EAST INDIA COMPANY PAST PAPER QUESTIOS (JUNE 2002- JUNE 2014)

Q How successful was Indian resistance to British attempts to take control of lands in the subcontinent? Explain your answer.[14] (J2002)
Q Why did the British Government take control of the affairs of the East India Company in the early nineteenth century? [7] (J2004)
Q Explain why the East India Company became involved in the Indian sub-continent during the seventeenth century. [7] (J2005)
Q Why was Britain so successful in expanding its control of the sub-continent between 1750 and 1850? [7] (N2006)
Q Why did the Indian sub-continent attract European traders in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries? [7] (J2007)
Q `Indian resistance to British attempts to take control of lands in the sub-continent in the hundred years before 1850 was totally
unsuccessful.' Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. [14] (J2008)
Q Explain why the East India Company got involved in the sub-continent during the seventeenth century. [7] (J2009)
Q Why was Britain successful in increasing its control of some parts of the sub-continent in the years 1750 to 1850? [7]
(J2009)
Q What was the East India Company? [4] (J2010)
Q Why the East India Company did become involve in the Indian sub-continent during the seventeenth century? [7](N2010)
Q How successful was the British attempts to take control of lands in the sub-continent between 1750 and 1856? [14] (N2010)
Q Explain why Britain was so successful in extending its control of the sub-continent between 1750 and 1850. [7] (J2011)
Q Did educational reforms have a more important effect on the Indians than the social, religious and economic ones introduced by the
British during the years 1773 to 1856? Explain your answer. [14] (N 2011)
Q Describe the battle of Plassey. [4] (J 2012)
Q Why did the Indian sub-continent attract the British in the early seventeenth century? [7] (N 2012)
Q How successful was Indian resistance to British attempts to take control of lands in the sub-continent between 1750 and 1850? Explain
your answer. [14] (N 2012)
Q Was the Industrial Revolution in Britain the most important reason why the British were able to take control of India between 1750 and
1850? Explain your answer. [14] (N 2013)
Q Explain why the East India Company became involved in the sub-continent during the seventeenth century. [7] (J 2014)
Q According to Source A, what reasons are suggested for the British victory at the battle of Plassey in 1757? [3](S2015)
Q What does Source B tell us about the British East India Company in 1825? [5](S2015)
Q Why were the British able to take control of India by 1850? [7](S2015)
Q Was the work of the Christian missionaries the most important reason why the Indians opposed British attempts to westernise them
between 1750 and 1850? Explain your answer. [10](S2015)
Q Who was Robert Clive? [4](W 2015)
Q Explain the appeal of India to the East India Company during the early seventeenth century. [7](S2016)
Q Why was Britain so successful in expanding its control of the sub-continent between 1750 and 1850? [7](W2016)
Q Why was Robert Clive appointed the first Governor of Bengal? [7](S 2017)
Q Why did the East India Company become involved in the Indian subcontinent during theseventeenth century? [7](W 2017)
Q Who was Warren Hastings? [4](W 2017)
Q Why were the Marathas defeated after the decline of the Mughal Empire? [7](W 2017)
Q How far was Indian resistance to British expansion in the subcontinent successful before1850? [14](W 2017)

Q1 W 2019
 Why did East India Company involve in Indian Sub-continent?

ECONOMIC REASONS

 Profitable trade
There was enormous wealth in the subcontinent. Trade, profit and power were the real motives that East India Company (EIC) was
looking at. EIC made huge profits and the company flourished very rapidly. By 1620, the company operated about 40 ships for trade with
India. The company was having a very profitable future in trade with India.
 Discovery of sea route to India
The British wanted control over the sea route which has been recently discovered. They wanted to use the sea ports for their extensive
trade.
 Demand of Indian products
Indian goods including spices, silk, yarn, cloth, cotton and goods of metalworkers were very demanding in the European markets.
 Raw Material was available
British factories needed raw materials while British merchants needed big markets like India to sell their industrial products.
 Agricultural productions
Agricultural resources were one of the main attractions for EIC.Cotton was the main raw material for the textile industries in Britain.
India was rich and fertile, jute and spices were grown here at large scale.
 Low cost labour was available
Indian soldiers at very cheap wages were available to protect their trade and profits.
 Sea ports
There were a number of sea ports which facilitated the trade and made transportation expenses cheap.

