The Great Uprising of 1857: What Caused This?

Political Causes:

British Annexation Policies - The Doctrine of Lapse & Subsidiary Alliance – created anger and resentment towards the British.

The Ill-treatment of Bahadur Shah Zafar the last Mughal Emperor – successors denied the right to inherit Mughal property or imperial titles – source of concern

Annexation of Oudh (Feb. 1856) angered Indian princes and created a sense of insecurity - Nawab Wajid Ali Shah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klFKtJoGMG0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpOuwxn8aI4

Rulers mistrusted of the British as they were quick to break treaties.

Economic Causes:

Misuse of Indian raw material - India’s small-scale cottage industries were forced to close down. Artisans and craftsmen lost their livelihood

British strategy of buying cheap raw from India and selling British Manufactured goods at low rates

Heavy taxes due to new land revenue system increased misery of Indian farmers.

Farmers were forced to cultivate only those crops that suited the British -eg. Indigo , poppy

Annexation of states led to taking away of estates from Zamindars - confiscation of zamindari rights led to zamindars lead the rebels.

Socio-Religious Causes:

Indians treated inferior people and excluded from high administrative post

Interfering with the Social Customs of Indians like abolition of sati, Widow Remarriage Act, Education for girls – interference with traditional customs/values.

Taxing holy places.

Introduction of the railways & telegraph.

Missionary activities and spread of Christianity caused alarm among Indians.

Introduction of Western Education at the cost of traditional learning made Maulvis and Pandits insecure.

Military Causes:

No Indian sepoy could rise in rank. Paid less than British soldiers.

Harsh treatment of the sepoys by British officers

Low salaries of Indian sepoys. (Indian soldier fighting for the British)

The dismissed army of the Nawab of Awadh lost their livelihood.

General Service Enlistment Act: Indian sepoys had to fight for the British outside India. Oversea travel was a taboo to Hindu sepoys.

The number of Indian sepoys in British army was far more than British soldiers that emboldened the sepoys.

Immediate Cause:

Introduction of Enfield Rifle with greased cartridges with animal tallow .