formidable naval presence.
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BATTLE OF PLASSEY (1757) AND BATTLE OF BUXAR (1764)

Events Important details
Battle of Plassey, Sirajuddaulah 1756-1757
1757,  His succession was challenged by two other contenders
Shaukat Jung and Ghaseti Begum.
People involved: Siraj-  This resulted in intense court factionalism.
ud-Daulah (Last  Zamindars and others were also opposed to Siraj.
independent nawab of  This seriously destabilized the administration of Bengal.
Bengal)  The advantage was taken up by the English East India
Robert Clive (British East Company.
India Company)
Causes
Result: British victory 1. Farman of 1717
 Gave many trading privileges to British East India company
leading to loss of revenue to the Bengal Government.
 The dastaks were also misused by companies’ servants.
2. Shelter to Krishna Das

 English company gave shelter to Krishnadas who fled with
treasures against Nawaab’s will.
 Company also gave some support to Ghaseti Begam.
3. Fortification of Fort William

 Became the immediate cause of the Battle of Plassey.
 When Siraj Ud daulah surrounded Fort William, some
English man escaped to Fulta and waited for help from
Madras. After fort fell, Nawab renamed Calcutta as
Alinagar.
 Several Englishmen imprisoned in the Fort died in the
black hole tragedy.
 Help came from Madras in the form of a strong Naval
force under the command of Robert Clive.
 In 1757, Nawab had to make peace with English &
humiliating Treaty of Alinagar, according to which,
Nawab had to restore to the English their former
privilege of trade, grant permission to fortify Calcutta
and even pay compensation amount for the loss suffered
by the English.
 English decided to replace the Nawab with Mir Jafar and
organised the Plassey conspiracy of 1757.
 In the Battle of Plassey, the English forces led by Clive
easily defeated the Nawab’s army as Mir Jafar and others
had joined the conspiracy and did not participate.
 The Nawab was captured and killed.
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Consequences
 Mirzapur was proclaimed as Nawab of Bengal.
 Robert Clive was confirmed as Governor of Bengal.
 Company was granted undisputed right to free trade in
Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
 British officials no longer needed to pay any taxes on the
private trade.
 Company received its zamindari of 24 Parganas near
Kolkata.
 All the French settlement in Bengal was surrendered to
the English.
Significance
 Since Mir Jafar was appointed as the Nawab by the British,
the real power laid in the hands of the British.
 Mr. Watts, the British president at Murshidabad, began to
wield considerable influence.
 After Plassey, the company emerged supreme and
established its Monopoly over Bengal trade.
 Vast resources of Bengal placed at British disposal.
 With the revenues of Bengal, the English were able to
meet the cost of conquest of rest of the country.
 British victory in Plassey marked the beginning of British
conquest of Bengal and later of India.
Mir Jafar (1757-60)

 Appointed as Nawab of Bengal by the British known as
Clive's jackal.
 Jafar began intriguing with the Dutch against the British.
 This design was thwarted by Clive by defeating the Dutch
in the decisive Battle of Bedra.
 English grew suspicious of the Nawab.
 They decided to replace him.
 Vansittart decided to support the claim of Mir Qasim, son-
in-law of Mir Jafar to the throne.
 Mir Jafar was forced to step down.
Mir Qasim or Itmad ud Daulah (1760-63)

 Granted the company, the zamindari of Burdwan,
Midnapore and Chittagong.
 His relationship with British embittered due to following
reasons:
1. Shifted the capital from Murshidabad to Munghyr
in Bihar.
2. He sought to modernize his Army.
3. Dismissed Ram Narayan - a protégé of the British.
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4. Misuse of the dastaks.

5. Mir Qasim abolished all inland duties to bring the
Indian merchants on the same footing as the
English.
 This lead to an open war.
 He fled to Awadh and formed an alliance with Shuja Ud
Daulah and Shah Alam II in a final bid to overthrow the
English
 This lead to Battle of Buxar.
Battle of Buxar, Immediate cause

