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To what extent did the British control India in 1829? (East India Company,…
To what extent did the British control India in 1829?
East India Company
had a monopoly of trade in India since 1600
British parliament saved Company from bankruptcy in the 1770s
also tried to bring the political and administrative functions of the Company under its control while leaving commercial activities alone
these two functions proved inseparable = company operated with parliamentary oversight and regulation from 1786
monopoly was attacked during the early 19th century as free trade took hold
Charter Act 1813
renewed Company charter for 20 years but removed its monopoly on trade in India
Charter Act 1833
renewed the charter but removed the monopoly on the tea trade with China
needed new income as it lost its monopolies
Company took on Civil Administration + Tax collection as Mughal Empire declined
Aggressive Territorial expansion during early 19th - in the period 1829-1857
3 private armies - one for each presidencey - Bengal, Madras and Bombay
Enormous private fortunes made by Company nabobs
poor management + corruption led to increasing British influence
1773 Regulating Act
created a governing council with a majority nominated by parliament and governor generals that had to be approved by the Crown
1774 Act
made the Company subordinate to the Crown in all its political functions
British began to see themselves as ruling rather than trading in India
Company collected taxes for local rulers + could raise private armies that were often stronger than those of local rulers
local rulers began to ally themselves with the Company for protection from other rulers and also to stay on the right side of power
Governor General
Governor and President of Fort William (Bengal) was nominated by the Company and approved by a Crown-controlled council
Hastings = first governor under Crown controlled system
The other governors could not make war or peace without the approval of Bengal + foreign policy in Gov Gens hand
Governors could sometimes override their council from 1786
Government of India Act 1833 - Bengal president became the governor general of India
new governor, Sir William Bentick was responsible for foreign policy and legislation in Company territories in contrast to the original role of co-ordinating treaties and alliances with local rulers
Governor General had huge powers due to the slowness of communication with London
Company Army
three armies to protect commercial interests
establish mid-18th + 200,000by 1820
regiments of white troops and of sepoys (indians) commanded by Europeans
Europeans had ideas about which were most warlike castes
company armies ensured that local rulers signed treaties with the Company and supported tax collection and administrative roles
Governors like Wellesley used the armies to expand territory
Campaigns
in the Northwest
fear of Russian invasion + influence of Persia
varying success in areas like Sind and Punjab
Sind finally annexed in 1843 and Punjab in 1849
First Afghan War = Auckland's Folly = 20,000 lives and 15 million
British soldiers admired warlike Sikhs and this would be repaid during the Rebellion
Sikhs were extremely bitter toward the native Bengali sepoys
Bengali Army
heart of company
gov of Bengal = gov General
army twice as large
high caste indians with special privileges
sepoys recruited from neighbouring areas, like Awadh
played pivotal role in the annexation of the Punjab and the bitterness of the Sikhs which partly explains Britain's survival in 1857