CHAPTER-1
Ascendancy of the Britishers
THE EAST INDIA
COMPANY & THE BENGAL NAWABS
Siraj-ud-Daulah
(1756-1757)
·
He seized the English factory at Kasimbazar,
marched on to Calcutta, and occupied Fort William on June 20, 1756.
·
TheEnglish officials took refuge at Fulta near
the sea protected by their naval superiority.Here they waitedfor aid from
Madras, from where came a strong naval and militaryforce under Admiral Wastson
and colonel Robert Clive. Clive reconquered Calcutta in the beginning of 1757.
·
On 2nd January 1757, Treaty of
Alinagar was signed, whereby Siraj conceded practically all the demands.
British then captured Chandernagore, the Frenh settlement, in March1757.
·
Battle of Plassey was fought on 23rd
June 1757. Owing to the conspiracy, the
Nawab was defeated.
The following
betrayed the Nawab
Mir
Jafar Mir Bakshi
Manikchand Officer-in-charge of Calcutta
Amichand Rich Sikh merchant
Jagat
Seth Biggest banker of Bengal
Khadim
Khan Commanded a large number of
Nawab’s troops
Mir Jafar (1757-1760)
·
The Company was granted undisputed right to free
trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. It received the Zamindari of 24 Parganas.
Mir Jafar, however, fell into arrears and was forced to abdicate in favour of
his son- in-law Mir Qasim
·
In 1763, he was again placed on the throne.
Mir Qasim (1760-1764)
Mir Qasim cede
Burdwan, Midnapore and Chittagong. He shifted his capital from Murshidabad
to Monghyr.
·
Mir Qasim soon revolted as he was angry with the
British for misusing the dastaks (free duty passes). However, having been
defeated by the British, he fled to Awadh , where he formed a confederacywith
Shuja-ud-daula and Shah Alam-II.
·
The three allies clashed with the companies army
atBuxar on 22nd October,1764 and were thoroughly defeated. This battle was one of the most decisive
battles ofIndian history and it came to be known as Battle of Buxar. Munro was
the incharge of Company’s army in the battle.
Nizam-ud-daulah(1765-1772)
·
On Mir
Jafar’s death, his son Nizam-ud-daulah was placed on the throne and signed
a traty on 20th February, 1765 by which the Nawab was to disband
most of his army and to administer Bengal through a deputy Subahdar nominated
by the Company.
·
Clive concluded two separate treaties of
Allahabad in 1765 with Shuja-ud-daulah & Shah Alam II and acquired the
diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
·
Dual System of governmentstarted in Bengal.The
Company acquired both Diwani and Nizamat rights from Nizam-ud-Daulah (1765-66),
the new Nawab of Bengal. But the Company did not take over direct asministration and revenue
collection. Warren Hastings ended the Dual System of government in 1772.
ANGLO-MYSORE WARS
First War (1767-1796)
·
Haider Ali defeated the British and Treaty of
Madras was signed betweenthem.
·
SecondWar (1780-1784)Warren Hasting attacked
French port Mahe, which was in Haider Ali’s territory.
·
Haider Ali led a joint front with Nizam and
Marathas and captured Arcot.
·
In July 1781, Haider Ali was defeated at Proto
Novoby Eyre Coote. Haider Ali died in December 1782.
·
Treaty of Manglore was signed by Tipu Sultan in
March 1784 and both sides restored all conquests.
3. Third War
(1789-1792)
·
War between Tipu Sultan and English began in
1789 and ended in Tipu’s defeat in 1792.
·
Marathas and Niozam aided the British in this
war. Cornwallis captured Banglore. By Treaty of Seringapatnam, Tipu ceded half
of his territories.
4. Fourth War (1799)
·
Under Lord Wellesley the British army attacked
and defeated Tipu Sultan in a brief but fierce war in 1799. He met a hero’s end
on 4th May 1799 while defending his capital Seringapatnam.
ANGLO-SIKH WARS
·
Anglo Sikh wars began after the death of Ranjit
Singh in June,1839.
1. First War
(1845-1846)
·
Lord Gough, the Comamnder –in-Chief and Lord
Hardinge, the Governor General marched towards Ferozpur and declared a war on
the Sikh were defeated in all the four battles at Mudki, Ferozpur, Aliwal and
Sobraon. The Sikh were forced to concede defeat and to sign the humiliating
Treaty of Lahore on March 8, 1846.
2. Second War
(1848-1849)
·
Dalhousie annexed Punjab. Sir John Lawrence
became the first Chief Commissioner of Punjab.
ANGLO-FRENCH CARNATIC
(ARCOT) WARS
In the mid 18th century, owing to the unstable
political situation in India, rivalry between the English and the French did
not remain confined only to trade concern but also assumed political overtones.