1764,  The abuse of the dastaks (duty free trade permits) by the
company's events for the private trade.
People involved: Mir  Heavy casualties on both sides ended in the victory of the
Qasim – (Administering superior military power, the British.
Bengal in place of Mir  One of the most decisive battles in Indian history.
Jafar – Nawab of  Firmly established the British as masters of Bengal, Bihar
Bengal), Shuja-Ud- and Orissa.
Daulah – Nawab of
Awadh (Oudh), Shah Consequences
Alam II – Mughal  Power was transferred into the hands of English company.
Emperor, Hector Munro  Mir Jafar was brought back to the Throne Of Bengal with
– British Army Major, harsher terms.
Robert Clive  After Mir Jafar’s death his minor son Najim ud Daulah was
appointed as a Nawab.
Result: English became a  Clive was made as Governor and Commander in Chief of
great power in northern Bengal again
India.  First Treaty of Allahabad (16th August 1765) was signed
between Robert Clive and Shuja ud Daulah at Allahabad.
 As per the Treaty, Nawab of Awadh was made to pay a
war indemnity of rupees 50 lakh to the company. He
was made to surrender Allahabad and Kohra to Emperor
Shah Alam.
 He was made to enter the Treaty of Subsidiary Alliance
with the company. Company promised to support the
Nawab against an outside attack after paying for the
services of the Troops.
 Nawab of Awadh became dependent on the company.
 Second Treaty of Allahabad was signed between Mughal
Emperor Shah Alam II and Robert Clive in August 1765.
 As per the Treaty, Emperor was taken into company’s
protection and given the districts of Kora and Allahabad.
 The Emperor issued a Farman granting the company, the
Dewani right to collect revenue of Bengal, Bihar and
Orissa in return for the company making an annual
payment of Rupees 60 lakh settlement with the Nawab
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of Bengal.
 Najm-ud-Daulah was allowed to succeed his father on
following conditions: (1) He would surrender Defence and
Foreign Affairs in the hands of company and civil
administration into the hands of Naib Subahdar
nominated by the Company.
(2) Infamous Dual System was established also known as
diarchy. It was a dual system where, in theory, Company
exercised Dewani functions while the Nawab of Bengal
exercised the Nizamat functions. However, in practice, the
Company acquired all real powers while the responsibility
for administration rested with the Nawab.
 It had consequences for the people of Bengal as neither
the Company nor the Nawab cared for their welfare.
 Drain of wealth from Bengal began as company stopped
sending money from England to buy Indian goods.
 The goods were purchased from the revenues of Bengal.
 Drain of wealth greatly impoverished Bengal.
 It was a major factor responsible for terrible Bengal
famine of 1770.
 Adverse impact of Dual System - Complete breakdown of
Administration and law and order in Bengal.
 Bengal now faced the spectre of famines.
 Dual government lead to destruction of trade and
commerce in Bengal.
 Indigenous industry and skilled cotton weavers of Bengal
were compelled to buy raw material from and sell woven
clothes to the Company exclusively.
 Overall moral degradation of Bengal society.
Significance
 British once again emerged as a Supreme Power.
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THE ANGLO MYSORE WARS (DURING 1767-99)

Wars Important details
Reason for British  Haider’s and Tipu’s control over the rich trade of Malabar
intervention in Coast.
Mysore and  Mysore seen as a threat to English control over Madras.
Maratha States  French Alliance with Mysore seen as a threat.
 Maratha seen as a threat to the English trade from Bombay.
 Development in infantry and gunnery in both the states.
 British home government was in need of finances. Thus, it
encouraged an aggressive expansionist policy of the
company.
First Mysore war, Reasons:
1767-99,  Haider Ali's friendship with the French.
 Mysore Border dispute between the Madras Government
and the Nawab of Carnatic.
Immediate context:
 Rivalry over Control of Northern Circars.
 Rivalry ultimately led to a tripartite treaty between the
Marathas, the Nizam and the English against Haider Ali.
 They attacked Mysore in 1766.
 Haider persuaded the Nizam and the Marathas to join hands
with him against the English.
 Forced the Madras Council to sign peace on his terms.
 The war ended with the Treaty of Madras in 1769.
 As per the Treaty both the powers agreed to help each other
in case of an attack by a third party.
Result:
 Haider Ali had an edge over the English.
Second Mysore Immediate context:
war,  Capture of Mahe by the English.
1780-84,  In this war, the Marathas and the Nizam sided with the
English.
 Main battle fought: Battle of Port Novo
 Haider Ali was defeated.
 Ended with the Treaty of Mangalore.
 Was signed on the basis of mutual restitution of each other’s
territories.
 Last British treaty with an Indian ruler on an equal footing
Result:
 It was a drawn struggle.
Third Mysore war, Immediate context:
1790-92,  Provided by Tipu's attack on Travancore.
 In this war too, the Marathas and the Nizam sided with the
English.
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 Ended with the Treaty of Seringapatam.

