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The Creation of the British East India Company and its holdings on the Mughal Empire
The British East India Company first desired to profit from trade in the region, discouraging all unnecessary meddling and expenses as well as political or religious affairs in the empire. However, after the death of Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, great discontent rose up from the country and its peasants and the once great empire began to crumble. The BEI took the precious opportunity to take political country of the empire, instituting puppet rulers and the end of the Mughal Rule. -
Treaty of Paris
From the years of 1740 to 1763, Britain and France constantly struggled for the control of the Indian Subcontinent, fighting wars on both land and sea. British blockades prevented the french supplies and reinforcements from coming into the island and eventually, after the end of the Seven Year's War, France ceded a large majority of its territories to the British, including all of its territory in mainland North America and in other territories around the world. -
The real implementation of British Rule over India.
The East India Company had its role of governing power taken away from it as it was believed to be corrupt, thus transferring the power of rule to the governors known as Warren Hastings(1774-1785), Lord Charles Cornwallis(1786-1794), and Marquess Richard Wellesley (1797-1805) through the India Act of 1784. These three succeeding rulers implemented a multitude of policies in which summarized, allowed for the exercising of great British control, taking away local power, economical powers, etc. -
The Great Revolt
During a period of time known as the Great Revolt, the Sepoy's, Indian natives in the British Raj army, grew to hate the British through a number of problems, religious contradictions, societal roles being broken, etc. However, these insurrections were put down through native troops loyal to the British and thus, the rope in which India was wound upon was pulled even tighter. British India was now administered purely by people of European origin, taking even more power from local officials. -
The economical effects of British rule
British rule brought economical expansion in the industries of opium, tea, cotton fiber, silk, sugar, coffee, etc. and as these needed a way to quickly transport and be produced, infrastructure was heavily invested in. All of the major cities in India were connected by telegraph and railroads, a postal service was created, and irrigation systems were expanded upon. The Industrial Revolution made its first step in India. -
The Beginning of the End
Through the creation of a well-educated peoples through the English education system, the Indian peoples began to develop a sense of Indian nationalism, unifying the peoples together. However, as this education was developed, a feeling of extreme inequality became apparent, compounded with the oppression and feeling of inferiority of Indian peoples, thus leading to the creation of a national independence ideal. -
The End of British Rule
During the year of 1885, educated Indians created the Indian National Congress, vying for self-government of Indian territories by the Indian people and for the Indian people. This created the springing of even more national independence movements. Famous leaders such as Gandhi spearheaded the Indian Independence Act and on the date of the 15th of August, 1947, India became a sovereign nation.
