this Presentation describes about British India

1. British India

2. British East India Company
• The British control of India
began with the economic
trading company called the
British East India Company.
This company was granted
the sole right to control the
resources and markets in
India on behalf of the British
government. Soon the
British had taken over the
government, adopting a
policy of divide and
conquer.

3. Indirect Rule
• The British would pay off
the various local rulers
(India has never had a
united, centralized
government) for support
in exchange for special
trading favors in their
area. The British East
India Company also paid
for an army of Indian
soldiers called Sepoys to
enforce their policies.

4. Hindu vs. Muslim
• The British also worked
to keep the two
religious groups, Hindu
and Muslim, at odds.
They diplomatically
kept the two groups
isolated so that they
could not unite against
the British.

5. Sepoy Mutiny
• In 1857, a rumor spread through
the Sepoys that the bullets used
in the rifles were being greased
with the fat of pigs or cows, thus
offending both of the religious
groups that made up the natives
in the Army. The rebellious army
marauded through India killing
hundreds of the British families
living there (Sepoy Mutiny).
• The British sent in the regular
army and were able to put down
the rebellion. From this point on
the British kept the regular army
in India for fear of another
uprising. (Direct Rule) With the
army they were able to maintain
control until Gandhi led the revolt
and gained independence in1948,
after World War II.

6. Jewel in the Crown
• India becomes the Jewel
in the Crown to the British
Economy. The raw
materials were shipped
from India to England and
then finished products
were shipped to sell. The
Suez Canal became vital to
the British as their
pathway to their
economic crown jewel.

7. Assignment Time
• Divide your paper into six boxes. In boxes 1-5,
draw something to represent the 5 topics just
discussed :
– British East India Company
– Indirect Rule
– Muslim v. Hindu
– Sepoy Mutiny
– Jewel in the Crown
• In the 6th box, answer this question: Do you
think British presence helped or hurt India? Give
details to support your answer.