 According to which, Tipu had to surrender half of his territory
to the company and its allies.
 He also had to pay war indemnity of Rs 3 Crore.
Result:
 Tipu Sultan lost his son and half of his territory to the
Company and its allies.
 The company acquired Baramahal, Dindigul and Malabar.
 2 sons of Tipu were kept as prisoners with Cornwallis.
Fourth Mysore war, Immediate context:

1799,  Provided by Napoleon's plans to invade India and Tipu’s
consequent negotiations with the French.
 Main battle fought: Battle of Seringapatam.
Result:
 Tipu was killed during the defence of the city.
 Mysore lost independence.
THE ANGLO MARATHA WAR (DURING 1775-1818)
Wars Important details

First Maratha war, Immediate context
1775-82  Sawai Madhav Rao succeeded as Peshwa, which gravely
frustrated Raghunath Rao.
 Tried to capture power with British help.
 Began with the Treaty of Surat and ended with the Treaty of
Salbai.
 Treaty of Surat - It was decided that the British would help
Raghunath Rao in becoming the Peshwa. In return, Raghuba
would cede territories of Salsette, Bassein and revenues
from Surat and Bharauch to the British.
 Treaty of Salbai - Madhav Narayan Rao will be accepted as
Peshwa. British will give up the cause of Raghoba.
 Main battles fought: Battles of Adas, Talegaon and Sipri
Result:
 It ended in a draw.
 Treaty of Salbai gave the Marathas 20 years of peace.
Second Maratha Immediate context

war,  In 1801, Peshwa Bajirao II killed Holkar's brother Vithoji Rao
1803-05 Holkar.
When Holkar launched the counter attack Peshwa fled, took
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refuge in Bassein and approached Wellesley for help.

 Began with the Treaty of Bassein - A Treaty of Subsidiary
Alliance. Peshwa accepted the Company's protection.
 Ended with the Treaty of Rajpurghat - Holkar agreed to
renounce all claims to the north of the river Chambal. He
got back the major part of his lost Kingdom.
 Main battles fought - Battles of Assaye, Argaon, Delhi,
Laswari and Ding.
Result:
 The English had an edge over the Marathas.
 Separate treaties were signed with Scindia, Bhonsle and
Holkar by the company which tore apart the Maratha
confederacy.
Third Maratha war, Immediate Context

1817-18  The war began as a campaign against the Pindaris, the
irregular Maratha forces.
 Began with the Treaty of Gwalior - Daulat Rao Sindhiya
pledged to help the company in suppressing the Pindaris.
 Ended with the Treaty of Mandsaur - Holkar had to surrender
all his territories south of the Narmada.
 He became the last Maratha chief to sign a Subsidiary
Alliance with the British.
 Main battles fought - Battles of Khadki, Sitabaldi, Mehidpur,
Koregaon and Ashti.
Result
 Maratha forces were decisively defeated.
 Peshwa's territories were annexed by the British.
 The house of the Peshwa was extinguished.
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BRITISH EXPANSION BEYOND INDIAN FRONTIERS (NEPAL. BURMA AND

AFGHANISTAN)
Wars/ events Important details

Nepal war,  Immediate context: Gorkha attack on 3 police stations of
1814-16, Butwal 1814, under the English East India Company's
Lord Hastings authority.
 Main battles fought - Battles of Butwal, Almora Malaon
and Makwanpur; all went in favour of the English.
 Ended with the Treaty of Sagauli.
 As per the Treaty, the British gained the districts of
Garhwal and Kumaon.
 Resident was placed at Kathmandu.
First Burma war,  Immediate Context - The Burmese military in its pursuit of
1824-26, rebels entered and occupied Assam and Manipur.
Lord Amherst  Prepared to attack Chittagong.
 These territories were claimed by the British.
 Ended with the Treaty of Yandabo.
 As per the Treaty, English regained control of Assam,
Manipur.
 King lost most of his coast.
 The king was forced to accept a British resident.
Second Burma war,  Immediate Context - Two British captains were heavily fined
1852-53, by the Burmese government.
Lord Dalhousie  Dalhousie decided to attack Burma on the pretext of storing
the dignity of the English back.
 Result: The English annexed Rangoon and Pegu.
Third Burma war,  The British annexed upper Burma.

1885,  Burma lost its independence.
Lord Dufferin
First Afghan war,  Immediate Context: Failure of Burnes Mission.

1839-42,  Result: Afghan invasion was a failure.
Lord Auckland  The English were forced to retreat.
 Shah Shuja was killed.
 Dost Mohammad re-established his authority in Kabul.
Second Afghan war,  Ended with the Treaty of Gandamak.

