Question 1.

In the context of the Revolt of 1857, answer the following questions:

1. Mention any three political causes of the Revolt.

Answer:
(a) Political Causes:

1. Dalhousie annexed the states of Satara, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Udaipur and Jhansi by
applying the Doctrine of Lapse. The annexation transformed the courageous Rani Laxmi
Bai of Jhansi into a staunch enemy of the British.

2. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II (pensioner of the British), was denied
a pension after his father’s death. Nana Saheb became one of the leaders of the Revolt.

3. Bahadur Shah Zafar, the Mughal Emperor, lived in Delhi as a pensioner of the British.
Dalhousie announced that Bahadur’s successor would not be allowed to stay on in the
historic Red Fort. He would have to move to a place near the Qutb Minar, on the outskirts
of Delhi. This was a great blow to the dignity of the Mughal emperor and deeply hurt the
sentiments of the Muslims.

4. (The annexation of Awadh, on grounds of alleged misrule, outraged the people of India,
in general, and Awadh, in particular. Awadh had always been a friendly, faithful and
subordinate ally. The Nawab of Awadh was exiled to Calcutta.

5. The British showed no respect for the treaties they had signed with the Indians. Treaties
were broken whenever it suited them to do so. This created a sense of fear and insecurity
among the rulers of subordinate states. The axe could fall on them anywhere, at any time.

Question 2
Mention the three economy factors that led to the outbreak of the great revolt of 1857.

Economic Causes:

1. Agricultural India was made an economic colony to serve the interests of industrial
England. India was forced to export raw materials at cheap rates to British Industries.
Raw silk, raw cotton, tea, indigo and food grains were exported to Britain at cheaper
rates, causing shortage and price rise in Indian market.

2. India was forced to accept readymade British goods either duty-free or at nominal duty
rates. While Indian products were levied with higher import duties in England. This
ruined the Indian industry causing lower income and increased unemployment in India.

3. Higher land revenue forced many farmers into debt or into selling their lands. Landlords
also suffered from a sense of insecurity. Thousands of Jagirs were confiscated by
Bentinck and Dalhousie, when they were unable to produce written title deeds of
ownership of land.

4. The art of spinning and weaving, which for ages had given employment to thousands of
artisans became extinct due to British imported goods.

5. There was drain of wealth from India to England, causing low developmental work in
India.

Question 3

Explain briefly any four social and religious causes that led to the Revolt of 1857.

The socio-religious policies of the British, which caused resentment among the Indians
were the following:
1. Social reforms such as the abolition of sati(1829), and female infanticide, the Widow
Remarriage Act(1856) and the introduction of women ‘s education caused deep
resentment among the orthodox sections of society.

2. The introduction of Western education undermined the position and importance of the
Pundits and Maulvis and was seen as an attack on ancient traditions and values. The
office of the Inspector of Schools in Patna was referred to as the ‘shaitane dafitar’.

3. The introduction of the railways and posts and telegraphs aroused grave doubts and fears,
especially among the simple, backward villagers. They thought that the telegraph system
was a form of Western magic. They grew fearful of the intentions of the British

4. The British judicial system introduced the principle of equality. This was regarded as a
threat to the existing caste norms and privileges of the upper classes.

5. The British looked down upon the Indians and followed a policy of racial discrimination.
They made no effort to interact socially with the Indians. They were convinced of the
superiority of the European race and treated the Indians with great contempt.

6. The British denounced idol worship. There was an increase both in the numbers and
activities of the Christian missionaries. Indians thought that the Government is
supporting missionaries who will convert them to Christian.

7. The British policies of taxing lands belonging to temples and mosques hurt the religious
sentiments of the Indians. This tax was exempted earlier by Indian rulers.
Question 4

Write the Military causes that led to the revolt of 1857.

1. Indian soldiers known as sepoys in British rule were poorly paid, ill-fed and badly
housed. British military authorities forbade the sepoys from wearing caste or sectarian
marks, beards or turbans. They showed disregard for the sentiments of the sepoys.

2. The British parliament passed the General Service Enlistment Act in 1856. As per this
act, Indian soldiers could be sent overseas on duty. The Brahmin soldiers saw in this a
danger to their caste as crossing the seas was taboo for a Brahmin as per their belief.

3. The higher positions in the military were reserved only for the British irrespective of
their performance. Indian soldiers could not rise above the rank of a Subedar. The salary
of British soldiers were eight times more than the wages of Indian soldiers.

4. The Indian soldiers were posted to serve in areas away from their homes without extra
payment and additional Bhatta (foreign service allowance).

5. The British army suffered major reverses in the First Afgan War (1838-42), in the Punjab
Wars (1845-49) and in the Crimean War (1853-56). This broke the myth that the British
were invincible. Above defeats give the Indian soldiers to belief that the British army
could be defeated by the determined Indian army.

Question 5

What was the immediate cause of the uprising of 1857?

In 1856, the British authorities decided to replace the old fashioned musket by the new
‘Enfield rifle’. The loading process of the Enfield rifle involved bringing the cartridge to the
mouth and biting off the top greased paper with the teeth.

In 1857, a rumor started at the Dum Dum cantonment (in Calcutta) that the cartridges, used
in the Enfield rifle were greased with cow fat and pig lard. The rumor spread like wildfire
among the Hindu and Muslim sepoys. They were convinced that the British Government
was deliberately trying to defile their religion. A wave of indignation and danger swept
through all the military stations. Both the Hindu and Muslim soldiers refused to use the
cartridge and staged an uprising when they were forced to use them.
Beginning of the Uprising

On 29 march 1857, Magal Pandey, a sepoy at Barrackpore refused to use the cartridge and
attacked his senior officers. He was executed after a court-martial.

Question 6

What are the grievances of the Indians regarding the modern innovations introduced by
the British in India?

1. The introduction of modern innovations such as railways and telegraphs was

misunderstood by the people. They thought the telegraph poles were erected to hand
people .
2. Indians noted that in the railway compartments the higher castes and the lower castes
were made to sit side by side. They believed that the British had introduced such
practices to defy their caste and religion.

Question 7

what was the Doctrine of Lapse? Name three states annexed by the British using the
Doctrine of Lapse.

Doctrine of Lapse:-If an Indian ruler died without a natural heir, the adopted child would not
have any right to inherit the throne.

States like Jhansi, Satara, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Jaitpur and Udaipur were annexed using
Doctrine of Lapse.

Question 8

Which announcement of the British hurt the sentiments of the Muslims?

In 1856, Lord Canning announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah, his successor
would not be allowed to use imperial titles with their names. This decision of the British
hurt the feeling of the Muslims.
Question 9

Give any three ways by which the British exploited the resources.

1. Indian was forced to export at cheaper rates, raw materials like raw cotton and raw silk
that the British industries needed. Export of raw materials and food grains deprived
India of her agricultural surplus and raised the price of raw materials in locals.
2. India was made accept readymade British goods either duty free or at nominal duty
rate, while Indian products were subjected to high import duties in England.
3. Indigo trade was highly profitable to the British and peasants were forced to cultivate
only indigo in the fields chosen by the British planters.

Question 10