POLITICAL REASONS
 Decline of Mughal Empire
East India Company had no political motives at first. It came to India primarily for trade. But the decline of Mughal Empire and the
demolition of Maratha Power in 1761 by Ahmad Shah Abdali prepared the gateway for the British to take over India.
 Lack of Central Govt.
Lack of a strong central government attracted the British attention for interfering with Indian political affairs. By that time, they had
already got the skills of dealing with Indian rulers and merchants. Now they started thinking about establishing British Raj in the
subcontinent. The situation provided them with a chance to control the Indian situation with their much better discipline and organisation.

REGIONAL INFLUENCE
 Regional Supremacy
India had strategic position on the globe. It would give regional supremacy to the British and Royal Navy. They would control the sea
routes and hence trade with the East. They used very effectively the weaknesses of the local rulers and mutual differences of the Mughals.
 Westernisation of Indian culture
The company also wanted to westernize the Indians. The British believed that western culture is superior and must be spread in the world.
They thought themselves the most civilized nation of the world. The Christian missionaries paved the way for the British to overcome the
people and the preaching for the conversion of Indians to Christianity.
 No Competition
EIC had to face no rivalry in India as they had to face Dutch Trade Company in Indonesia. It was not difficult for EIC to establish its trade
in India. Company was surrounded by trade competitors and other imperial powers. It observed a growing need of protection. Company
began to increase its military power. With improved military strength they were able to drive out the Europeans from India and to
overcome the local rulers.

Indian Resistance (wars with EIC)

1. Battle with Aurangzeb the Mughal King 1686

Child's War was a war between the English East India Company and the Mughal Empire of India which lasted from 1686 to 1690.In
1688 an English fleet was employed for blocking the Mughal harbours on the western coast of India and ships with pilgrims to Mecca
were captured. After that Emperor Aurangzeb decided to restart negotiations with the English. However, the Company sent out aids
commanded by Captain Heath who on his arrival rejected the agreement. After that Emperor Aurangzeb issued orders to attack the
English, and the confiscation of their property. In 1689 the strong Mughal fleet blocked Bombay and EIC was defeated.

2. Battle of Plassey 1757

The Battle of Plassey was a decisive victory of the British East India Company over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies on
23 June 1757. The battle took place at Plassey, on the bank of Hooghly River in Bengal. Siraj-ud-daulah became the Nawab of
 Bengal a year before in 1756 and he ordered the British to stop the extension of their fortification. He was afraid of the ever
increasing power of the British. The battle was headed by an attack on British-controlled Calcutta by Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah and
the Black Hole massacre took place. The British sent reinforcements under Colonel Robert Clive and Admiral Charles Watson
from Madras to Bengal and recaptured Calcutta. Tensions and suspicions between Siraj-ud-daulah and the British concluded in
the Battle of Plassey. Siraj-ud-Daulah had a numerically superior force and made his stand at Plassey. The British, worried about
being outnumbered, formed a conspiracy with Siraj-ud-Daulah's demoted army chief Mir Jafar. Mir Jafar made no move to
actually join the battle as he was heavily bribed and was promised to be declared as the ruler of Bengal after winning the war.
Siraj-ud-Daulah's army with 50,000 soldiers, 40 cannons and 10 war elephants was defeated by 3,000 soldiers of Col. Robert
Clive. Mir Jafar did not join him when the war was at peak and rather he joined with the British. Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah was
found in the mud of the river was killed. The defeat of Nawab in the battle established the Company rule in Bengal which
expanded over much of India for the next hundred years.
3. Battle of Buxar 1764

Mir Qasim was the Nawab of Bengal from 1760 to 1763. He was installed as Nawab with the support of the British East India Company,
replacing Mir Jafar. Mir Qasim, made an attempt to recover resource rich province of Bengal from the hands of British. In 1764, he
enlisted the support of Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II and Nawab Shuja Ud Daulah of Oudh. On October 23, 1764, Mir Qasim with his
army was defeated at the Battle of Buxar by the British Major Hector Monro.

It was a significant battle fought between the forces under the command of the British East India Company on one side, and the combined
armies of the Indians. His defeat has been suggested as the last real chance of preventing a gradual British expansion in large parts of
North East India.