Thus, French and English were locked in a struggle for economic and political
fortune in India which unfolded in the form of three carnatic wars in South
India.
1. First War
(1746-1748)
·
The French besieged Madras. At St. Thome on the
banks of river Adyar, the army of Nawab of Carnatic was defeated by the French
under Dupleix.
·
The Treaty of Aix-La Chapelle (1748) brought the
Austrian war of succession to a conclusion under the terms of this treaty
Madras was handed back to the English.
2. Second War(1749-1754)
·
Dupleix aligned with Muzaffar Jung ( Hyderabad)
and Chanda Sahib (Carnatic).
·
Robert Clive attacked Arcot, the Capital of
Carnatic and besieged it.
·
In December, 1754 the war ended with the Treaty
of Pondicherry.
3.Third War
(1756-1763)
·
In 1756, the Anglo- French struggle again
started in India as a reflection of the seven years war in Europe. The French
government sent count de Lally to India in April, 1758.
·
Lally captured Fort St. David in 1758 and
attacked Tanjore.
·
In January, 1760 English General Sir Eyre Coote
defeated the French army in the Battle of Wandiwash and took Bussy as prisoner.
·
In January, 1761 the French army retreated to
Pondicherry, but the English followed there and captured it. Mahe was also lost
by the French to the British.
·
With the conclusion of the Treaty of Paris in
1763 in Europe, the war also ended in India.
·
Pondichery was returned to French by the Treaty
of Paris.
ANGLO-MARATHA WARS
1. First War
(1775-1782)
·
Favouring the cause of Raghunath Rao for
Peshwaship, English (Hastings) came in conflict with the Marathas. On being
defeated, the British had to sign the humiliating Convention of Wasgaon in 1779
by which the Company was required to give up all the advantage acquired by the
Treaty of Purandar.
·
British later signed Treaty of Salbai,
renouncing the cause of raghunath Rao and Madhav Rao II was accepted as the
Peshwa.
2. Second War
(1803-1805)
·
The Maratha’s Peshwa signed the subsidiary
Alliance Treaty of Bassein (18020.
·
The Maratha confederacy which did not like the
idea challenged the VBritish power but were defeated by the British.
3. Third War
(1816-1818)
·
Lord Hasting was determined to proclaim British
paramountacy in India. Hastings moved against Pindaris and transgressed the
sovereignty of the Maratha Vhief and the war began.
·
The Maraths were decisively defeated.
POLICIES OF THE
BRITISH EMPIRE IN INDIA
The administrative policy of the company underwent frequent
changes during the long period between 1757 nad 1857. To increase the company’s
profits and to maintain and strengthen the British hold over India, the passed
many acts so that trade with India, and exploitation of its resources could be
carried on without disturbance.
Economic Policy in
India
·
The East india company was purely trading
company dealing with import of goods and precious metals into India and exort
of spices and textiles.
·
The Company used its political power to
monopolize trade & dictate terms to the weavers of Bengal. The company used
rebenue of Bengal of Fianance exports of Indian goods.
Land Revenue System
Permanent Settlement
·
It was introduced in Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and districts of Benars and northern
districts of Madras by Lord Cornwallis in 1793.
·
John Shore planned the Permanent Settlement who
later succeeded Cornwallis as Governor General.
·
It declared Zamindars as the owner of the land
Hence, they could keep 1/11th of the revenue collected to themselves while the British got a fixed
share of 10/11th of the revenue collected. The ZAmindars were free
to fix the rents.
·
Assured of their ownership, many Zamindars
stayed in towns (absentee lanlordism) and exploited their tenants.
Ryotwari Sysytem
·
It was introduced in Bombay, Madras and Assam
Munro and Charles Reed recommended it.
·
In this system, a direct settlement was made
between the government and the ryot (cultivator).
·
The revenue was fixed for a period not exceeding
30 years, on the basis of the quality of the soil and the nature of the crop.
·
The position of the cultivator became more
secure but the rigid system of revenue collection often forced him into the
clutches of the moneylender.
·
Besides, the government itself became a big
Zamindar and retained the right to enhance revenue at will while the cultivator
was left at the mercy of its officers.
Mahalwari System
·
It was a modified version of Zamindari
settlement introduced in the Ganga valley, North-West Frontier Province, Parts
of Central India and Punjab.
·
Revenue settlement was to be made by village or
estate. In western Uttar Pradesh, a settlement was made with the village
communities, which maintained a form of common ownership known as Bhaichara, or
with Mahals, which were groups of Villages.
·
Revenue was periodically revised
IMPORTANTS ACTS
·
The
Regulating Act, 1773
·
It was the first attempt by the British
Parliament to regulate the affairs of the Company.
·
It brought an end of Dual Government.
·
Governor of Bengal Became Gvernor-General for
all British territories in India.
·
Bombay and Madras Presidency subordinated to
Bengal Presidency in certain matters.
