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Class 8 History Chapter 2

Chapter 02 discusses the transition of the East India Company from a trading entity to a territorial power in India, beginning with its establishment in 1600 and leading to significant battles such as Plassey and Buxar. The chapter highlights the company's manipulation of local rulers, the implementation of policies like the Doctrine of Lapse, and the establishment of a new administrative system. By 1857, the Company had direct control over a substantial portion of India, marking a significant shift in colonial power dynamics.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
64 views5 pages

Class 8 History Chapter 2

Chapter 02 discusses the transition of the East India Company from a trading entity to a territorial power in India, beginning with its establishment in 1600 and leading to significant battles such as Plassey and Buxar. The chapter highlights the company's manipulation of local rulers, the implementation of policies like the Doctrine of Lapse, and the establishment of a new administrative system. By 1857, the Company had direct control over a substantial portion of India, marking a significant shift in colonial power dynamics.

Uploaded by

Shruti Hariharno
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 02 History From Trade to Territory

Auranangzeh was the last powerful Mughal ruler.

East India Company comes East:

(i) In 1600 royal charter granted to East India Company granting the sole
right to trade with the East

(ii) East India Company bought goods at a cheap price and sold them at
higher price in Europe

(iii) Cotton and silk produced in India had a big market in Europe.

(iv) Pepper, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon were in great demand.

East India Company begins Trade in Bengal:

(i) In 1651, the first English factory was set up on the banks of river Hugli

(ii) Aurangzeb issued a farman granting the company the right to trade duty
free.

(iii) The company tried to press for more concessions and manipulate
existing privileges.

How did Trade Lead to Battles:

(i) After the death of Aurangzeb, the Bengal Nawabs asserted their power
and autonomy.

(ii) The Nawabs of Bengal refused to grant the company concessions.

The Battle of Plassey:

(i) On 23rd June 1757, Battle of Plassey was fought and was the first major
victory of English in India.

(ii) Alivardi Khan died in 1756 and Sirajuddaulah became the Nawab of
Bengal.
(iii) In 1757, Robert Clive led the Company's army against Sirajuddulah at
Plassey.

(iv) Main reason for defeat of the Nawab was that the forces led by Mir Jafar,
one of Sirajuddaulah's commanders, never fought the battle.

(v) Mir Jafar was promised by Clive to be made Nawab after crushing
Sirajuddaulah.

The Battle of Buxar:

(i) After the defeat at Plassey, Sirajuddaulah was assassinated and Mir Jafar
was made the Nawab.

(ii) Mir Jafar was just a puppet in the hands of Britishers.

(iii) In 1764, the battle of Buxar was fought between Britishers and Mir
Qasim.

(iv) In 1765, the Mughal emperor appointed the company as the Diwan of the
provinces of Bengal.

Company Officals became 'Nabobs':

(i) In 1764, Robert Clive was appointed Governor of Bengal.

(ii) "Nabobs'-an anglicized version of the Indian word Nawah.

The Company Rule Expands:

(i) The process of annexation of Indian states by the East India Company
from 1757 to 1857 brought forth some key aspects like the company rarely
launched a direct military attack on as unknown territory.

(ii) After battle of Buxar, the company appointed residents in Indian states.

(iii) The company forced the states into a 'subsidiary alliance".

(iv) The Nawab of Awadh and the Nizam of Hyderabad were forced to cede
territories and accept the subsidiary alliances.

Tipu Sultan-‘The Tiger of Mysore':


(i) Tipu Sultan was the son of Haidar Ali, ruler of Mysore.

(ii) Tipu Sultan ruled Mysore from 1782 to 1799.

(iii) Four wars were fought between Britishers and Mysore and were known as
the Anglo-Mysore wars (1767-1769, 1780-84, 1790-92 and 1799).

(iv) In 1799, the Britishers won the battle of Seringapatam against Mysore.

(v) Tipu Sultan was killed defending his capital Seringapatam.

War with the Marathas:

(i) After the defeat in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, they were
divided into many states under different chiefs ( sardars ) belonging
to dynasties such as Sindhia, Holkar, Gaikwad and Bhonsle.

→ These chiefs were held together in a confederacy under a Peshwa


(Principal Minister).

(ii) Anglo-Marathas war were fought between these and the company.

→ The first war that ended in 1782 with the Treaty of Salbai, there was no
clear victor.

→ The Second Anglo- Maratha War (1803-05) resulting in the British gaining
Orissa and the territories north of the Yamuna river including Agra and Delhi.

→ The Third Anglo-Maratha War of 1817-19 crushed Maratha power, the


Peshwa was removed and Company now had complete control over the
territories south of the Vindhyas.

The claim to paramountcy:

(i) Under Lord Hastings (Governor- General from 1813 to 1823) a new
policy of “paramountcy” was initiated which claimed its power was
greater than that of Indian states.

→ In order to protect its interests it was justified in annexing or threatening


to annex any Indian kingdom.
(ii) In the late 1830s the East India Company became worried about
Russia as Russia might expand across Asia and enter India from the
north-west.
(iii) They fought a prolonged war with Afghanistan between 1838 and
1842 and established indirect Company rule there.
(iv) Sind was taken over in 1843.
(v) After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1839, two prolonged
wars were fought with the Sikh Kingdom and in 1849, Punjab was
annexed.

The Doctrine of Lapse:

• Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General from 1848 to 1856 devised a policy


that came to be known as the Doctrine of Lapse.

→ It declared that if an Indian ruler died without a male heir his kingdom
would “lapse”, that is, become part of Company territory.

• Many kingdoms were annexed under this rule:

→ Satara in 1848

→ Sambalpur in 1850

→ Udaipur in 1852

→ Nagpur in 1853

→ Jhansi in 1854

→ Awadh in 1856

Setting up a New Administration:

• Warren Hastings (Governor-General from 1773 to 1785) played a significant


role in the expansion of Company power.

• British territories were broadly divided into administrative units called


Presidencies. There were three Presidencies:

→ Bengal

→ Madras
→ Bombay.

• Each was ruled by a Governor and the supreme head of the administration
was the Governor-General.

• From 1772 a new system of justice was established.

• Each district was to have two courts

→ a criminal court (faujdari adalat)

→ a civil court (diwani adalat)

• In Civil courts, Maulvis and Hindu pandits interpreted Indian laws for the
European district collectors.

• The criminal courts were still under a qazi and a mufti but under the
supervision of the collectors.

• The collector main job was to collect revenue and taxes and maintain law
and order in his district with the help of judges, police officers and darogas.

The Company Army:

• From the 1820s, the cavalry requirements of the Company’s army declined
because the British empire was fighting in Burma, Afghanistan and Egypt
where soldiers were armed with muskets and matchlocks.

• In the early nineteenth century, the British began to develop a uniform


military culture.

• The soldiers were given European-style training and were subjected to drill
and discipline.

Conclusion:

• The East India Company was transformed from a trading company to a


territorial colonial power.

• By 1857 the Company came to exercise direct rule over about 63 percent
of the territory and 78 percent of the population of the Indian subcontinent.

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