4. Anglo Mysore Wars(I-III) 1767-92

The Anglo-Mysore Wars expanded over a time of about 13 years or so. Mysore and Hyderabad shared borders with each other and both
have declared independent status about 13 years after the death of Aurangzeb. As the Subcontinent have already been experienced the
arrival of the British and other European Trade Companies confronting with each other, so there has been a continuous battlefield there in
Northern India. Muslims had threats from Marathas and the foreigners while the
Marathas and the Europeans tried to confiscate as much area as they could in the shortest
possible time. These wars tested the energies of all the fighting agencies in northern India
in the later part of 18th century but ultimately proved the hegemony of the British due to a
number of factors. Hyder Ali, the brave ruler of Mysore and his son Tipu established the
mile stones of bravery and commitment towards the value of liberty. Both did extremely
well but could not stop the rage of the British. On the other hand, the Marathas and the
Nizams of Hyderabad also fought to remain independent. While in the second Anglo-
Mysore war in 1780, Hyder Ali, Marathas and Nizam become united against the British.
They made treaties, agreements for consolidating their power against the British but that
consolidation proved failure for their alliance as well. This conflict devastated much of
the Carnatic, and also failed to decisively resolve differences between Mysore and the
British. Resolution occurred in 1799 with the defeat and killing of Hyder's son Tipu, and
the restoration of the Wodeyars dynasty as British trades.

5. Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1798–1799)

The Fourth Anglo–Mysore War (1798–1799) was a war in South India between the Kingdom of Mysore and the British East India
Company. This was the final conflict of the four Anglo–Mysore Wars. The British took indirect control of Mysore, restoring the Wodeyar
Dynasty to the Mysore throne (with a British commissioner to advise him on all issues). Tipu Sultan's young heir, Fateh Ali, was sent into
exile. The Kingdom of Mysore became a princely state in a subsidiary alliance with British India.

6. Battle of Delhi (1803)

The Battle of Delhi took place on 11 September 1803 during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, between British troops under General
Lake, and Marathas army. The battle was fought at right across Jumna River near Humayun's Tomb. The Marathas occupied a strong
position with the Jumna in their back, and General Lake, pretending a retreat, drew Marathas from their lines, and then turning upon them
drove them with the bayonets into the river, imposing a crushing defeat to Marathas. The city of Delhi surrendered three days later. As a
result, the control of the city of Delhi passed from the Marathas to the British.
 7. Vellore Mutiny (10 July 1806)

The Vellore Mutiny on 10 July 1806 was the first instance of a large-scale and violent mutiny by Indian sepoys against the East India
Company. The immediate causes of the mutiny revolved mainly around resentment felt towards changes in the sepoy’s dress code
introduced in November 1805. Hindus were prohibited from wearing religious marks on their foreheads and Muslims were required to
shave their beards and trim their moustaches. The rebellion was also initiated by the sons of the defeated Tipu Sultan who were confined
at Vellore since 1799. The revolt, which took place in the South Indian city of Vellore, was brief, lasting only one full day, but cruel as
mutineers broke into the Vellore Fort and killed or wounded 200 British troops. Summary executions of about 100 mutineers took place
during the suppression of the outbreak, followed by the formal court-martial.

8. Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818)

The Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818) was the final and decisive conflict between the British East India Company and the
Maratha Empire in India. The war left the Company in control of most of India. It began with an invasion of the Maratha territory by
British East India Company. The troops were led by the Governor General Hastings and he was supported by a force under General
Thomas Hislop. The operations began with action against Pindari’s, a band of Muslims and Marathas from central India.

The Peshwa Baji Rao II's forces, followed by the allied forces rose against the British. Pressure and diplomacy convinced the fourth major
Maratha leader of Gwalior, to remain neutral even though he lost control of Rajasthan. British victories were swift, resulting in the
breakup of the Maratha Empire and the loss of Maratha independence. Most of the territory of Peshwa Baji Rao was annexed and became
part of the Bombay Presidency under the British control.

9. First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–1842)

The First Anglo-Afghan War (also known as Auckland's Folly) was fought between the British East India Company and Afghanistan
from 1839 to 1842. It is famous for the killing of 4,500 British and Indian soldiers plus 12,000 of their camp followers, by Afghan
tribal fighters, but the British defeated the Afghans in the concluding engagement. It was one of the first major conflicts during the
Great Game, the 19th century competition for power and influence in Asia between the United Kingdom and the Russian Empire.

