CULTURAL AND POLITICAL BACKGROUND TO THE PAKISTAN MOVEMENT: SECTION 1
Q: How successful was the Indian resistance to British attempts to take control of the lands in sub-continent? EXPLAIN your Answer. ( This question covers the whole sub-continent)
The British came in india for trading in 1600, the first ship of British landed in Surat in 1608 but trading did not happen until in 1612 when they got permission from Mughal empire.
Its main purpose was to trade but later it grew into military power.
To ensure the continuation and promoting of their trade and the product they wanted at the price they wanted it British started to capture indian territories so now they were getting a regular and cheap supply of goods to export to England.
The first battle fought between the British and an indian ruler is known as the battle of Plassey which was fought in 1757 between the nawab of bengal saraj-ud-daula and sir Robert clive, the nawab of bengal was defeated by the British and his body was found in the river. This battle gave British control of bengal.
Following the battle of Plassey another battle was fought known as the battle of Buxsar in 1764 in which Mir Qasam combined army with nawab of Oudh and emperor shah Alam II yet they were defeated by the British. After this Battle british influence grew into Bihar and now British collected the revenue of the State. This attempt of Indian resistance also failed.
The British wanted full control of the south india to ensure their spice trade. Mysore was a strong and well organized state in south and was ruled by Tipu sultan, al though he was successful in defeating British in serval battle but he could not resist for long and was killed by British in 1799 after which south india fell under British control.
The Marathas had risen power and were the only one giving British tough resistance but they too in 1818, were defeated by British and whole of Deccan came under British control.
However Sindh was annexed in 1843 and after that punjab was annexed after the battle with sikh's in 1849.
The major battle between the indian forces and the British took place in 1857 which is called the war of independence or the revolt. It started from meerut and battles took place between indian rebel forces and the British at Delhi, lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi and Gwalior. But all the attempts to defeated British were failed as the British won the battle.
The main reason for the loss of battle was the advance tactics and arms of the British and the fact their army was properly trained and well fed because of the money that was generated from the industrial revolution in England, on the other hand there was luck of communication between the rulers of the states and the fact there was no common cause; everyone was fighting to bring back their power.
Thus indian resistance to British attempts to take control of the lands were failed and by the 1858 the whole of india fell under control of the British.
From 1900 to 1947, the people of sub-continent continued to fight battle after battle against the British until finally in 1947 they got the break through when Pakistan and india got independent.
Q: 'Indian resistance to British Attempts to take control of lands in the sub-continent in the hundred years before 1850 was totally unsuccessful.' Do you agree? Give Reasons for your Answers.
The british gradually took control of the sub-continent between 1750 to 1850, there are many reasons on why they're able to do so.
To begin with, the British initially came to india for Trading, They got Permission from the Mughals to trade in 1612, the Trade proved very profitable. To ensure continuation and promotion of the trade British found it necessary to Capture Indian Territories. The First indian resistance and the first battle against an indian ruler occurred in 1757 which is known as Battle of Plassey. In this battle nawab saraj ud daula of bengal was defeated by the brutish. As a result came under British control and the British now collected the revenue and trade goods in the price at they which wanted it. They throughly exploited the wealth of bengal and completely plundered it.
The next indian resistance and battle was the battle of Buxsar in 1764 in which mir Qasim, nawab of Oudh and Mughal king shah alam II. As a result bengal, Bihar and Orissa came under British control.
The British wanted full control of the south india to protect their spice trade. The strong and well organized state of Mysore was a hindrance. Earlier the ruler of Mysore Haider ali had given British a tough time in the state and defeated them in serval battles but he too couldn't push them out of india. After his death his son Tipu sultan was killed and south india camr under British in 1799.
The Maratha rose to the power and gave a tough resistance to the British.
But the Marathas got divided into serval states and were finally defeated in 1818. Whole of Deccan came under British control.
In 1843 Sindh was annexed by The British when amirs of Sindh were defeated after the war on the excuse of unfriendliness.
