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British East India Company Established
The British East India Company was established to compete with Dutch traders, and although it was established by a royal decree, it was not funded by the state, but rather by individual shareholders as a joint-stock company. The original goal of the BEIC was to enter the spice trade in Indonesia, however they were not allowed into Dutch ports in Indonesa and had to settle for India. India starts becoming part of England's "sphere of influence." -
BEIC given trading rights by Mughal Empire
Sir Thomas Roe meets with Mughal Emperor Jahangir, eventually receiving permission to build BEIC warehouses in Surat. Jahangir may have hoped that a British presence would create competition and weaken the power of Dutch and Portuguese companies. The BEIC originally traded gold and silver for spices, but began trading in other goods. -
Death of Emperor Aurangzeb
The death of Emperor Aurangzeb began a period of foreign invasions, rise of regional rulers, and a growing presence of European traders. BEIC became militarily involved in India when regional rulers offer the British trading rights in return for military help. The increased military presence of the BEIC's private army would prove to be important for the expansion of the company's rule. -
East India Company Doesn't Honor Trade Agreements
BEIC in Bengal began trading goods that weren't included in trade contract. Fortifications were built around warehouses to protect from the French (during a war against France/Prussia/Spain). Nawab of Bengal sees British fortifications & illegal trading as a threat, & orders the imprisonment of BEIC members. 40 BEIC members die in prison -- the "Black Hole of Calcutta." The British respond during the Battle of Plassey, in which the nawab of Bengal was deposed & replaced. -
Battle of Buxar
British and Mughal Empire fight Battle of Buxar in Bengal. The Company wins, and gets the rights to govern the province. Warren Hastings becomes the first governor-general. The British governance in Bengal begins centuries of religious wars by creating separate sets of laws for Muslims and Hindus, ignoring Jains, Sikhs, Christians and atheists. -
Parliament Takes Over BEIC
British Parliament starts taking over the BEIC. British Parliament passes Regulating Act of 1773, which let the British government regulate the BEIC’s activities. -
Pitt India Act of 1784
Pitt’s India Act of 1784 gives the British government control over the BEIC’s activities except trade. -
Bengal Permanent Settlement Act
Second governor-general of Bengal, Charles Cornwallis, passes the Bengal Permanent Settlement Act, which changed land ownership laws, forcing Indian peasants to rent land or move. The Indian Civil Service was also created to train British nationals to be able to take Indian jobs in the government. -
Sepoy Mutiny
Sepoys (Indian soldiers in the British army in India) rose up against the British. Causes: long-term discrimination and racism. Example: Muslim & Hindu sepoys were angered that they had been unknowingly eating animals banned by their religion by biting off the cartridge heads. When a group of sepoys refused to use the cartridges, they were humiliated, expelled from service, and imprisoned. -
Partition of Bengal
Partition of Bengal, swadeshi movement, laid foundation for 1909 Morley-Minto Reforms (Indian Councils Act) which added seats for Indians to provincial legislatures, including seats reserved for Muslims, and the subsequent 1911 reversal of the partition.
