Regulating Act 1773 to Revolt of 1857 - Key Concepts

A set of QUESTION-ANSWER flashcards covering Regulating Act 1773 to Revolt of 1857, aligned with the provided notes.

Why did the British Parliament pass the Regulating Act of 1773?

To control the East India Company, curb corruption, and improve tax collection by giving the government supervision and strengthening the Governor-General of Bengal.

What were the shortcomings of the Regulating Act of 1773?

Governor-General's powers were not clearly defined; clashes with the Supreme Court and Council; corruption and abuse persisted; British government control over the Company remained weak and unclear.

What was the position of Indians in the British administrative structure?

Indians occupied very low positions; high posts were reserved for Brits; Indians could only get small, low-paying jobs and had little decision-making power; they mostly worked as clerks, peons, or assistants.

In what ways were British-employed soldiers different from those employed by Indian rulers?

British soldiers had regular salaries, uniforms, modern training, and strict discipline; Indian rulers' soldiers were paid irregularly, poorly trained, and used traditional fighting methods.

What were the important aspects of the Pitt's India Act?

Passed in 1784 to regulate the East India Company's political role; a Board of Control in Britain supervised political matters; Company directors handled trade; Board managed administration and foreign affairs in India; strengthened the Governor-General; separated commercial and political functions to reduce corruption and increase British oversight.

Explain how the colonial administrative structure in India depended on the pillars of civil service, army, police and Judiciary.

Civil service managed revenue and administration; the army defended British rule and expanded territory; the police maintained law and order; the judiciary settled disputes but largely followed British law, often ignoring Indian traditions.

What were the four pillars of the colonial administrative structure?

Civil service, army, police, and judiciary, working together to strengthen British authority and control India's resources.

Why was it more profitable to grow commercial crops?

Commercial crops like indigo, cotton, and jute fetched higher prices in Europe; farmers earned more, while the British gained profits through trade and exports.

How were peasants reduced to landless labourers in the colonial period?

New land revenue systems with high taxes forced peasants to borrow; when unable to pay, moneylenders or landlords took away land, turning many peasants into landless labourers working for wages.

What was the long term effect of the Permanent Settlement?

Zamindars became powerful landowners while peasants lost land rights; high rents were collected by zamindars without improving farming, leading to peasant poverty, famines, and low agricultural growth while zamindars grew richer.

Name a few causes of the peasant revolt

High land revenue demands; exploitative zamindari system; indebtedness to moneylenders; commercialization of agriculture; oppressive British policies; natural calamities.

How did the indigo cultivators protest against the harsh treatment by planters?

Indigo revolt of 1859-60 in Bengal; they refused to grow indigo, organized strikes, attacked factories, destroyed indigo plants, and confronted planters with support from local zamindars.

How did the character of peasant rebellions change in the twentieth century?

Rebellions became more organized and larger (kisan sabhas); they linked to India’s independence movement and pursued broader political goals, not just rent or debt issues.

How were the ryotwari settlements and mahalwari settlements different from the permanent settlement?

Permanent Settlement (Bengal): zamindars as landowners with fixed revenue; Ryotwari (Madras/Bombay): revenue collected directly from ryots who were taxed; Mahalwari (Punjab/NW India): revenue fixed for whole village (mahals) with village headmen responsible.

Why were the social reforms introduced by the British resented by the Indians?

Though seen as progressive, reforms were viewed as interference with age-old traditions and feared religion weakening and Christianization, fueling suspicion and discontent.

How far was the Doctrine of Lapse responsible for the Revolt of 1857?

Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse allowed annexation without a natural heir; states like Jhansi, Satara, and Nagpur were annexed, provoking anger among rulers and subjects and contributing to the revolt.

Areas where support for the revolt was strong and places where the revolt failed to penetrate?

Strong in Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, Bihar, and Awadh; weaker in Punjab, Bengal, Bombay, and the South where many rulers sided with the British.

What were the causes of discontent amongst the soldiers?

Low pay; no extra allowance for overseas service; poor treatment compared to British troops; greased cartridges offended religious beliefs; General Service Enlistment Act forced soldiers to serve abroad.

Do you believe that weak leadership was one of the reasons for the failure of the revolt?

Yes. The revolt lacked a single central leadership; multiple local leaders acted independently, causing poor coordination against the British.

Why did the Revolt of 1857 fail to achieve its aim?

Lack of unity and central leadership; regional loyalties to the British; insufficient resources and modern weapons; poor organization and coordination; the British quickly suppressed the uprising.

What changes took place after the Revolt of 1857?

The Crown took direct control (end of East India Company rule); Governor-General became Viceroy; Doctrine of Lapse abolished; loyal rulers protected; army reorganized to reduce Indian dominance; reforms pledged not to interfere with social and religious practices.