1878-82,  Result - Aamir Yakub Khan agreed to station a permanent
Lord Lytton British resident at Kabul.
 Conducted his foreign policy with the advice of the
Government of India.
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 Afghanistan was created as a buffer state between British

India and Russian Empire.
BRITISH EXPANSION IN NORTH INDIA
Wars/ events Important details

Conquest of Sindh,  Causes:
1843, To counter Russian threat, Sindh was seen as a necessary
Lord Ellenborough prelude to the annexation of Afghanistan.
 To gain commercial benefits from the Sindh river.
 To regain the English prestige which had suffered during
the first Afghan war.
 Main battles fought: Battles of Miani and Dabo.
 Result - English led by Sir Charles Napier emerged victorious.
 Sindh was annexed,
 It was later made part of British India as Bombay Presidency
in 1847.
First Sikh war,  Causes:

1845-46,  British desire to expand their influence and control over
Lord Hardinge Punjab.
 Glorious wealth of the kingdom of Punjab.
 Political instability after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
 Indiscipline of the Khalsa Army.
 Instigating role of Major Broadfoot.
 English attempt to regain the prestige which had suffered
during the First Afghan War.
 Main battles fought: Battle of Mudki, Firozshah, Baddoval
and Aliwal.
 Decisive battle was the battle of Sabbraon.
 Ended with the Treaty of Lahore.
 Maharaja gave up all his territories lying to the South of
river Sutlej.
 Sikhs had to pay rupees 1.5 crore as war indemnity.
 Minor Dalip Singh was accepted as king with queen Jindan
as guardian.
 Sir Henry Lawrence became the British president at Lahore.
Second Sikh war,  Immediate context: Revolt of Multan.

1848-49,  Main battles fought: Battle of Ramnagar, Chillianwala and
Lord Dalhousie Gujarat.
 Army was defeated in Battle of Gujarat.
 It surrendered before the English led by Charles Napier.
 Result - Dalhousie annexed Punjab
ZGVmMjcxYTA3NGI1
 Maharaja Dalip Singh was pensioned and sent to England

for education.
 Kohinoor Diamond was taken away from him and placed in
the British royal crown.
Annexation of  Awadh annexed on the pretext of maladministration based

Awadh, on Outeram's report.
1856,
Lord Dalhousie
NEW LAND REVENUE SETTLEMENTS AND IMPACT ON ECONOMY
Changes Important details Impact on economy

introduced
Permanent  It was a settlement with  Zamindars found it very
settlement – Zamindar. difficult to pay the high
Bengal,  Zamindars were now tax and many lost their
1793, considered the owners of zamindari.
Lord Cornwallis the entire land of their  High tax encouraged
zamindari. oppression of the
 Land revenue was fixed at a cultivators.
very high level of Rs2 crore  The hereditary rights of
and 65 lakh. the peasants on land
 Zamindar had to pay a fixed was taken away and
tax (10/11) upon it. given to the zamindars.
 As long as he paid the tax,  The cultivators were
he remained the owner of reduced to tenants of
his land. the zamindars but also
 It was introduced in Bengal, deprived of other
Bihar Orissa, Varanasi and customary rights,
Gazipur regions of UP and example,and rightto use
Northern Karnataka. pasture and forest land.
 Covered 19% area of British  Zamindars resorted to
India. rack renting as well as
oppression and ejection
of tenants for non-
payment of rent.
Ryotwari system,  Settlement with the ryots or  Revenue fixed at a very

1820, actual cultivators. high rate (45-50%).
Sir Thomas Munro  Assessment was done after  Ryots had to pay the
and captain field survey based on soil revenue even when his
Alexander Reed quality and farm area crop was destroyed.
revised after every 20 or 30  Caused widespread
years. oppression.
 First implemented in  Peasantry sank deep in
ZGVmMjcxYTA3NGI1
Baramahal district of poverty and fell into the

Colonel Reed. clutches of the money
 System was extended to lenders.
most of Madras Presidency.  Resulted in
 Implemented in Madras, indebtedness and
Bombay, Entire Deccan, frequent evictions
East Bengal and Coorg  Significantly contributed
covered 51% of British to the terrible Madras
India. famine of 1867-78.
Mahalwari  Settlement with the Mahal  Land tax demanded was

system, or village. very heavy.
1822,  Tax collected through the  Led to impoverishment
Lord William headman or Lambardar. and dispossession of the
Bentinck  Was introduced in North cultivating communities.
West province of Ganga  The resentment soon
Valley or UP, Punjab found expression during
province and Central the revolt of 1857.
provinces.
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BRITISH RULE
Disruption of  British main interest lay in exploitation of Indian resources

traditional economy and enrichment of their own people.
 New land revenue policies, discriminatory trade restrictions,
domination of markets and continuous conquests had an
adverse impact on all classes of Indian people.
 The policies brought about ruin of Indian agriculture, trade
and industry.
 Resulted in a complete breakdown of traditional economic
structure.
 Self-sufficiency of the villages was destroyed.
 Indian economy was transformed into colonial economy.
Ruin of old  New class of landlords came up under the land revenue
zamindars and rise settlements of Warren Hastings.
of new land classes  Merchants and moneyed classes came up who lived in
towns.
 Had no permanent interest in land and tried to extort as
much revenue as possible.
Ruin of artisans and  Traditional Indian craft industries were completely

craftsmen - destroyed.
deindustrialisation  Wealth from India played a significant role in the
ZGVmMjcxYTA3NGI1
and ruralization of accumulation of capital in England needed for

