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For more than 200 years before the Indian Mutiny of 1857, there had been a British presence in India. They began as merchant ventures and their holdings on the land were relatively small. Over the years they had expanded, creating forts for protection and larger trading stations. Eventually, to make certain that there would be stability and a successful trade business, Britain deployed many of its armed forces there and also raised forces of natives, thus becoming an active power in 18 th Century India. Sometimes by their design but also sometimes by accident, the area of British control began to increase.
Their expansion lasted until nearly the entire sub-continent was apart or effected by the empire by the year 1857. The relationship of the British with their Indian subject gradually began to get worse as time passed. Many held the invention of the steamships responsible for the tension between the two peoples. By allowing the British officers a greatly reduced travel time from their English wives and their workplace, created less time with their Indian mistresses. Another very important aspect was the arrival of missionaries from protestant England.
The missionaries cast their teachings upon the very conservative Indians, who preferred their own customs and institutions to other people. Indians especially preferred their own religions and Evangelical Christians had little respect, or understanding of, these ancient practices and beliefs. The spark that started it happened in May of 1857 with a mutiny of Indian troops at Meerut, or a matter of religious principle. The new rifles, which had been issued by the British army, contained a cartridge that required the soldier to bite of the end in order to load the weapon. To make this process easier, the cartridges were greased with the animal fat of a cow or pig. The rumor quickly spread throughout the Indian regiment that this process was being used, and according to ancient Hindu and Muslim religion, this practice is unclean and according to Lord Roberts, "the affair betrayed and incredible disregard of the natives' religious prejudices. " (Porter, 40) The mutineers took Delhi first with the help of more native regiments, and from there, the rebellion spread quickly but unevenly.
Throughout the many battles at Delhi, Cawnpore, and Lucknow, the natives were never able to completely seize all of India. Britain did manage to survive the fourteen month long battle, but with severe losses. Both the rebels and the British looked at people of the opposite color as enemies, and would slaughter them. The war was fought with much ferocity and hatred. Both sides butchered women and children, and The Indian Mutiny of 1857 soon became to be known as the greatest of all imperial wars. Was the Indian Mutiny caused merely by a revolt of the military or was it the something greater?
What started out as a blatant disregard for Indian customs, turned into one of the bloodiest wars of the 19 th Century. To the British, it was a series of small skirmishes on the part of the mutineers, which were defeated in a reasonable amount of time. To the nationalist Indians however, it was a War for Independence and ultimately a forerunner for achieving their own freedom. Britain was able to hold India for so long because so many Indians were divided among themselves in religion, race, and politics.
Also, many of them, specifically the upper class had no quarrel with the British and often times collaborated with them. This Mutiny, or even called the 'epic of the Race' by historian Sir Charles Crostwaithe, was the beginning of the end for the British Empire, but more importantly was the start India's search for independence. Throughout history, India never really had its own identity. Made up of many different religious, political, and cultural beliefs, Indians were in a way a blind people, desperate, looking for an answer. During the early stages of battle, many Indians, probably the majority, were loyal to their British rulers. The Indian people were happy with their position in the British ruled country.
However, where the rebellion did catch on was in the idea of restoring lost institutions of the Hindu nation. What actually united the participants of the rebellion was the pure hatred of the British. The natives were sick of the British imposing their ideas, and their way of life on them. The British were confident that they knew what was god for India, when in fact the best remedy was for their departure. As one proclaimed, "Even we who live in India for years, who pass our lives there, obtain at last only a very imperfect and grey twilight knowledge of the natives. " This was the type British ignorance that enraged the natives to revolt. The type of radical change, which Britain imposed on India during these times, was all that the natives needed to realize and envision a better, freer India.
Although, the revolt was a little under two years, it made its impact on the way that Britain looked at India, and also how the Indian people viewed themselves. The empire knew that no longer could they tell the Indians what to do and how to act. The mutiny allowed differences of the Indian people to be thrown away, creating a one common goal for independence. India was now looking more of like a civilized country, and a place where its people had a sense of identity and nationalism. Dustin Thomas HST 318 15 February 2005 Midterm Exam # 1 In order to become the largest empire in the world, the British people realized that they needed to colonize.