10. Massacre of Elphinstone’s Army (1842) also known as The 1842 Kabul Retreat (or Massacre of
Elphinstone's Army)

This incident took place during the First Anglo-Afghan War of 1839-42. Following an uprising in Kabul, Major General Sir William
Elphinstone negotiated an agreement with Akbar Khan, one of the sons of King Dost Mohammad Khan of Afghanistan. According to the
agreement the British forces were to withdraw from Afghan territory and to reach Jalalabad. As the army and its numerous dependents
and camp-followers began its march, it came under attack from Afghan tribesmen. Many of the columns died of contact, frost bite or
starvation or were killed during the fighting. In total the British army lost 4,500 troops, along with about 12,000 civilians. Out of more
than 16,000 people from the column commanded by Elphinstone, only one European (Assistant Surgeon William Brydon) and a few
Indian sepoys reached Jalalabad. A few dozen British prisoners and civilian hostages were later released.

11. Annexation of Sindh (1843)

The British East India Company started its occupation of Sindh at the time when it was ruled by Balochi tribesmen of Dera Ghazi Khan.
Karachi was the first area in the province to be occupied by the British East India Company in 1839 by General Charles Napier. Mirs
of Khairpur, Chandio Tribesmen, and Khosa Tribesmen helped the British in the conquest of Sindh.
Charles Napier had brought first army consisting of mostly Bengali soldiers. The Balochi ruling forces of Sindh used to attack the British
in the darkness of night. The Bengali soldiers could not compete in those war techniques, and they used to run away. Then, Charles
Napier hired Khosa Baloch tribesman (from Dera Ghazi Khan) in his army, to fight with the ruling Balochi’s of Sindh, who were also
originally from Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab. Chandio Baloch Sardar brought a cavalry of 10,000 to support Charles Napier in the war, and
his armies stood on reserve to attack in case Charles Napier lost the war. Talpurs of Khairpur also got Khairpur state as gift from Charles
Napier for non-participation in the war. Sindh became part of the Bombay Presidency in 1880.

12. First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846)

The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought between the Sikh Empire and the East India Company between 1845 and 1846. It resulted in
partial defeat of the Sikh kingdom.The Sikh kingdom of Punjab was expanded and consolidated by Maharajah Ranjit Singh during the
early years of the nineteenth century. He hired American and European soldiers to train his artillery (large, heavy guns which are often
moved on wheels), and also combined groups of Hindus and Muslims into his army.
 13. Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–1849)

The Second Anglo-Sikh War took place in 1848 and 1849, between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company. It resulted in
the defeat of the Sikh Empire, and the annexation of the Punjab and what then became the North-West Frontier Province by the East India
Company. When Ranjit Singh died in 1839, the Sikh Empire began to fall into disorder. The East India Company began to build up its
military strength on the borders of the Punjab. Eventually, the increasing tension forced the Sikh Army to invade British territory, under
weak and possibly treacherous leaders. The hard-fought war ended in defeat for the Sikh Army.

Reforms of EIC (resulted in strengthening the control of EIC)

1. Doctrine of Lapse 1852

The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy apparently devised by Lord Dalhousie, who was the Governor General for the
East India Company in India between 1848 and 1856. According to the Doctrine, any princely state or territory under the direct influence
of the British East India Company would automatically be annexed if the ruler was either incompetent or died without a direct heir. The
latter replaced the long-established right of an Indian sovereign without an heir to choose a successor. The doctrine and its application
were widely regarded by many Indians as illegitimate.

2. Educational reforms
 The Asiatick Society had been founded in Calcutta by William Jones in 1784.
 Persian was abolished as the official language of the Company's administration and courts by 1837.
 Indian universities founded (January–September 1857), The University of Mumbai, established 1857.
 In January 1857, the University of Calcutta was established
 University of Madras in September 1857

Education Dispatch of July 1854 outlined a broad plan of state-sponsored education for India, which included:

1. Establishing a Department of Public Instruction in each presidency or province of British India.

2. Establishing universities modeled on the University of London
3. Establishing teachers-training schools for all levels of instruction
4. Maintaining existing Government colleges and high-schools and increasing their number when necessary.
5. Vastly increasing language schools for elementary education.
6. Introducing a system of grants-in-aid for private schools.