Indian economy industrialization.
 Weavers and artisans of Bengal were forced to sell their
products at low and dictated prices.
 Indian educated middle class imitated European standard
lead to the decline of these handicraft industries.
 Import restrictions led to the ruin of the foreign market for
Indian citizens.
 Transportation of Indian goods was costly than that of
British goods through Railways.
 Import of cheap synthetic dyes destroyed dyeing industry
of Indian villages.
Commercialization  After the industrial revolution the East India Company

of agriculture brought about commercialization of those crops and agri -
products which would not compete with British products
and have a demand in the European market at the same
time.
 These were grown at the cost of food grains in India.
 The British goods were purchased from revenue collected
from Indian subjects.
 This resulted in drain of wealth from India.
 Commercialization of agriculture also caused deep poverty
which also resulted in Bundela rebellion of 1842.
 Commercialization also contributed to famines by
substituting food grains for commercial crops.
Drain of wealth  The continuous transfer of wealth from India to England has
been termed as drain of wealth.
 Drain of Wealth from India
refers to all those payments which were made by India to
Britain without any adequate Returns.
 Land revenue, Company's remittance to England, interest on
loans, bribes etc constituted drain of wealth.
 Newspapers like Amrit Bazar Patrika, Hindustan Review and
Kayastha Samachar opposed the drain of wealth from India.
Poverty and famines  Widespread poverty and starvation among the masses due
to British economic policies.
Rise of modern  British constructed Railways, Post and Telegraph lines for
Industries under the better Imperial control.
British  Many industrial capitalist classes and the working class
emerged due to this.
 Grand Trunk Road from Calcutta to Delhi was started.
 The first railway engine designed by George Stephenson
was put on rails.
ZGVmMjcxYTA3NGI1
 In 1814, Lord Dalhousie after becoming Governor General

of India advocated Rapid railway construction.
 First railway line in India was laid in between Bombay and
Thane in 1853.
 First telegraph line was opened from Calcutta to Agra in
16th century.
 Press was first introduced in India by the Portuguese in
1780.
 The first newspaper in India was published by James
Augustus Hickey titled the Bengal gazette.
Rise of new Indian  Indian traders, money lenders and bankers emerged as the
bourgeoisie new Indian middle class.
 These classes initially formed the westernized loyalists but
later they raised the banner of the National Movement in
second half of the 19th century. Example: Dadabhai
Naoroji.
British Expansion Policy
Doctrine of Lapse  The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy followed widely
by Lord Dalhousie when he was India’s Governor-General from
1848 to 1856.
 According to this, any princely state under the direct or indirect
(as a vassal) control of the East India Company where the ruler
did not have a legal male heir would be annexed by the company
 As per this, any adopted son of the Indian ruler could not be
proclaimed as heir to the kingdom. This challenged the Indian
ruler’s long-held authority to appoint an heir of their choice.
Subordinate Alliance  Subsidiary Alliance was basically a treaty between the British East
India Company and the Indian princely states, by virtue of which
the Indian kingdoms lost their sovereignty to the English.
 It was framed by Lord Wellesley, the Governor-General of India
from 1798 to 1805. It was actually used for the first time by the
French Governor-General Marquis Dupleix
 The Nawab of Awadh was the first ruler to enter into the
subsidiary alliance with the British after the Battle of Buxar.
However, the Nizam of Hyderabad was the first to accept a well-
framed subsidiary alliance.
Features of the Subsidiary Alliance Treaty
 An Indian ruler entering into Subsidiary Alliance with the British
had to dissolve his own armed forces and accept British forces in
his territory.
 He also had to pay for the British army’s maintenance. If he failed
to make the payment, a portion of his territory would be taken
away and ceded to the British.
ZGVmMjcxYTA3NGI1
 In return, the British would protect the Indian state against any
foreign attack or internal revolt.
 The British promised non-interference in internal affairs of the
Indian state but this was rarely kept.
 The Indian state could not enter into any alliance with any other
foreign power.
 He could also not employ any other foreign nationals other than
Englishmen in his service. And, if he were employing any, on the
signing of the alliance, he had to terminate them from his service.
The idea was to curb the influence of the French.
 A British Resident was also stationed in the Indian Court.
 The Indian ruler, thus, lost all powers in respect of foreign affairs
and the military.
 He virtually lost all his independence and became a British
‘protectorate’.
Order in which the Indian States entered into Subsidiary Alliances
 Hyderabad (1798)
 Mysore (1799 – After Tipu Sultan was defeated in the Fourth
Anglo-Mysore War)
 Tanjore (1799)
 Awadh (1801)
 Peshwa (Marathas) (1802)
 Scindia (Marathas) (1803)
 Gaekwad (Marathas) (1803)
Mercantile Phase  This ‘mercantilist’ phase was marked by direct plunder and the
(1757-1813) East India company’s monopoly trade functioning through the
investment of surplus revenues in the purchase of Indian
finished goods for export to England and Europe.
 During the mercantile phase the aim of all activity was to
accumulate wealth. In order to pursue a favourable trade, the
British company started aggressive policies in India.
 New revenue settlements were imposed upon the agrarian
structure.
Free trade phase (1813-  By the dawn of the 19th century, the British became an industrial
1860) power following Industrial Revolution in England. It was in need
of raw material to feed its industries. The emerging capitalist
class found the Company a stumbling block for its market.
 During this period, India was converted rapidly into a market for
British textiles and a great source for raw materials. Traditional
handicrafts were thrown out of gear
 The special feature of this policy was that it was a one way traffic
wherein British goods entered India virtually free while Indian
products entering Britain faced high tariffs.
 Revenue and expenditure policies of the Britishers were also
exploitative in nature. Huge expenditure (expenditure on army,
pensions and salaries of Englishmen, etc.) incurred by the British
imperial power had been borne by Indians by paying high doses
of taxes.
Finance capital phase  During this phase, finance-imperialism began to entrench itself
(1860 onwards) through the managing agency firms, export-import firms,
exchange banks, and some export of capital.
ZGVmMjcxYTA3NGI1
 Britain, of course, kept India as her most important colony where

