HISTORY

Week 3rd and 4th (13th April to 24th April) Class: 8th
UNIT # 1 CONSOLIDATION OF BRITISH RULE

SUMMARY:
Main points of this lesson are

1. The transfer of British power in India from East India Company to the crown and salient
features of Queen Victoria’s proclamation.
2. About the structure of British administration in India and early efforts to co-opt Indians in
the British setup.
3. Objectives and results of the British education policy with special reference to Lord
Macallay’s Mixute (1836-37) and Wood’s Despatch (1854).
4. The salient features of Colonial economic Policy in India
5. The advantages and implications of communication networks introduces by the British.
6. Discussion the quantum of devolution of power to Indians introduces in the acts of 1861,
1892, 1909, 1919.
7. Under Act of 1919 communal franchise was extended to Sikh.

SHORT QUESTIONS
1. Write two sentences about Queen Victoria?

Ans: Queen Alexandrina Victoria was the daughter of Prince Edward. She was born on 24 May 1819.
Her reign of 63 years and seven months, which is longer than that of any other British monarch and
the longest female monarch in history.

2. Specify the advantages of communication networks introduces by the British?

Ans: Advantages of communication networks:

i. The industrial revolution in the middle of the 19th century brought unique changes all over
the world.
ii. They carried out productive investment in different systems of communication by land.
iii. They introduce modern railway system. It gave thousands of jobs and industry support to
traders and businessmen.
iv. The construction of new roads gave the facility to urban and rural areas.
v. The irrigation system of India constituted on large and small dams, barrages, link canals and
main canals.
3. What was the purpose of Acts of 1861 and 1892?

Ans: Purpose of Acts of 1861: The Indian councils Act 1861 was an act of the parliament of the
United Kingdom that transformed the viceroy of India’s executive council in to a cabinet with
important portfolios. This cabinet had six appointed members who each took charge of a separate
department in Calcultta government home, revenue, military law, finance and public works.

Act of Parliament 1892 AD: the Indian councils Act 1892 was an Act of the parliament of the United
Kingdom that authorized an increase in the size of the various legislative councils in British Inida.
 4. Who were Minto and Morley?

Ans: the Indian Councils Act 1909 was commonly known as the Morley-Minto reforms. It was an act
of the parliament that brought about a limited increase in the involvement of Indians in the
government of British India. John Morley, secretary of state for India and Governor General of India.
The east of Minto believed that it was necessary to stop the revolt in Bengal after its partition in
1905.

5. Who was Macaulay?

Ans: In June 1834, Lord Macaulay was given the task to prepare and launch an educational system in
India. Such a system would aim to prepare an Indian class of people who would interpret British
order to the Indians. Macaulay wrote in his minute: “We must at present do our best to form a class
of persons Indian in blood and colour and English in taste.”

EXTENSIVE QUESTIONS
1. How did the British come into power in the sub-continent?

Ans: Since 1600, East India Company (EIC) had been established and the British had been given
permission to trade in the sub-continent. However, after 1757, the company not only succeeded
trade but also emerged as a political power to defeat Indian rulers in Bengal. In return, the company
large sections of land along with millions of rupees to finance further expansions. EIC functioned as a
military authority along with trading cotton, silk, tea and opium etc. The battle of Buxar 1764 and
treaty of Allahbad in 1765 restricted the political power of Sultans and the Mughal kings to their
courts only. They became the pension holders and the British became the actual rulers. By 1770, the
British had overpowered Bengal and through heavy company taxes pushed the people to hunger and
death. Within three years millions of people died of famine in Bengal. This enabled British traders to
grow with all the political and financial successes resulting into a force to control and rule India in
the manner which suited them.

Such a situation created a lot of hostility leading on to frustration among the Indians.
They decided to fight for their rights and free the land from the foreign rule. To this was added the
fear of type of rifle cartridge which had been greased with pig and cow fat. Both the groups of
Muslims and Hindus refused to use them as their religions prohibited the touch of these animals.
Thus on May, 1857, the Bengali soldiers revolted and marched to Delhi to pledge their support to
the Mughal King, Bahadar Shah Zafar. The war of independence lasted for more than one year and
ended on June 20, 1858, with the exile of the Mughal king of Burma.

2. Elaborate proclamation Act 1858 in detail?

Ans: the proclamation Act was delivered on November 1, 1858. According to this, Lord Viscount
Canning was appointed as the first Viceroy and Governor General of India to administer the
government in the name of the Queen. The other important features were:

i. The policy of acquiring land of the native Princes of the India was abolished.
ii. It was declared that there would be no interference with the belief or worship of any
religious group of the people. Furthermore, jobs and opportunities would be offered to the
people of whatever race or creed according to their qualification.
iii. Due regard would be paid to the ancient rights and customs of the India according to merit.
iv. Indians will abide by all obligations of the treaty of Allahbad.
 v. After restoring internal peace in India, the works of public utility and administration would
be promoted.

3. Discuss Wood’s Despatch (1854) and its importance in the British education policy?

Ans: Wood’s Despatch (1854 AD):

The First formal Educational Charter of India was sent by Charles Wood, the President of the Board
of Control of the East India Company to Lord Dalhousie, the then Governor- General of India. The
following recommendations were made according to this Charter:

British Parliament, through this Despatch showed acceptance of its responsibility for educating
Indians. It recognized the importance of Indian literature, culture and knowledge. Even Indian
language were accepted as medium of instruction along with English. In accordance with Wood’s
Despatch, education departments were established in the universities of Calcutta, Bombay, Madras,
Punjab and Allahabad.

i. An education department was to be established in every province.

ii. Universities on the model of the London University were to be established in big cities such
as Bombay, Calcutta and Madras
iii. At least one government school was to be opened in every district.
iv. The Indian natives should be given training in their mother tongue also.
v. Some provisions were made for a systematic method of education from primary level to the
university level.

