The Revolt-of-1857

Describes The Sepoy Mutiny phase of Indian History. Ideal for 5th Graders.

1. THE REVOLT OF 1857 “The Sepoy Mutiny ”

2. THE GREAT REVOLT THE FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

3. Political map of India before the Revolt of 1857

4. Causes of the Revolt of 1857 Political Economic Military Social Administrative

5. POLITICAL CAUSES Lord Dalhousie’s policy of annexation and the Doctrine of Lapse had made the Indian rulers angry and insecure . The Rani of Jhansi, Laxmibai , was not allowed to adopt a son.

6. The Muslim feelings had been badly hurt when after the death of Bahadur Shah II , Lord Canning took away regal titles and Moghul palaces.

7. ECONOMIC CAUSES The British had drained India of all her wealth and natural resources by selfish economic policies .

8. Farmers were forced to grow cash crops. There was severe food shortage and famine.

9. The handloom industry had been destroyed. Weavers lost their jobs.

10. SOCIAL CAUSES The practice of sati was abolished. Widow remarriage was encouraged . Child marriage, was not allowed . Interference of British in Indian social customs. Common people did not appreciate changes in social customs, westernization brought about by the British.

11. RELIGIOUS CAUSES Hindus and Muslims were forced to convert to Christianity.

12. ADMINISTRATIVE CAUSES . H igh posts and handsome salaries were given to the British. This caused frustration amongst Indians.

13. MILITARY CAUSES Immense discrimination between the British and the Indians.

14. The Indian sepoys were deprived of high salaries and promotions. The highest post for an Indian was that of the Subedar .

15. Mangal Pandey On March 29, 1857, on the parade ground at Barrackpore , a sepoy named Mangal Pandey fired the first shot of the uprising.

16. THE OUTBURST On 9 th May 1857 some sepoys in Meerut revolted against their British officers. Their Crime: These troopers had refused to load their rifles with the new cartridges.

17. Immediate Cause A rumour had spread that the new cartridge, to be loaded, in the Enfield rifle was greased with the fat of cow and pig . HINDUS COW WAS SACRED MUSLIMS PIG MEAT WAS FOBIDDEN BY QURAN

18. The sepoys marched to Delhi and declared BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR, the last Mughal ruler as the emperor of India.

19. Important Centres Of The Revolt Meerut Delhi Oudh Kanpur Jhansi Gwalior Many of the common people, like the peasants and the artisans joined the revolt.

20. Leaders like Rani Lakshmi Bai , Tantia Tope and Nana Saheb also joined the fight.

21. OUTCOME The revolt was completely suppressed and crushed by July 1858 . Bahadur Shah Zafar surrendered to the British

22. CAUSES OF FAILURE OF THE REVOLT L ocalized P oorly organized. British had better resources than the rebels. F eudal in character. Leaders lacked military skills. No unity. The native princes did not join the revolt.

23. MAJOR IMPACT OF THE REVOLT … the revolt was the first effort towards freedom and independence . People from different parts of India fought together against a common enemy -the British … the British just considered it to be a mere military revolt.

24. IMPACT OF THE REVOLT The control of Indian administration was transferred from the East India Company to the crown by the Government Of India Act 1858. Queen Victoria became the Empress of India.