British capital could hope to maintain a haven. For her survival,
Britain decided to make massive investments in various fields
(rail, road, postal system, irrigation, European banking system,
and a limited field of education, etc.) in India by plundering
Indian capital. It is said that ‘railway construction’ laid the
foundation for a new stage of colonial exploitation
 With the opening up of the country, private capitalist investment
from Britain came to India.
 The basic motive behind such investment was the commercial
penetration of India, its exploitation as a source of raw materials
and markets for British manufactures.
Educational Policies
Orientalist-Anglicism Controversy 
 The British East India Company officials wanted to maintain neutrality or non-intervention in
the sphere of religion and culture of the Indian society, after the acquisition of political
power in India in first half of 19th Century.
 The reason behind this policy was partly the fear of adverse reaction and opposition to their
role by the indigenous people.
 There was pressure from various quarters of British (missionaries, liberal, utilitarians) to give
up its position of neutrality and to take up the responsibility of promotion of education.
 But, there was a conflict in the opinions which were divided on the issue that whether the
company should promote western or oriental education, giving rise to the Orientalist-
Anglicist controversy.
 Orientalists
o The Orientalists led by Dr. H.H.Wilson and H.T. Princep advocated in favour of
Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian as the medium of education.
o Orientalists were guided by some practical considerations. They wanted to teach
the British officials the local language and culture so that they would be better at
their job. This was the prime objective behind the foundation of the Port William
College at Calcutta in 1800.
o The other motive was to develop friendly relations with the elites of the indigenous
society and to understand their culture. This was the main reason behind the
establishment of the Calcutta Madrassa and the Benaras Sanskrit College.
 Anglicists
o The Anglicists led by Charles Trevelyan, Elphinstone advocated the imparting of
western education through the medium of English.
o The Anglicists were supported by most advanced Indians of the time, like Raja Ram
Mohan Roy who advocated for the study of western education as the “key to the
treasures of scientific and democratic thought of the modern west.”
 Under the circumstances, the controversy between these two schools of thought was
referred to the Government by the General Committee of Public Instruction.
 Lord Macaulay, the Law member to the Supreme Council of Calcutta was
appointed Chairman of the Committee of Public Instruction.
ZGVmMjcxYTA3NGI1
Lord Macaulay’s Education Policy, 1835
 This famous minute finally settled the debate in the favour of Anglicists, that is, the limited
government resources were to be devoted to teaching of western sciences and literature
through the medium of English language alone.
 Lord Macaulay was of the view that ” Indian learning was inferior to European learning”,
which was true as far as physical and social sciences in the contemporary stage were
concerned.
 This policy was an attempt to create a system of education that educates only the upper
strata of society through English.
 The Government opened a few English schools and colleges instead of a large number of
elementary schools, thus neglecting mass education.
 The British planned to educate a small section of upper and middle classes, thus creating a
class “Indian in blood and colour but English in tastes, in opinions, in morals and in intellect”
who would act as interpreters between the government and masses and would enrich the
vernaculars by which knowledge of western sciences and literature would reach the masses.
 Persian was abolished as the court language and English become the court language.
Printings of English books were made free and available at a very low price.
 English education was allotted more funds as compared to oriental learning.
 In 1849, JED Bethune founded Bethune School.
 Agriculture Institute was established at Pusa (Bihar)
 Engineering Institute was established at Roorkee.
 In 1853, when renewal of the Company charter again came for the consideration, the British
Parliament examined the progress of education in India. The observations and suggested
reforms were issued as a Charter of Education, known as Wood’s Dispatch of 1854.
Wood’s Dispatch (1854)
 It is considered as the “Magna Carta of English Education in India” and contained a

