How did a corporation come to dominate India?

Nearly losing an ● The role of the East India Company and the Governor General; the importance of
empire: the British in Bengal and the Company Army.
India, 1829–58
● William Sleeman’s campaign against Thagi: the drive against Sati and female
infanticide; the impact of missionaries.

● The Indian Rebellion: the reforms of Dalhousie; the annexation of Awadh; outbreak
and events in Meerut, Cawnpore and Delhi; the siege and relief of Lucknow; reasons
why the British retained control.

Depth Topic 4 key questions

• To what extent did the British control India in 1829?

• What were the causes and significance of the clash of cultures between the British and Indians?

• What were the immediate causes of the outbreak of the rebellion in 1857, and why were the British able to
retain control of India

Task 1

Answer the questions below as you watch the ‘400 Years’ video series

Video 1 (2) The East India Company || 400 Years: Britain & India || Episode 1 - YouTube

Video 2: (2) Roots of the Empire Part 1 || 400 Years: Britain and India || Episode 2 - YouTube

Video 3: (2) Roots of the Empire Part 2 || 400 Years: Britain and India || Episode 3 - YouTube

Why did it - The Dutch Empire had already been established in India – controlling the spice trade
initially seem - The Portuguese Empire had already been established for 100 years
unlikely that the - The Mughal Empire had most of the control and power over India
East India - After the initial profits, their monopoly on goods diminishes as other merchants began to
Company was trade
going to be a - Lose a war to the Mughal Empire in the 17th century
successful - The severe famine in Bengal in 1770 resulted in a third of the population perishing,
colonising force? causing a significant setback for the East India Company (EIC).
- Bankruptcy ensued, and the British government had to intervene, leading to the
partial nationalization of the company.
- The EIC faced challenges in maintaining control over Bengal, with unintended
consequences such as reducing it to a dust bowl.
What were the - 1588 – British merchants explore the Indian Ocean
key individuals - 1600 – East India Company set up
and dates that - 1608 – First boat docks in India
took the EIC from - 1615 – Set up the first EIC trading post
trader to Empire? - The transition from trading to ruling was facilitated by Major General Robert Clive
and Warren Hastings.
(Note names, - 1765: The Battle of Buxar marked a turning point, with the EIC gaining complete
events, actions, control over eastern India
and
- 1798: Marquess Wellesley actively decided to conquer as much Indian territory as
consequences
here) possible, leading to massive wars against Tipu Sultan and the Marathas.
- 1857: The Indian Rebellion spread across all sectors of society, becoming a turning
point in British rule.
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What were the - By 1750, the East India Company had been trading for nearly 150 years, wielding
key factors substantial commercial and political influence. The transition from trading to ruling
responsible for was facilitated by Major General Robert Clive and Warren Hastings. These
the move from individuals played pivotal roles in removing the Mughal Empire, as well as the Dutch
trade to empire?
and French East India Companies, paving the way for the British Raj.
(Note names, - The East India Company (EIC) evolved into a dominant military power, with Robert
events, actions, Clive emerging as a prominent military leader in India. Despite criticisms of his
and methods, especially when compared to his successor Warren Hastings, Clive's
consequences successful battles, including Plassey and Buxar, granted the EIC control and a
here) stronghold for almost 50 years.
- Modern military tactics against large poorly trained Indian armies proved to be their
downfall
- British victories in the south, indirectly influenced by Warren Hastings, expanded
territorial influence.
- Despite intentions for indirect rule, the EIC inadvertently filled political vacuums and
reduced Bengal to a dust bowl.
- The EIC faced a crisis due to bankruptcy, requiring British government intervention
and leading to partial nationalization.
- Access to global money markets allowed the British to withstand losses, extending
their power despite challenges in consolidation.

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 To what extent did the British control India by 1829?
Task 2

Read through the information below. Highlight information which connects to these two questions:

1. What recent changes had the EIC experienced prior to 1829?

2. What factors helped the EIC control its territory in India?

What was the East India Company?