By maintaining and controlling other parts on the globe, the British Empire became the strongest, wealthiest, and most powerful nation between the 18 th and 19 th centuries. This acquisition of an empire became an important feature of the British identity, and soon their influence would be felt by most in the world. Early on, British involvement overseas was actually led by the Portuguese and often, English sailors would join them to explore West Africa, Asia, and Brazil. As Spain and Portugal were increasing their empire, they were not so much concerned about their economy and the situation of wars at home. Soon thereafter the emergence of Britain as being the leader in exploration, trade, and colonization would take place, and the world would be changed forever. The first international market that the British traded for was the slave market.
African born slaves were being cast away on British ships and being sent to places like the Caribbean and North America. The Caribbean Island attracted more settlers than mainland colonies up to 1660, which suggests that they were perceived as the destinations that held the best prospects for material and social advancement. This ready market, plus that of its own plantation colonies in the Caribbean and North America, allowed many English companies and a sufficient amount of traders to build up England's share of the slave trade. The first successful plantation that the British controlled was in Virginia. The British government required the settlers of the plantation to only trade with Britain and only use their ships.
It shows how British people back home on the Isles would only choose to come here. They had a place that was new, protected, and profitable unlike many other 'just starting out colonies, ' that the British were controlling. As the colonies basically became self-contained settlements, the restrictions on non-British trade and transport remained. Causing many people apart of the settlement to be in full contact with the Isles, and leading to more people wanting a way to see this new land. This economic exclusiveness, known as protectionism, was a very prominent characteristic of the British Empire at this time. The Caribbean Island absorbed more slaves over time, and produced a larger commodity for the British than any other region in colonial America.
By creating having the West Indies as basically the hub of the British Empire, more people were intrigued by the possibility of traveling to the new world because of its proximity. Also, many others took the chance at creating a better lifestyle and amassing wealth, which they did not have in England. After the American Revolution, the British turned their sights and ambitions on the unknown continent of Australia. The loss in the late eighteenth century of the American colonies was offset by the discovery of Australia, which served, after 1788, as a penal colony for some of England's most notorious convicts. After the first criminal set foot on Australia, transportation was to last for over half a century. During that time Australia received hundreds of thousands of free immigrants also.
According to Dennis Judd, " It was where men ad women of ambition and determination could go for a better life, and where moreover they could, with luck, make their fortunes. " (Judd, 30) This is why people immigrated to Australia. The continent throughout this time was home to some of the world's largest gold rushes. It also provided a large sheep-farming industry, where settlers could find work and be successful. Obviously, many of the settlers leaving the British Isles for this unknown place were very impoverished and poor. However, they knew this was their chance for a better life. The most successful British colony of the time was India.
India was at the heart of the British Empire but it was initially controlled not by the British government but by the East India Company. This company set up many factories as well as trading posts through the 18 th and 19 th centuries. The East India Company was the most powerful private company in history, controlling India partly by direct rule and partly by a system of alliances with Indian princes, maintained by the Company's powerful army. Again, because of its great strength and power in India, people were naturally attracted to possibly living there.
The early stages of the Empire was not coordinated or laid out to any particular plan. In fact it was held together by whatever means seemed most expedient for a particular time and place for England. Private individuals or companies often sparked the interest of exploration and the managing of foreign lands, but over time the British government became increasingly interested, and by the late 19 th century the Empire became the largest in the world. People living in Britain were eager to learn about new possibilities of making money, and this became a reality with the three main colonies of North America, the Caribbean Islands, and Australia. Also, their outlook on life, and how they thought of themselves as the most powerful nation in the world, had an effect on many leaving, hoping to establish themselves in a new environment.
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Research essay sample on East India Company 18 Th And 19