comprehensive plan for spreading education in India.
 It states the responsibility of the State for the spread of education to the masses.
 It recommended the hierarchy education level-
o At the bottom, vernacular primary school;
o At district, Anglo-vernacular High Schools and affiliated college,
o University in each of the three Presidencies: Universities of Calcutta, Bombay, and
Madras Presidency.
 Recommended English as a medium of instruction for higher studies and vernacular at
school level.
 The Wood’s Dispatch, for the first time, recommended the creation of a Department of
Public Instruction in each of the five provinces of Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Punjab and the
North Western province.
 Plans to spread mass education were not realized nor were vernacular high schools
established. It did not sincerely promote universal literacy. The Dispatch could not visualize
the progress of Indian aspirations even after a century.
ZGVmMjcxYTA3NGI1
 As you know soon after 1857 revolt, the East India Company was dissolved and the
government came directly under the British Crown. As a consequence, efforts were made to
consolidate the empire and education was somewhat neglected.
Hunter Education Commission (1882-83)
 It was formed to evaluate the achievements of Wood Dispatch of 1854 under W.W Hunter in
1882.
 It underlined the state’s role in the extension and improvement of primary education and
secondary education.
 It underlined the transfer of control to district and municipal boards.
 It recommended two division of secondary education-
o Literary up to university;
o Vocational for commercial career.
 This was the first attempt to diversify school curriculum and introduce vocational education.
However, despite the specific recommendations and emphasis of the Hunter Commission on
commercial, vocational or non-literary education, neither the public nor the Govt.
appreciated the value of this practical suggestion and the recommendations were totally
ignored.
Indian Universities Act, 1904 
 A new Commission was appointed in 1902 to examine the condition and prospects of the
universities established in British Raj.
 The Commission recommended
o reorganization of university administration;
o strict and systematic supervision of the colleges by the university;
o stricter conditions of affiliation and major changes in curricula and examinations.
 As a result of the recommendations of this Commission, secondary schools were brought
under the control of the Universities. Under the Indian Universities Act of 1904, schools had
to be recognized by the Universities and rules and regulations were framed for this purpose
Government Resolution on Education Policy—1913 
 In 1906, the State of Baroda introduced compulsory primary education throughout its
territories. On seeing this, the nationalists demanded the Government of India to implement
the same throughout the country.
 However, in the government resolution on education policy of 1913, it refused compulsory
education. Instead it was accepted to remove illiteracy in the country.
 Some of the other resolutions made by the government were:
o To urge provincial governments to provide free elementary education for the poor
and backward sections of the society
o Improve the quality of secondary education schools
o Establishment of universities in every province.
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Saddler University Commission (1917-19) 
 The Government of India appointed a committee under the chairmanship of M.E.Sadler to