3. Religious reforms
 Caste Disabilities Removal Act, 1850 also Act XXI of 1850
It was a law passed in British India under East India Company rule. It abolished all laws affecting the rights of persons converting to
another religion or caste. Under ancient Hindu law a person converting from Hinduism to another religion became unable for inheriting
property from other family members. The new Act allowed Indians who converted from one religion to another religion equal right
under no law, especially in the case of inheritance.

4. Social reforms
 Bengal Sati Regulation or Regulation XVII, A. D. 1829 of the Bengal Code
It was a legal act spread in British India under East India Company rule, by the then Governor-General Lord William Bentinck, which
made the practice of sati [the burning of a Hindu widow on the funeral pyre (pile of wood) of her died husband] illegal in all powers of
British India and subject to trial.

 The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856, also Act XV, 1856,

It was passed on 25 July 1856, legalized the remarriage of Hindu widows in all jurisdictions of India under East India Company rule. In
order to protect both what it considered family honour and family property, upper-caste Hindu society had long banned the remarriage of
widows, even child and teenage ones.

The Act of 1856 provided legal safeguards against loss of certain forms of inheritance. Especially targeted in the act were Hindu child
widows whose husbands had died before marriage.
 5. Agricultural reforms
Canal: - The first irrigation works started during East India Company's rule were begun in 1817.

6. Administrative reforms Cornwallis Code (1793)

 The Cornwallis Code passed in 1793 by the East India Company to improve the governance of its territories in India. The Code
was developed under the guidance of Charles, Earl (Lord) Cornwallis, who served as Governor-General of India from 1786 to
1793. Its best known provision was the Permanent Settlement (or the zamindari system enacted in 1793), which
established a revenue collection scheme which lasted into the 20th century. It was an agreement between the EIC and Bengali
landlords to fix revenues to be raised from land, with far-reaching consequences for both agricultural methods and productivity
in the entire India.

7. Indian Slavery Act, 1843 (Lord Ellen borough)

The Indian Slavery Act, 1843, was an act passed in British India under EIC, which banned many economic dealings associated with
slavery. No public officer shall in execution of any order of Court, or for the enforcement of any demand of rent or revenue, sell or
cause to be sold any person or the right to the compulsory labour or services of any person on the ground that such person is in a state
of slavery.
 North-Western Provinces established (1836)
 First telegraph line laid in India (1851)
 Postage Stamps for India were introduced (1854)

 In 1837, Post offices were established in the principal towns and postmasters appointed.
 During the period 1820–30, the East India Company's Government in India considered constructing signalling towers.
 Public Telegram services starts operation in 1855.
 Indian Railways (1850) owned and operated by the Government of India through the Ministry of Railways.

8. The Regulating Act of 1773

The British Government passed the Regulating Act in 1773 to control corruption and nepotism of the Company. The Regulating Act
of 1773 was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain planned to repair the management of the East India Company's rule in India. It
banned the servants of company from engaging in any private trade or accepting gifts or bribes from the natives. A supreme court
was established at Fort William at Calcutta. British judges were to be sent to India to administer the British legal system that was
used there.

9. William Pitt the Younger's India Act of 1784

The East India Company Act 1784, also known as Pitt's India Act, was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain planned to address
the shortcomings of the Regulating Act of 1773 by bringing the East India Company's rule in India under the control of the British
Government. Pitt's Act provided for the appointment of a Board of Control, and provided for a joint government of British India by both
the Company and the Crown with the government holding the ultimate authority.

10. Subsidiary Alliance System by Lord Wellesley 1789

It was Lord Wellesley who replaced the policy of "neutrality" in 1798. He made the Nawabs and Nizams subsidiary allies by signing
almost 100 such treaties to strengthen the British control over India. According to this pact the local rulers would run the affairs of the
state and the British would provide security. The rulers were to pay for the cost of the troops and at the same time they could not enter
into any other such alliance with any other such entity. By applying this policy the EIC took control of many local states. He also
forbade Nizam to correspond with the Marathas without British consent. As the Nawab was a French dependant, he had appointed many
Frenchmen at his court, but after this treaty, he was forced to dismiss the French employees and maintained six expensive British
Battalions.

11. Female Infanticide Act of 1795

In 1795, the EIC passed the Female Infanticide Act and declared the killings of baby girls to be murders. This protection aimed to provide
protection to the female babies as strong desire for son was one of the traditional thought of Hindu society. The act was not resisted that
much but it was hard to enforce it since many people were involved in such activity. The British continued to check the daughters were
alive even after one hundred years.