History of India: 1700-1857Chapter Unit

Introduction

The British colonial expansion in India began in the mid-18th century and extended until the annexation of Awadh in 1856. This period marked a hundred years of consolidation and expansion of colonial rule. While many regions fell under British control, others like Hyderabad managed to survive by accepting British suzerainty. The annexation of Awadh sparked the 1857 Rebellion, leading to a reassessment of British policies. Post-1857, the British adopted a strategy of forming alliances with Indian monarchs, ensuring the survival of princely states like Kashmir and Hyderabad until Indian independence in 1947.

Growth of English Trade

The British East India Company began its trade activities under a charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I on December 31, 1600. The company initially focused on trade in the East Indies but soon shifted to India:

Early Establishments:
- 1608: The British reached Surat but faced opposition from the Portuguese.
- 1612: After defeating the Portuguese, Emperor Jahangir granted permission for factories at Surat.
- 1615-1618: Ambassador Sir Thomas Roe secured concessions to establish factories in Agra, Ahmedabad, and Broach.
- 1668: Bombay, transferred by the Portuguese to the British, became the headquarters.
Southern and Eastern Expansion:
- Factories were established at Masulipatnam (1611), Pulicat (1626), and Madras (1639).
- By the mid-17th century, factories were set up in Orissa (Hariharpur and Balasore), Bengal (Kasim Bazar and Hooghly), and Bihar (Patna).

The British gradually expanded their trading influence, paving the way for political dominance.

Trends of British Expansion

Rivalry between the British and the French in the South

The growing rivalry between Britain and France in Europe extended to India, where both nations competed for trade and influence. By the early 18th century, the rise in French trade challenged British interests.

The Carnatic Wars

First Carnatic War (1746–1748)

Triggered by the War of Austrian Succession in Europe.
French Governor Dupleix defeated the British and captured Madras.
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) restored Madras to the British, ending the conflict.

Second Carnatic War (1749–1754)

Dupleix supported claimants in succession disputes in Hyderabad and Karnataka.
French installed Chanda Sahib as Nawab, but British intervention led to his defeat.
British officer Robert Clive captured Arcot, disrupting French plans.
1754: Dupleix was recalled, and both sides agreed to non-interference in regional disputes.

Third Carnatic War (1756–1763)

Part of the global Seven Years' War.
French forces under Count de Lally captured Madras but were defeated at the Battle of Wandiwash (1760) by Sir Eyre Coote.
The Treaty of Paris (1763) ended the war, restoring French territories but confirming British dominance in India.

Establishment and Expansion of British Power

Bengal

Battle of Plassey (1757)

Causes:
- Siraj-ud-Daula, Nawab of Bengal, faced opposition from internal rivals and British interference.
- The misuse of trade privileges (Dastaks) and British support for Siraj’s enemies angered the Nawab.
Events:
- The British, led by Robert Clive, defeated Siraj-ud-Daula at Plassey with the betrayal of Mir Jafar, the Nawab’s commander.
Significance:
- Marked the beginning of British political control in India.
- Mir Jafar became a puppet Nawab, granting extensive privileges to the British.

Battle of Buxar (1764)

Causes:
- British interference in Bengal led to conflicts with Nawab Mir Qasim, who allied with Shuja-ud-Daula (Awadh) and Shah Alam II (Mughal Emperor).
Events:
- The British, led by Major Hector Munro, defeated the combined forces at Buxar on October 22, 1764.
Significance:
- The Treaty of Allahabad (1765) granted the Diwani rights (revenue collection) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the British.
- Firmly established British dominance in Eastern India.

Dual Rule in Bengal

Under Dyarchy, the British controlled revenue collection, while the Nawab retained nominal power.
Effects:
- Increased taxation and administrative failure led to economic decline.
- The Bengal famine of 1770 caused widespread devastation.

Mysore

First Anglo-Mysore War (1767–1769)

Hyder Ali allied with the Marathas and Nizam to counter the British.
The Treaty of Madras (1769) restored conquered territories and formed a defensive alliance.

Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784)

Tensions arose due to British breaches of previous treaties.
Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan defeated the British initially but faced setbacks.
The Treaty of Mangalore (1784) restored the status quo.

Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790–1792)

Tipu Sultan attacked Travancore, a British ally.
British forces under Lord Cornwallis defeated Tipu, forcing him to sign the Treaty of Seringapatam (1792).
Tipu lost half his territory and paid a large indemnity.

Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799)

Lord Wellesley attacked Tipu Sultan for refusing to accept British suzerainty.
Tipu was defeated and killed at Srirangapatnam.
Mysore became a princely state under British control.

Marathas

First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782)

Resulted from internal Maratha succession disputes and British interference.
Treaty of Salbai (1782) restored peace, allowing the British to focus on Mysore.

Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1805)

British defeated Scindia and Bhonsle, forcing them to accept subsidiary alliances.

Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818)

The British crushed remaining Maratha resistance.
The Peshwa was pensioned off, and the Maratha confederacy was dissolved.

Punjab

First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846)

Resulted from political instability after Ranjit Singh’s death.
The Treaty of Lahore (1846) ceded territories like Jalandhar Doab to the British.

Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–1849)

Revolts in Multan escalated into a full-scale conflict.
The decisive Battle of Gujarat (1849) led to British annexation of Punjab.
Maharaja Dilip Singh was pensioned off, and Punjab came under British administration.

Summary of British Conflicts

Year	War/Conflict	Outcome/Treaty
1757	Battle of Plassey	British control of Bengal
1764	Battle of Buxar	Treaty of Allahabad (1765)
1767–1769	First Anglo-Mysore War	Treaty of Madras
1790–1792	Third Anglo-Mysore War	Treaty of Seringapatam
1803–1805	Second Anglo-Maratha War	Treaty of Bassein
1845–1846	First Anglo-Sikh War	Treaty of Lahore
1848–1849	Second Anglo-Sikh War	Annexation of Punjab