report on the problems of Calcutta University. However the Sadler commission reviewed the
education system completely from school to college.
 Sadler Commission suggested bifurcation of higher education at the intermediate
examination rather than at the matriculation examination.
 It suggested creation of Intermediate colleges which would provide instruction in Arts,
Science, Medicine, Engineering, Teaching, etc; to be run as independent institution or to be
attached to selected high schools.
o Perhaps the seed of the concept of +2 stage or Junior Colleges today, are laid by the
Sadler Commission.
 It also recommended that a Board of Secondary and Intermediate Education, be established
and entrusted with the administration and control of Secondary Education.
 The duration of intermediate education was limited to three years
 It recommended less rigidity in framing regulations of universities.
 It emphasised on woman education, teacher training, courses in applied science and
technology
Hartog Committee (1929) 
 With the increase in the quantity of educational institutions, there was a deterioration in the
quality of the education. Thus, Hartog committee was established in 1929 to make
recommendations for the development of the education in India.
 The recommendations of the Hartog committee were:
o Primary education should be given importance. It was against the hasty expansion
and compulsory education system.
o The commission criticised the indiscriminate admission of universities which led to
the lowering of its standards.
o Recommended establishment of selective system for admission
o Retention of average students and divert them into the courses leading to
commercial and industrial careers
 The Committee also recommended diversion of more boys to industrial and commercial
careers at the end of the middle stage, where they should be prepared for specialized
education in technical and industrial schools.
 The Committee also reviewed the problems relating to the training of teachers and the
service conditions of the secondary teachers.
Wardha Scheme of Basic Education (1937) 
 In 1937, when the provincial governments were formed in seven provinces with the native
representation, they concentrated their attention on educational reforms.
 In October 1937, an all-India National Educational Conference was held at Wardha and the
conference resolved to accept the proposals made by Mahatma Gandhi i.e.
o free and compulsory education be provided for seven years through mother tongue
on a nation-wide scale.
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o The process of education throughout this period should centre around some form of
manual and productive work.
 The conference expected that this system of education will be self sufficient and gradually,
will be able to cover the remuneration of teachers.
 Accordingly, a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Zakir Hussain was appointed. The
Committee prepared and submitted the first comprehensive national education scheme in
its report on December 2, 1937, which was popularly known as the Wardha Scheme or Basic
Education
o The basics of handicraft to be included in the syllabus
o First seven years of schooling to be an integral part of free and compulsory
education
o Teaching to be done in English medium only from class VIII.
Sergeant Plan of Education 
 Central Advisory Board of Education prepared a comprehensive report on educational

development after the world war, known as the Sargent Report in 1944.
 It recommended 20 years of education:
o Pre – Primary education for 3 – 6 years old
o Free and compulsory elementary education for 6 – 11 years age group
o High school education for the eligible students of age 17 years old
o 3 Years university course
 Abolition of intermediate course
 Classification of high school education into academic and vocational.
 Due importance was given to the teaching profession. Improvement of the salary scales and
the service conditions of the teachers were also suggested.
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transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without prior permission of IASbaba.

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PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT

ARRIVAL OF THE EUROPEANS

Year Personality Important events

1487 Bartholomew Diaz  Reached the southernmost tip of Africa.

1498 Vasco Da Gama  Headed the ‘First Portuguese India Armada’.

1500 Pedro Alvarez  He aimed at making treaty with Zamorin of

1502 Vasco Da Gama  In 1503, 1st Portuguese factory came up in

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT

 Set up his headquarter in Cochin.

1529-1538 Nino de Cunha  In 1530, he transferred the government head

Impact of the  They began to propagate Christianity in the

Year Personality Important events

1610  Dutch signed a treaty with the king of

1623  Amboyna massacre took place in Indonesia

1690  Dutch headquarters were transferred from

1759  Dutch were defeated by the English in the

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT

decisive Battle of Bedara, ending the Dutch

Year Personality Important events

1608 Captain Hawkins  Sent as a representative of the English Company to

1611 -  The English opened their 1st factory in the south at

1613 -  English were allowed to set up permanent factory

1632 -  Sultan of Golconda issued a Golden Farman in

1651  First English factory was set up in Hugli upon

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT

1658  All establishments of the English Company of

1690 Job Charnock  Established a factory at Sutanuti which was fortified

1698  The English Company obtained from Subahdar of

1700  Bengal factories were placed under Fort William.

1662  King Charles II received Bombay as dowry on

1717  Farrukhsiyar granted the English Company valuable

Year Personality Important events

1672 Francois Martin  Received a village as grant from the king of

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT

1674  French received a site near Calcutta where

1693  The Dutch snatched Pondicherry.

1697-  Other French factories – Mahe, Karaikal,

THE CARNATIC WARS (1740-1763)

Wars / Events Important details

Second Carnatic War,  Immediate context: succession disputes at Carnatic

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT

Third Carnatic War,  Immediate context: Seven years’ war in Europe.

Reasons for defeat of the  Continental ambitions of France: France remained

Different systems of government: French

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT

government was autocratic and suffered from

Difference in the organisation of the two

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT

BATTLE OF PLASSEY (1757) AND BATTLE OF BUXAR (1764)

2. Shelter to Krishna Das

3. Fortification of Fort William

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT

Mir Jafar (1757-60)

Mir Qasim or Itmad ud Daulah (1760-63)

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT

4. Misuse of the dastaks.

Battle of Buxar, Immediate cause

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT

THE ANGLO MYSORE WARS (DURING 1767-99)

PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME (PEP) 2022 -MODERN HISTORY HANDOUT

 Ended with the Treaty of Seringapatam.

Fourth Mysore war, Immediate context:

Indian Universities Act, 1904 

Government Resolution on Education Policy—1913 

Saddler University Commission (1917-19) 

Hartog Committee (1929) 

Wardha Scheme of Basic Education (1937) 

Sergeant Plan of Education 