The Great Rebellion of the Indian people of 1857 became the topic of debates among historians. Indian people began the uprising because they were cruelly exploited by the British colonialists. Interests of the peasantry, craftsmen and some of the Indian feudal lords were infringed. While the peasants were deprived of their communal land rights and craftsmen went bankrupt due to the appearance of British goods in India, some feudal lords also suffered from laws specifically issued by the colonial authorities in order to deprive them of their inheritance rights. In addition to these sections of the Indian population, the English mercenary soldiers the local army, which were called "Sepoys" were not satisfied with their position in the army, they were often discriminated and humiliated, and they …show more content…
They mostly describe the rebellion as harsh and cruel violence done by local population towards more developed and enlightened Western civilization. For instance, Christopher Hibbert (1978) is criticized for showing “fundamental lack of understanding of Indian revolt”, while his work is wholly lacking analysis or “anything even approaching an analytical framework” (Brodkin 1980: p.629). This author deals almost entirely with the British, who were enlighteners that brought civilization, technology, and modernization to backward people of India. Whilst ordinary Indians are described as the masters of plunder, who were “howling and dancing” and “hissing curses” with “demonical gestures” during the rebellion (Hibbert 1978). Moreover, Indian aristocracy, with whom English used to have official dinners as well as trading businesses, betrayed the confidence of the British by supporting the
Also known as India’s First War for Independence, this rebellion was between Indian Sepoys and the British East India Company. Before this mutiny, the British East India Company had total control over Indian, however afterwards, Indian was directly controlled by the British Raj. Because of this the British government had even more control over Indian and her laws, similar to how Britain gained more control of North America after the Seven Years War. One thing that stayed the same before and after the rebellion was the rebel’s cause. Indian citizens began to continue their criticism of the unfair rule of the British, similar to how some American colonists were rebelling against the new, stricter
The Sepoy Rebellion happened due to The British East India Company’s insensitivity to the Indian culture and Britain’s attempt to create a new government. Sita Ram was a sepoy who was loyal to the British but still had his doubts about questionable actions and explains this in one of his memoirs, which states, “Interested parties were quick to point out that the great aim of the English was to turn us all into Christians and they had therefore introduced the cartridge in order to bring this about, since both Muslims and Hindus would be defiled by using it.”(Document C) This piece of evidence clearly explains Sita’s point of view on how the British’s actions led to the sepoy’s distrusting the British. By bringing up the fact that there was no Indian representative in the government the British East India Company Sita conveys why the sepoy were beginning to lose faith in British rule. Their neglect to allow an Indian representative was a mistake in the long run. Another person who believes that Britain’s past actions caused suspicion with Indian citizens. Sayyid Ahmed Khan was Muslim noble and scholar who worked as a jurist for the British East India
As India’s modernization developed, the entire civilization of India improved remarkably. The country’s improvement of civilization is exemplified through it’s establishment of schools and law. Western education was introduced by Britain and laws were well made with courts that enforce them. (Doc 3). One should take into account the speaker of this document because Romesh Dutt is an Indian like any other, yet he praises the British for what they have done to contribute to the development of India. In addition to these establishments is Britain bringing finer ideals of humanity to India. Infanticide, the killing of female babies, was brought to a halt as well as participation in the slave trade (Doc 5). Without the interference of Britain, these inhumane actions would be prevalent throughout India and the country would suffer from a bad reputation. These
The rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada were in the interests of self-government but were doomed to failure from their beginning. Each of these two colonies encountered a great deal of problems right from the institution of the Constitution Act of 1791 and the problems continually got worse until the only choice to some seem to be rebellion. There were several problems that lead to the rebellions of 1837-38. In Lower Canada there was the agricultural crisis that caused a large number of starvations, to the French and English political and social problems within the colony. There were several different reasons that caused the rebellion in Upper Canada but these caused were mainly rooted in
In 1791 farmers tarred a tax collector and threatened to burn down houses.The Whiskey rebellion is what Alexander Hamilton called these events, it was farmers mostly in Pennsylvania rebelling against a whiskey tax. It was 1791, farmers rebelled against a whiskey tax, which later Washington led his army to stop, allowing him to empower his newly formed government.
The Indian resistance against the British empire is one example of opposition against imperialism. Until 1858, India was controlled by the British East India Company. Thereafter, the crown rule replaced the company rule until 1947. “The slow expansion of the Indian role in public affairs would not have occurred without mounting political pressure from Indian society” (Findley 188). The people of India had tried to cause a reform through a political channel, evident through the slow yet steady participation in political affairs from 1858-1947. In this resistance,
Similar to the Royal Niger River Company, whose job was to govern and administer the Niger River delta, the British commissioned the East India Company to govern India (Doc 1). Many groups in India grew discontent with British rule. One of these groups, the Sepoys, eventually rebelled. Although the Sepoy rebellion was unsuccessful, like the Ndebele Rebellion in southern Africa, it revealed many Indians resented British rule. Many independent kingdoms in Southeast Asia fell to the British and French.
