What was the impact of British imperialism in India?
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Recap
During the Age of Imperialism from 1850-1914, Europeans dominated Africa and Asia
During this era, no nation could match the industrial, military or colonial power of Britain
Britain had so many colonies that it was said the “sun never set on the British empire”
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Involvement in India
In the 1600s, Europeans gain a foothold in the Indian Ocean Trade
The British East India company was formed to trade exotic Asian goods in Europe and America
The East India Company set up trade posts in major port cities in India
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Decline in India
By 1700, India’s Mughal Empire was in decline and small states ruled by a maharajah were formed
Conflicts between Hindus and Muslims further weakened India
The East India Company steadily gained more control over India
(India was already facing internal divisions that led to weaknesses which could be exploited by the East India Company)
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East India Company
Made huge profits creating plantations to harvest tea, coffee, cotton and opium
Cotton helped to fuel Britain’s industrial revolution
Opium was refined in India and smuggled into China; Opium Addiction helped the British gain access to Chinese trade
The East India Company sold cheap, British-manufactured goods (many of which were made from the raw materials from India) to Indian people at a profit
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From 1750 to 1850, the British east India Company ruled most of India with little interference from Britain
To protect their territories, British officials hired Indian soldiers called sepoys
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Sepoy Mutiny/Sepoy Rebellion
By the 1850s, Indian resentment for the British was growing
In 1857, rumors spread that sepoy gun cartridges supplied by the British were greased with pork and beef fat
Why would that be a problem?
Hindu and Muslim Sepoys were outraged and rebelled against the British
The Sepoy Mutiny lasted over 1 year; the British government had to send troops to help the East India Co
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The Raj
In 1858, as a response to the Sepoy Mutiny, the British government took control from the East India Company and ruled India directly
British rule was called the Raj and lasted until 1947
(summarize): The British government made important improvements in India including railroads, telegraph and telephone lines, roads, canals, dams, bridges...etc (improvements in infrastructure)
(summarize):They also built schools, hospitals, irrigation projects, medical improvements
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Negative Effects of Colonialism
(Summarize): British rule hurt the Native Indian economy, further divided social classes, increased hostility between Muslims and Hindus
(Summarize): The British emphasis on cash-crop plantations led to food shortages and famine in India
7 MILLION Indians died due to starvation in 1876
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Colonization in SE Asia
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Colonization in SE Asia
India was not the only European colony in Asia or SE Asia
The Dutch East India Company gained control of the East Indies in the 1600s
The Dutch profited from rubber, tin, oil resources and cash crop plantations
In the 1840s, France seized control of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
The French profited, among other things, from rice plantations