4. Discuss the important points of British Social Policy in India?

Ans: British Social Policy: India was never a country. It had always been divided into tribes, cultural
groups and princely states. They all followed different religions, cultures, traditions and festivals. The
British changed the court life-style of the Mughals along with its titled Nawabs, Zamindars etc. with
bureaucracy and military establishment. This gave them a very efficient system in maintaining law
and order. New towns and urban residential areas with facilities were developed specific to the
British way of living. Their habits were copied by the new professional elite of lawyers, doctors,
teachers, journalists and businessmen. Within this group, old caste barriers were eased and social
mobility increased. For the British, some of the following customs were totally against humanity
therefore they passed laws to make adjustments. These are the main points:

i. Abolition of Satti: In Hindu culture, if the husband died, the wife also had to burn herself
alive with the body of the husband. This was called satti. In 1829, Lord William Bentinck
banned it in all the lands under Bengal Presidency. Later on, it was banned in other parts of
India as well.
ii. Early-age Marriage: The British passed the Child Marriage restraint law in 1929 on Colonial
India. It forbade the marriage of a male younger than 21 or a female younger than 18 for
Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and most people of India. For the Muslims, the prescribed age-
limit for the girl and boy is as per shariah. However, due to poverty, illiteracy, culture, dowry
and social pressures, the marriages at an early age are still popular.
iii. Religious Tolerence: In India, different groups of people followed different religions. These
people lived separately as per their religion and culture. However, due to urbanization and
politics many tribes and religious groups started living closer to each other, where
differences became threats. It was the major task of the British government to keep Hindus,
Muslims, Sikhs and Christians under a secular form of government. The rulers built colonies
 with separate rows of houses and areas of different groups of people working in the
government. This pattern was accepted in big cities where people developed tolerance for
each other.
5. Mention different Acts passed by the British Government and give one important
point of each?

Ans: Act of Parliament 1861 AD: The Indian Councils Act 1861 was an Act of the parliament of the
United Kingdom that transformed the Viceroy of India’s executive council into a cabinet with
important portfolios. This cabinet had six appointed members who each took charge of a separate
department in Calcutta’s government: home, revenue, military, law, finance, and public works.

Act of Parliament 1892 AD: The political climate of the subcontinent underwent a big change with
the passage of time. Many Indians got the western education and came to know how to ask for their
rights. They made groups, organizations and committees to start campaigns for their rights in public
meetings. By 1885, with the support of the British, Indian National Congress was founded. The bill
was introduced in the upper house of the British Parliament called the House of Lords in 1890 and
after a delay of two years, it was passed in 1892.

The Indian Councils Act 1892 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that
authorized an increase in the size of the various legislative councils in British India. Due to the
demand of the Indian National Congress to expand legislative council, the number of non-official
elected members was increases both in central and provincial legislative councils. It relaxed
restrictions, thus allowing the councils to discuss each year’s annual financial budget. They could
also put questions within certain limits to the government on the matter of public interest. Thus, it
prepared the base of Indian Democracy.

Act of Parliament 1909 AD: The Indian Councils Act 1909 was commonly known as the Morley-
Minto Reforms. It was Act of the Parliament that brought about a limited increase in the
involvement of Indians in the governance of British India.

Question for students

1. When was the east India company established?
2. What do you know about the social policy?
3. What was the papers of act of 1861 and 1892?
4. Write in detail the development of communication networks?
5. Discuss the act of parliament 1892 A.D.

Select most appropriate option among the following: -

i. The British declared India as their colony through the Act of ___________________
a) 1818
b) 1827
c) 1857
d) 1858
ii. The Act of ________________created a new era of Indian history which lasted till the
partition.
a) 1855
b) 1856
 c) 1857
d) 1858
iii. The Queen inherited the throne at the age of __________________
a) 16
b) 18
c) 21
d) 23
iv. The railway system of India was the ___________ largest in the world.
a) Third
b) Fourth
c) Fifth
d) Sixth
v. The Act of ___________ was passed to expand participation of Indians in the government.
a) 1861
b) 1892
c) 1909
d) 1919

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

i. The industrial revolution in ____________ century brought unique changes all over the
world. (19th )
ii. The task to prepare an education system in India was given to _______________ in 1834
(Lord Macaulay)
iii. The capital of British India was ______________in 1861. (Calcutta).
iv. The Indian Councils Act of _________was known as the Minto-Morley Reforms. (1909)
v. The Act of 1919 provided ________form of government for the country. ( )

Mark the following statements as TRUE or FALSE.

i. East India Company had become quite strong by overpowering the local Sultans and Rajas.
TRUE/FALSE.
ii. For the measurement of distance, furlong is the unit in the British system. TRUE/FALSE.
iii. Lord Curzon announced the partition of Bengal in 1911. TRUE/FALSE.
iv. The king of India Bahadar Shah Zafar, was defeated and exiled to England. TRUE/FALSE.
v. Many canals were constructed for the purpose of easy navigation. TRUE/FALSE.