The EIC was set up as a chartered company, which can be defined as:

A type of corporation that evolved in the early modern era. It enjoyed certain rights and privileges, under a
special charter granted to it by the sovereign authority of the state. The charter usually conferred a trading
monopoly upon the company in a specific geographic area or for a specific type of trade item.

The EIC was established in 1600 and slowly established a trading relationship with the Mughal Empire in India. As
the Mughal Empire declined, the EIC strengthened its position Governors
in India and was the
General dominant
of the force
Presidency of in theWilliam
Fort region
by 1829. (Bengal)

What was the relationship between the EIC and the British government byWellesley,
Richard 1829? 18 May 30 July
Earl of Mornington 1798 1805
As the EIC became more both an economic and political force in India, the British government attempted to
obtain more direct influence on its operations. There are several key events that contribute to this: 4
31 July
The Lord Minto October
1807
 The Regulating Act of 1773 created a governing council of five for the Company. Two members were 1813
selected by the Company, and three were chosen by Parliament. This gave a majority to Parliament
selected members. 4 9
Francis Rawdon-Hastings October January
 The act also ensured the Governor General in India was appointed by a council of four advisors who were
1813 1823
selected by the monarch.
 The Regulating Act of 1784 established a Board of Control to regulate the political functions of the EIC.
13
The membership of this board was decided by Parliament and the King. 1 August
The Lord Amherst March
1823
 By 1786 the company was a regularised subsidiary of the Crown. This meant it was no longer an 1828
independent company but instead was overseen by Parliament.
 However, the 1786 Act also gave the Governor General in India the powers to override the governing 20
4 July
council in special circumstances. Lord William Bentinck March
1828
1835
Therefore, power in India was exercised by individual governor generals, who were answerable to Parliament
more than the Company itself. 28
4 March
George Eden, 1st Earl of February
Auckland
1836
What was the trading position of the EIC by 1829? 1842

Parliament had also helped reshape the trading function of the EIC by 1829. As the doctrine of free trade became
12
23 July
a growing political force in Britain, Parliament gradually removed the EIC trading monopoly in Asia. Key events
January
were: Henry Harding
1844
1848
What was the role
 The 1813ofCharter
the Governors
Act – thisinended
India the
by 1829?
EIC monopoly on trade except for the trade in tea and trade with
China. The Act also permitted Christian missionaries the chance to preach in Company territory and
The EIC had established 3 Presidencies by 1829. These were
suggested provisions for the education of Indians. 12 28
Bengal (with Calcutta as the main city), Bombay and Madras
 mapTheon 1833 James Broun-Ramsay, Earl of January February
(see the the Charter Act – this removed the EIC monopoly completely. It caused the Company to rethink its
next page). Dalhousie
function.
1848 1856
 The most important of these was Bengal. The
Therefore by 1829 the EIC had become an administrator to territory rather than simply engaging in commercial
Governor General resided in Fort William Calcutta.
activity. British representatives in India saw themselves as rulers rather than traders. The EIC now employed civil
 The other presidents (in Madras and Bombay) could 28 21
servants to help them administer their territory and collect taxes. The EIC established Haileybury College in
not make war or accept peace with Indian princes Charles Canning, Viscount February March 3
Hertfordshire in 1806 specifically to train civil servants to help run their growing
Cannin territory.
without approval of Governor General.
 In 1833 it was decided the Governor General in 1856 1862
Bengal would have legislative control over all the
How important was the EIC Army?

 The EIC had established 3 armies during the 1700s. They were based in Bengal, Madras and Bombay.
 These armies had both white regiments and Indian (or sepoy) regiments.
 The Bengali army was the largest of the three. The EIC intentionally recruited the Bengali army soldiers
from Awadh province not Bengal itself. They also recruited these soldiers from the higher Brahmin caste
to give the army a sense of prestige.
 When the EIC extended its territory in the 1800s, they used mainly Bengali soldiers, which created
growing tension between Indian regions.
 By 1857 there were only 45,522 European soldiers out of a total of 277,746 soldiers. The rest were
sepoys.
 The officer class was exclusively White European. They were trained at Addiscombe Military Seminary in
Surrey. This training centre allowed the EIC officers to gain shared values and a sense of cultural
superiority.
 These armies controlled an area of 243,000 km2 by 1800 (which is bigger than the UK).
 The EIC army was vital in helping administer territory. They helped enforce tax collection and often
convinced local princes/rulers to ally with the EIC for protection.

