British Colonialism in India

What is Colonialism?

• The policy of acquiring and maintaining colonies for exploitation

Why would countries do this?

• Natural resources• Places to sell their goods• Land for an expanding population• Be stronger, better, larger than their

rivals

Europeans in South Asia

First in =Portugal

Built a trading empire along coast of Asia – including Goa on India’s western coast

Brought Catholic Missionaries.Next = the Dutch (Netherlands)

The British & India

• Economic Interest began in 1600’s• British East India Co. set up trading

posts in Bombay, Madras, & Calcutta

Early East India Co. Trade

• English traded Gold & Silver for Indian Goods like Cotton, Silk, and Tea

• Textiles (Cloth) the most important good sent from India to England

• Calico, Dungarees, Gingham, Khaki, Madras & Shawl are all Indian words that entered the English language through this trade.

• Internal conflicts in India allowed the East India Co. to gain control of more and more land eventually ruling Southern India, Ganges Plain and Bangladesh

1757-1858• East India Co. ruled like

they were their own country/government

• Private army headed by British officers and staffed by Sepoys (Indian soldiers)

• Set up a code of laws and court system

• Ruled directly or through local rulers under treaty

“Jewel In the Crown”

• India:– Provided raw materials for British

industry (cotton, jute, indigo)– Provided opium to trade with China for

tea– Had 300 million people (they should be

able to buy lots of British stuff)– Had restrictions set up by the British that

prevented the economy from working on it’s own (only trade with British, can only buy British goods)

The Railroad

• Built the third largest rail system in the world

• Increased the area where raw materials could be grown since they could be transported easily

• Allowed more British goods to penetrate India

• Increased production of Cash Crops meaning less food for local consumption

Darjeeling Railroad, 1880

Sepoy Mutiny

Sepoy Mutiny

• Rebellion against the British• Took one year for British to regain

control• The people could not unite against

the British due to weak leadership and serious splits between Hindus and Muslims (Sikhs were loyal to the British)

British Government officially takes over the rule of India

from 1857-1947

• Queen Victoria took the title of Empress of India in 1876

• British Government ruled mostly through Direct control.

• The Rebellion left deep distrust between Indians and the British

Effect of British Colonialism

• PositivePositive– Railroad– Roads– Telephone– Bridges– Irrigation– Improved health– Education

opportunities– Ended local

warfare

• NegativeNegative– No local

control/power– No local

industries or manufacturing

– Loss of self sufficiency

– Famine due to growing of cash crops not food

Nationalism

• Deep devotion to one’s nationality• More than patriotism• Can unite people together• Can cause competition between

nationalities and countries

Nationalist Groups

• Indian National Congress – Created in 1885– Mostly Hindus– First focused on

concerns for Indians – Called for

Independence

• Muslim League– Created in 1906– Mostly Muslims

People to know for Gandhi Video

Mohandas K. Mohandas K. GandhiGandhi

Jawaharlal Jawaharlal NehruNehru

Leader of Indian Leader of Indian national Congress national Congress

before before IndependenceIndependence

Mohammed Mohammed Ali JinnahAli Jinnah

Leader of Muslim Leader of Muslim League before League before IndependenceIndependence