Punjab was under sikh rule and ranjit Singh was a strong ruler but after his death the sikh kingdom scrambled and punjab was annexed by the British after two sikh wars in 1849.
The main reason for the british success was that he British Indian army was superior in weapons, equipment and training. They did not lack supplies and funds on the other hand the indian states were dusunited and there was not central power to face then british the indians lacked weapons and supplies and funds. There was no common leader and no planning.
Therefore it is correct to say that indian resistance against the British Between 1750 and 1850 was not successful.
Q: How successful were the british attempts to take control of lands in the sub-continent between 1750 and 1856?
( Again Same Questions in Different Wording)
NOTE: Also Remember Question demands events, not reasons, leading to gradual British control of india. Annexation by wars and other steps to be mentioned
Points
- British came for trade in 1600
- They felt necessary to capture
- indian territories for the continuation and promotion of the trade.
- First war was Battle of Plassey 1757 in which Nawab of Bengal was defeated thus an Important State came under British rule. The british used wealth of bengal to increase their power.
- Second war was the battle of Buxsar 1764 in which mir Qasim combined army with nawab of Oudh and Shah Alam II. After which bihar came under British control/influence.
- After that the British wanted full control of south india to ensure their spice trade but the ruler of south india Haider ali gave tough time to British and after his death his son Tipu sultan was defeated by the British and after which south came under British control.
- In 1818 the Marathas were defeated after their long resistance against the British. After which the whole of Deccan and south india came under British control.
- In 1843 sindh was annexed from the amir of sindh on the excuse of unfriendliness.
- Punjab was annexed in 1849 after the death of Ranjit Singh, in the Two battles fought between them after which punjab came under British control.
- In 1852 the British annexed several states of india by applying the 'Doctrine of lapse'. In 1856 large and rich state Oudh was under British control by the excuse of misrule.
Thus the British, due to their military and superiority, were successful in their attempt to take control of the sub-continent between 1750 and 1856.
Q: Was the arrival of the British the main Reason for the Decline of the Mughal Empire. Give reasons for your Answer.
The decline was gradual and although some historians blame Aurangzeb for sowing the seeds of decline, the empire continued for another 150 years after his Death.
Administration:
The Huge empire was very Difficult to administer. Obviously emperors could not know exactly what was happening in every part of the empire. This is one of the reasons why off far provinces such as Bengal Deccan Etc Became Independent. This was one reason why aurangzeb encouraged the use of mansabdars, but Many Problem remained.
Military Costs:
The emperors were continually fighting rebellions, there was always a Pressure to the empire from separatist elements.
Succession:
It should also not be forgotten that it was often true that huge Sums were wasted when emperors died and there was a succession dispute. It was to Avoid costly wars that Aurangzeb decided to divide the empire between his three sons, thus was not successful and succession disputes continued to erode the empire.
Declining military expertise:
The Mughals, who let their army's expertise decline until it was not longer an effective fighting force. When it became obvious that Mughal strength was declining discontented groups within the empire were quick to React.
Pleasure Seeking:
The wealth created by the Mughals also encouraged the nobility to become pleasure loving and degenerate. They betrayed the principles of islam and instead enjoyed the pleasures brought by the wealth. Fine buildings were a symbol if power and culture, but they were also sometimes so expensive that they were a symbol of Extravagance (Too much Spending)
The wealth created by the Mughals also encouraged the nobility to become pleasure loving and degenerate. They betrayed the principles of islam and instead enjoyed the pleasures brought by the wealth. Fine buildings were a symbol if power and culture, but they were also sometimes so expensive that they were a symbol of Extravagance (Too much Spending)
The Arrival of the British:
The Mughal empire was in serious decline by the end of the eighteenth century. What eventually pushed it into final decline was the ambition of the British. England had been the first country to Experience the industrial revolution, its industries were producing cheap manufactured goods which were sold around the World, the British could afford a Military Strength which the Mughals could not Match.
