2. Causes of the revolt
Political causes
Social and religious causes
Economic causes
Military causes
3. Political causes
The main political cause for the great revolt of 1857 was
the policy of Doctrine of Lapse. It was an annexation
policy purportedly used by Lord Dalhousie as per which
any princely state or territory under the British East India
Company would automatically be annexed if the ruler died
without a male heir.
4. Social and religious causes
One of the major reasons for the revolt was socio-religious policies of the British
which included racial superiority and discrimination, missionary activities and
deliberate efforts to subvert the religious beliefs of the people in India.
This created a kind of discontentment and distrust among the people against the
British rule. It seemed to the people that their socio-religious customs that they
cherished and held sacred were being destroyed by the British. This created a
kind of discontentment and distrust among the people against the British rule.
5. Economic causes
The most important cause of popular discontent was
the British policy of economically exploiting India.
This hurt all sections of society. ... Artisans and
craftsmen were ruined by the large-scale influx of
cheap British manufactured goods into India which,
in turn, made their hand-made goods uneconomical
to produce.
6. Military causes
● Low salary and poor prospects of promotion.
● Disproportion between Indian and British troops.
● Social distance between officers and Indian
soldiers.
● Loss of British prestige in Afghan War.
● General Service Enlistment Act by which Indians
enlisted in British Army could be sent overseas.
