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Rise of British Power in Bengal - Coggle Diagram
Rise of British Power in Bengal
ENGLISH EAST INDIA COMPANY
British traders came in 17th ce, mid 19th ce eliminated rivals, established all-India empire. important milestone
1600 CE EEIC established by British merchants with right from Queen Elizabeth I enormous profits by selling Eastern goods at high prices in Europe, First factory in Surat 1612 ce, trading settlement
By 1623 ce factories in Surat, Broach, Ahmadabad, Agra and Masulipatam, Sir Thomas Roe (British ambassador to Jahangirs court obtained trade concessions from the Mughal emperor)
Madras
(1639 CE. given by local ruler fortified, renamed Fort St George)
Bombay
(1688 Charles II gave rent of 10 pounds yearly - received as dowry when married Portuguese princess, B became chief settlement of British on west coast.) and
Calcutta
(1690 CE British trading settlement established, fortified in Calcutta, named Fort William) became the headquarters of British settlements
Headquarters or Presidencies = placed under charge of Governor, 18th ce British trading companies joined together as United Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies
FRENCH EAST INDIA COMPANY
formed in 1664 Pondicherry, trade settlements in Surat, Masulipatam, Chandernagore, Mahe.
18th ce Dutch and Portuguese sidelined, major powers = British and French equally determined intense competition led to wars political Rivals in Europe
advantage of unstable political conditions and decline of Mughal , fought three Carnatic Wars. (Coromandel Coast and hinterland) outcome = British establishment
BRITISH IN BENGAL
18th ce Bengal rich fertile ‘paradise of earth‘ attracted Holland, France England traders
large prosperous British settlement in Calcutta 1717, Mughal Farrukhsiyar, issued farman, granting Company right to duty-free trade in Bengal Bihar Orissa, right to issue passes or dastaks for free movement of goods, Employees were permitted to private trade with taxes
enormous profits, interfere in local politics turned into active invovlement
BATTLE OF PLASSEY
1756 nawab of Bengal Alivardi Khan died, succeeded by grandson Siraj-ud-Daulah, ordered British to pay taxes but they refused
In anticipation of war with French’s in Chandernagore, British fortify Calcutta which amounted to attack on nawab's sovereignty, Siraj not let stay as masters and ordered to dismantle fortifications, French agreed, British refused and openly challenged his authority
Siraj with army captured Fort William in Calcutta June 1756, Recovery by Robert Clive (hero of Arcot) from Madras by Jan 1757 and nawab was compelled to restore privileges to Company and concede right to fortify Calcutta, Siraj gave into demands of British but were not satisfied and wanted to replace Siraj with puppet ruler.
Conspiracy: Robert Clive overthrew siraj, Mir Jafar (commander-in-chief of nawab's forces) was made the nawab in return for money and trading privileges, negotiations and secret treaty was signed and British presented Siraj with impossible set of demands. War became inevitable