Throughout the years, the colonized inhabitants of a conquered nation have responded to the threat of imperialism by encouraging violence and rebelling against their captors. This behavior is shown when Moulavy Syad Kutb Shah Sahib writes about the Sepoy Mutiny in India and when he states in Document 2 that, “We must unite in their slaughter for by this alone will the lives and faith of us both be saved.” [..] Perhaps the English may try to assure the Hindus that they have consented to give up killing cows from respect for the Hindu religion. But no sensible man will be gulled by such deceit, for the promises of the English are deceitful.” This passage demonstrates how Sahib promotes violence through a letter and encourages the Muslims and
The Indian Mutiny, also known as the Indian Revolt, was a war between the Indians and the British. Basically the war was due to the prolonged British occupation over the land of the Indians. The war was the first war that the Indians fought over their independence and the Sepoy Mutiny. The British launched their presence in India during the 17th century. This was at the part time of the Mogul empire. At this period of time, the territory of Bombay had just been acquired by the East India Company which had over the years expanded its territory. The company had a strong army which eventually took-out the French after the Battle of Plassey, 1757, hundred years earlier. The army of the Indian soldiers was compromised of British soldiers who acted as the commanders. They were called sepoys. This war was propelled by several causes and eventually resulted to several consequences. We shall start by looking into the causes. These causes were mainly as a result of the policy of westernization.
Taxes. No one likes them, but taxes are something that everybody has to pay. This statement was very true for colonial America. One of the biggest factors resulting in America revolting against the British was the various taxes Britain levied on the Americans. After the American Revolution, taxes were not able to be enacted until the Articles of Confederation were eliminated and the US Constitution was established. The Constitution allowed Congress to levy their first tax on domestic goods, which was on distilled beverages. This tax proved to be the ultimate test for the growing America, and would begin the Whiskey Rebellion.
The Rebellion [KF1] of 1885 has had long-lasting effects of the First Nations, their political efforts, and their way of life. A study of the events leading up to the Rebellion of 1885 reveal a dispute between the First Nations people and the North-West government authority over treaty rights and land settlement. Historical media reports and surveillance data claimed the First Nations people joined the Metis in an revolt; however, there is evidence that government authorities used the events before, during and after 1885 to aid in their pre-existing campaign to suppress First Nations’ political efforts in order to secure their land for settlement and assist in colonialization.
Shays Rebellion was caused by the extensive taxing the citizens of Massachusetts. The taxes fell heavily upon the poorer citizens of Massachusetts. When the Massachusetts legislature refused to relieve citizens of the burdens of such taxes. In response, a protest grew, with many people sympathizing with the protesters’ cause. A former army captain and farmer, Daniel Shays rounded up a group of over a thousand farmers, eventually leading this group to march on the federal arsenal in Springfield,
The New York Uprising was in early august, where violence broke out between British soldiers and armed colonists, including many Sons of Liberty members, who some say, ran the rebellion. The violence erupted as a result of the continuing refusal of New York colonists to comply with the Quartering Act. Created in 1765, it declared that all colonists to provide food, drink, shelter, fuel and transportation to all British forces. As a result of the uprising the New York legislature was sacked by the British government because of the refusal to follow the law.
Throughout the years many historians have compilated and examined why Indian people were so desperate to gain back their independence from the British Empire during their rule over India, from 1612 to 1947. The reasoning can most definitely be found as the British discriminated against Indian people as they believe that they were inferior; it is no surprise that Indian people fought so hard for their independence. Throughout the British Raj, they placed and put forward unbelievably racist acts and laws which discriminated against Indian people. Which of course led to Indians to rebel against the British rule and which the British reacted with causing massacres. Explaining the nationalistic many India’s felt during the British Raj.
The Great Mutiny of 1857 (also know as the Great Rebillion) was an event or period that mark a turning point in the history of the subcontinent. It was know to be the most widespread and dangerous threat to British rule in India during the 19th century. The event make a point that neither Muslims nor Hindus were in favor of rulling under the British. The most important repercussions was the abolition of the East India Company and the transfer of control of India to British Crown. The Mutiny, however was much more than a military crisis. For example in Awadh ,mass peasants uprisings accompainied by local militants/rebellions demonstrate the existence of broad-based opposition to British administative and economic policies in India which were