Great British Imperialism Research Paper

India became the jewel in the crown of the British Empire. I think that if America had not achieved independence then the spotlight would not have been switched to India at all as brightly and so the jewel in the crown would have

“Englishmen.. have given the people of India the greatest human blessing - peace.” (Dutt). Merely coming to India in the 1600s to trade, the British East India Company established trading outposts. After ridding of French influence in India during the Seven Years’ War and having Indians mutiny against British rule, Britain gained full control of India. India has been under the imperialist control of the British until their independence in 1947. British imperialism caused some negative effects on India through poverty and persecution, but retained more of a positive impact due to its massive improvements in the modernization of India and the overall improvement of Indian civilization.

India is a great example about how they were too weak. India is probably in the best position for trade, due to its central location between Africa and Asia. India was a great area for trade.Before the West’s power overtook India, it was small not unified. In document 5 a person can be seen weaving on their own. This is before they were introduced to industrial textile production. The British wanted to take control of India and combine with them to become bigger and stronger. Britain saw India as a market and is a source of raw materials they built roads and impressive railroads to transport factory made goods across the subcontinent. These roads and railroads are used to carry materials such as coal and cotton to coastal ports to transfer the factories in England. This description of India can relate to Document 6, in this document a railroad is seen being built under British control. Railroads are an example of modernization taking over this country.

British imperialism lasted for hundreds of years and has had staggering effects in India that we can still see today. Britain initially became interested in India in the 1600’s; the government set up trading posts around the country because it was interested in the raw materials and resources available. At first Britain used indirect rule through Sepoys -- Indian soldiers -- but after the Sepoy Rebellion Britain had to step in to rule directly. Although British imperialism had positive effects such as eradicating immoral customs and paving the way for modern India, it also had numerous negative effects, such as by creating laws to better control Indians which left their government negatively impacted, taking from India with no concern for the

This lead to the British using the army in wrong ways and the government being mostly white foreigners. The British made the Indian army and military academies to train officers. (According to Dr.Lalvani) However the British ended up using the Indian army against the Indians for example the Amritsar massacre. (Gandhi). The British created a superbly efficient administration over 500 million diverse people. (According to Dr.Lalvani) On the other hand as good as this may be the British government over India consisted of 960 officers, 900 of which were Englishmen. (Document 2). Because of this the Indians felt as if they had no responsibility over their own

They controlled 900/960 governors of the police offices. They still got to use the ships and the railroads to transport goods (Lalvani). Giving them no say and created dependency, and they had no control over their taxations (Doc.#2). Even tho the British practically ruined and killed tons of people because of starvation & changing the laws the indians practically still have some perks left to use like the ships but they couldn’t eat or sell food to get money to food really affected them.

India was colonized by the British because of the abundance of natural resources including natural gas, coal, gold, diamonds, and copper. Britain wasn't the only country running for the mines; Germany established the German East Africa Company. They established gold mines and used advanced machinery along with hard labor to invest their resources in the mining industry (Doc 8). In the eyes of Germany, the market of home made goods has decreased in the rise of imperialism and each country has a market waiting to be established (Doc 5). By investing in a new market in one country, one country may expand the market through the imperialism of other territories and gain control over that industry. Britain had the advantage over other European countries colonizing countries in Africa because they spread out their territory over the entire continent, enabling Britain to control multiple industries. The control of multiple industries sparked a rapid increase in capital which also increased Britains power. This power came from money to invest in a strong military, broad trade relations, and new

The British damaged India severely political wise, but it didn’t stop there. Economically the British destroyed India's fertile ground. Indians were now required to grow British cash crops (Doc 6+7) instead of items that would benefit them, like veggies, fruit, etc. One cash crop was indigo. Indigo ended up being one of the leading factors for famine (Doc 6+7).

When the British assumed control they unified India. The British however, made an unfair government that negatively impacting the politics of India. The government the British had created, gave the Indians little to no say in the decisions being made and mostly only benefit the British. The transition from colonial rule to independence also caused many deaths. Lalvani claims the British administration was “superbly efficient” (Lalvani).

India helped Britain economically by expanding their markets and exporting British tea. It also provided an Indian army for Britain. The Philippines allowed the US to trade in the Pacific and export out of their territories. Both the US and Britain were focused on gaining something economical from their territories rather than helping those who lived there or expanding their borders for the sake of their citizens. Thomas Nast depicted imperialism as a negative, power hungry idea that foreign countries were taking part of to become an international super power.

Britain took over India after a brief struggle with France; initially to aid in its economy; mainly its textiles. The plan was to have Indians harvest raw materials to ship back to Britain. Britain would therefore have cheap raw materials sent back to them; because India was mercantilist (could only trade with the mother country) they did not have much of a choice but to sell to Britain cheaply. Britain therefore always had a steady source of raw materials Britain would turn raw materials into finished products that it would ship back to India and sell to Indians. Prices for goods were low and Indians liked that, but also Britain had a steady source of income. The most useful Indian industry for Britain was its cotton industry; Britain often used Indian cotton for clothing. India made for a cheap way to assemble (cheap labor) and an easy way to get business.

Britain had a desire to have a more economic, political, and social influence over India. Even though the British never preserved a notable military existence in India, they were able to maintain political control. Many changes were made, which benefitted India, but there were also some changes, which contributed to its deterioration. Despite the negative impacts Britain left on India, imperialism is best understood as a strong country extending its authority, in order to increase its wealth, by bringing more of the world under its control, because Britain helped in the development of India from a nation-state, to a unified country, which is modernly the world’s largest democracy.

Let's start with India. India during this age had a lot to offer Britain. India was filled with raw materials that Britain wanted. They started the British East India Company in order to take over. They continuously grew in power and started to influence

Africa as well ensured the British with the valuable mineral resources of Gold and Diamonds. With the British imposing on this area, it lead to the mixing of the two cultures and revolts. Second reason for British Imperialism was Trade. Great Britain trade was vast but one specific occurrence with China really showed the careless side of the British. British smuggled Opium into China and continued though Chinese officials weren’t okay with it.

Many positive things happened during, and as a result of, the British colonization of India. When the East India Company took control of India in 1612, they began modernizing, westernizing, and industrializing India. This westernization included giving women more rights, an attempt to eliminate the caste system and the loss of many of the more backward Hindu religious beliefs such as the domination of women by men and denying an entire class of people any rights. British occupation also did things long term for India. The modern technology and western customs allowed India to become a burgeoning regional superpower. The colonization of India was helpful for India because it went a long way to modernize India, westernized India in