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How did the EIC extend its territory in the period 1823-53?

 The EIC had successfully annexed Assam, Manipur and Cacher between 1823 and 1826 but at a significant
financial cost (see map above).
 In the 1830s attention turned to the NW frontier. Britain was concerned that Russia might invade their
Indian territory through Afghanistan and the Punjab or through Persia and Sind.
 Between 1829 and 1853 the Company fought a series of wars in Afghanistan, Sind and the Punjab with
mixed success (see map above).
 The first Afghan War 1838-42 became known as “Auckland’s folly” after the governor general who
launched the campaign. It culminated in the famous retreat from Kabul where only one man (Dr Brydon)
reached the safety of Jalalabad in India. In total, the campaign cost 20,000 lives and £15 million.
 Britain turned to Sind and the Punjab as compensation. Sind was annexed in 1843 after a decisive
campaign. The Punjab proved much harder as it was the centre of the Sikh Empire which had been
established by Ranjit Singh in 1799.
 The Punjab was finally brough under EIC control in 1849. This was only after the death of Ranjit Singh
(1839) and brave fighting from the Sikh soldiers which earned them admiration from the British soldiers
who were on the campaign.
 However, the Sikhs themselves harboured bitterness towards the Bengali sepoys of the EIC army. This was
an example of the tensions between native groups which helped the EIC “divide and conquer” the
continent and would prove important in the 1857 Indian Rebellion.

5
Task 3

Sum up your reading by listing your main points in the table below:

Changes to the EIC Reasons for EIC control of India

- The 1813 Charter Act – this ended the EIC
monopoly on trade except for the trade in tea
and trade with China. The Act also permitted
Christian missionaries the chance to preach in
Company territory and suggested provisions for
the education of Indians.
- The EIC had established 3 Presidencies by
1829. These were Bengal (with Calcutta as the
main city), Bombay and Madras (see the map
on the next page).
o The most important of these was
Bengal. The Governor General resided
in Fort William Calcutta.
- Lord Cornwallis (of Yorktown fame) established
the Code of Regulations during his time as
Governor (1786-93).
- The EIC had successfully annexed Assam,
Manipur and Cacher between 1823 and 1826
but at a significant financial cost (see map
above).
Now answer these summary questions
- As the Mughal Empire declined, the EIC
strengthened its position in India and was the
dominant force in the region by 1829
- The Regulating Act of 1773
- The 1833 Charter Act – this removed the EIC
monopoly completely. It caused the Company
to rethink its function.
o Therefore, by 1829, the EIC had
become an administrator to territory
rather than simply engaging in
commercial activity. British
representatives in India saw themselves
as rulers rather than traders. The EIC
now employed civil servants to help
them administer their territory and
collect taxes. The EIC established
Haileybury College in Hertfordshire in
1806 specifically to train civil servants
to help run their growing territory.
- by 1829, the Governor General in Calcutta was
the most powerful individual in India and
exercised power relatively free from restraint
from London.
- Code of Regulations became the framework for
EIC rule in India
- The EIC army was vital in helping administer
territory
- Extension of territory

1. The EIC had experienced significant change prior to 1829, which one change seemed the most significant?

The EIC becoming more of an administrator of the region instead of being essentially a trading company changed the
way it operated, having to hire significantly more civil servants as most of their money came from taxes now, due to
the loss of monopoly over Indian goods.

2. The EIC control of India was aided my many factors, which one factor appear the most important?

The EIC being a special charter given by the government allowed it to consolidate and make money by establishing a
monopoly over Indian goods, essentially allowing to consolidate power in India before they lost it