·
Supreme Court to be set up at Calcutts.
·
First attempt towards Centralised
Administration.
The Pitts India Act,
1784
This Act gave the British Government supreme control over
the Company’s affairs and its administration in India.
It established dual system governance:
(i) Government by Board of Control
(ii) Government by Court of Directors.
The Board of control was to guide and control the work of
the Court of Directors.
Presidencies of Madras and Bombay were subordinated to the
Governor- General and Council of Bengal in all matters of diplomacy, revenue
and war.
The Charter Act of
1813
·
The company was deprived of its monopoly of
trade with India except in tea and trade with China.
·
A sum of one lakh rupees earmarked annually for
education.
·
The charter Act of 1833
·
It brought an end to Company’s trade monopoly
even in tea and trade with China.
·
The Act centralized the administration of India.
·
The Governor- General of Bengal became the
Governor-General of India (1st Governor- General of India was Lord
William Bentinck).
·
Government of Madras and Bombay deprived of
legislative powers.
·
A fourth member, law member, added to council of
Governor- General
·
Government service was thrown open to the eople
of India.
·
The Charter Act of 1853
·
It extended life of the company for an
unspecified period.
·
Law members was made a full member of the
Executive Council of the Governor- General.
·
Recruitment to civil Services was based on open
annual competitive examination(excluding Indians)
The Government of
India Act, 1858
·
Indian Administration transferred from Company
to British Crown.The post of Secretary of State of India was created (who was
the member of the British cabinet, and a direct representative of the
Parliament).
·
The Court of Director and Boards of Control
abolished. Thus the ‘Double Government’ introduced by the Pitt’s India Act of
1784 was finally ended.
·
Governor-General was to be called the viceroy
and was the direct representative of the crown in India.
·
A unitary and highly centralized administrative
structure was created.
The India Council
Act,1861
·
The Policy of association of Indians in
legislation started
·
Foundation of Indian legislature was laid down
in 1861.
·
Legislative power of the Presidency Government
deprived in 1833 were restored.
·
Portfolio system in the Government of India was
introduced.
·
Viceroy could issue ordinances in case of
emergency.
The Indian Council
Act, 1892
·
Beginning of representative system in India.
·
Council to have the power to discuss Budget and
of addressing questions to the Executive.
The Indian Council
Act, 1909
·
(The Morely-Minto Reforms)
·
Morely was the Secretary of State, while Minto
was the Indian Viceroy.
·
It introduced for the first time indirect
elections to the Legislative Councils.
·
Separate electrorates were introduced for the
Muslims.
·
Resolution could be moved before the Budget
takes its final form. Supplementary questions could be asked.
The Government of
India Act, 1919
(The
Montague-Chelmsford Reforms)
·
Devolution Rules: Subject of administration were
divided into two categories-‘ Central’ and ‘Provincial’. All important subjects
(like Railways and Finance) were brought under the category of Central while
matters relating to the administration of the Provinces were classified as
Provincial.
·
Dyarchy system introduced in the Provinces.
·
The Provincial subjects of administration were
divided into two categories ‘ Transferred’ and ‘Reserved’ subjects.
·
The Transferred subjects were to be administered
by the Governor with the aid of ministers responsible to the Legislative
Council.
·
The Reserved subjects (Rail, Post, Telegraph,
Finance, Law & order, etc.) were tobeadministeredby the Governor and his
Executive Council.
·
An office of the High Commissioner of India was
created in London.
·
Indian legislature became ‘bicameral’ for the
first time.
·
Communal representation extended to Sikhs.
·
Secretary of State for India now to be paid from
British revenue.
The Government of
India Act, 1935
·
This Act provided for stting up of the
Federation of India comprising British Indian provinces and India States
(princely States). The joining of Princely States was voluntary and as a result
the federation did not come into existence.
·
Dyarchy in the Provinces was replaced by
Provincial autonomy. They were granted separate legal identity.
·
It made three fold division of powers: Federal,
provincial and Concurrent. Residuary powers were to be with the Governor-
General.
·
Dyarchy was introduced at the centre (e.g.
department of foreign affairs, defense were reserved for the Governor-
General).
·
The Indian Council of Secretary of State for
India was abolished.
·
Principle of separate electorate was extended to
include Anglo- Indians, Indian Christians and Europeans.
·
The Federal Bank (The Reserve Bank of India) and
the federal Court were established in 1935 and 1937, respectively
Indian Independence
Act, 1947
·
This act did not lay down any provision for the
administration of India.
·
Partition of India and the establishment of two
Dominions (India and Pakistan).
·
Constituent Assembly of each Dominion would have
unlimited power to frame and adopt any Constitution.
·
The office of the Secretary of State for India
was to be abolished and his work was to be taken over by the Secretary of State
for commonwealth affairs.
