British Conquest of India

Q. What methods were adopted for this conquest?

1. Wars Trend War Treaty (Break) War
Break Weakening of the Enemy
Reinforcing the Army for 2nd Phase

2. Treaties
Policies Subsidiary Alliance, Doctrine of Lapse
British Conquest of India
Q. What methods were adopted for this conquest?
2. Treaties Policies
Subsidiary Alliance

Doctrine of Lapse
Subsidiary Alliance
Q. What is it?
This treaty was signed by the British with almost every native state of
India
A device for establishing Indirect Control & British hegemony on Indian
states
Governor General Lord Wellesley (1798-1805) gave final shape to it.

Q. Why it was introduced?

In context of the eminent dangers from France because of Napoleonic
wars & increasing hostility of Indian states towards EIC

Under this system a treaty was signed between the native states & EIC.
Subsidiary Alliance
Q. What is it?
According to this treaty, EIC would assume responsibility of native
states from Internal & External Dangers
The native states also agreed to give up their claim on:
Defence External Affairs (Diplomacy)
Subsidiary Alliance
Native states agreed to:
1.Surrender their foreign affairs & all claims on other Indian powers.
They had to accept the intermediation of East India Co.

2. All foreigners are to be removed

From the services of the state
3. A contingent of British troops is to
be stationed in the capital of the
native states @ the cost of native
state themselves
This troops will be under command
of the EIC
Native troops were disbanded
Subsidiary Alliance
What is it?
Q. How to meet up the expenses?

To meet this cost of maintaining troops,

native states were to surrender
a territory yielding an Income equal to
the cost borne by the troops
Q. What if the states don’t have money to pay?
Smaller states were given an option Cash/Kind

4. A British resident is to be appointed in the native state’s court, who

was not to interfere in the internal matters of the native states
Subsidiary Alliance
Q. How did the company benefitted from the Subsidiary
Alliance?
EIC was relived from the possible threat of the French as the Indian
states which accepted the Subsidiary Alliance would not at least employ
European or enemy of the Company

Losing of Sovereignty of Indian States. Not allowed to establish

Diplomatic ties

Expansion of company's military empire Army Stations set up in every

Corner of the country that too at the cost of host princely state

Q. How did this treaty was proposed stages of development

Subsidiary Alliance
Stages of Development
Stage 1 EIC lends troop to the friendly Indian State

Stage 2 EIC +friendly Indian State will fight for a common cause
In return the native state will provide them with money

Stage 3 EIC asks no to supply of manpower from native states

Now, only money is given to EIC. The soldiers of the EIC will fight

Stage 4 On the pretext of defending Indian ally Stationing of

Subsidiary force
No money required. Land/Territory should be given for maintenance of
troops.
Subsidiary Alliance
Stages of Development
Nawab of Awadh (1765) became the subsidiary ally in initial form

Later on others followed

Mysore (1799) Wadeyar King
Awadh (1801)
Peshwa (1801) 2nd Anglo-Maratha War

Bhonsle, Scindia, Jodhpur, Jaipur etc.

Doctrine of Lapse
Tradition of Adoption Very Ancient
Adopted Son Inherited all rights/properties from his patron Father

1825, EIC Every Ruler under Hindu

laws, is free to nominate his Successor
real or adopted son

1831 They government may accept or reject, according to the

Situation, the application of Indian rulers to nominate his adopted son
as his heir
Doctrine of Lapse
1848, Lord Dalhousie becomes the governor general
Started annexing the states which were dependant on the British in
the absence of real heir the state would be merged into British India

Application
Satara (1848)
Jaitpur & Sambhapur (1849)
Bhagat (1850)
Udaipur (1852)
Jhansi (1854)
Nagpur (1854)
Question UPSC Pre 2004
Q. Consider the following princely states of the British rule in India
1. Jhansi
2. Sambalpur
3. Satara
The correct chronological order in which they were annexed by the
British is

a. 1,2,3
b. 1,3,2
c. 3,2,1
d. 3,1,2
Question UPSC Pre 2004
Q. Consider the following princely states of the British rule in India
1. Jhansi1854
2. Sambalpur1849
3. Satara1848
The correct chronological order in which they were annexed by the
British is

a. 1,2,3 Answer: C
b. 1,3,2
c. 3,2,1
d. 3,1,2
British Conquest of India
British Conquest

European Powers Indian Princely States

British Rule in India
British Conquest

More of Military Action

Political Consolidation

Setting of British Rule

through Political Structure
British Rule in India
Consolidation of British Rule
through Political Structure

Development of
Administrative Structure of
up to 1858

Colonial Socio- Cultural

Policy & its Impact

Introduction of Modern
Education in India
Political Consolidation History
In 1600 AD Crown Charter to East India Company

Battle of Buxar
East India Company Diwani Rights

Dual Government in Bengal

Political Consolidation History
East India Company

Court of Directors

Court of Proprietors
Regulating Act 1773
Q. Why it was introduced?
Corruption amongst the servants of the EIC
EIC making significant loss and officials making profit
The EIC applied for the loan of one million pounds in 1772
Lack of proper judicial administration

Changes in England
Raising of Voters Qualifications- Public opinion against the co. gathered
momentum in England
Appointment of Parliament Committees

Regulating Bill of Lord North

Regulating Act 1773
Changes in England

Court of Directors was instructed to place all important documents

coming from India before two British cabinet ministers- Chancellor of
Exchequer and Secretary of State for Political Affairs

Secretary of State for Chancellor of

Political Affairs Exchequer

Court of Directors
Regulating Act 1773
Changes in India
Governor of Bengal Governor General of Bengal(GGB)
Act/Function with 4 Council members ( Decision by Majority)
GGB given power to supervise the other two councils in time of war and
peace

Estd. Of Supreme Court@Calcutta

prohibited the servants of the Company from engaging in any private

trade or accepting presents or bribes from the ‘natives

1st Governor General of Bengal- Lord Warren Hastings

Pitts India Act 1784
Why it was introduced?
Failure of Regulating Act
Changes in England
Creation of Special Body Board of Control
Made responsible for controlling and regulating affairs of the EIC
‘Board of Control’ President+6 Commissioners

Set up ‘Secret Committee’

Board of Control + 3 from Court of Directors

Can bypass in times of Emergency

Pitts India Act 1784
Changes in India
Council Members decreased to 3
Supervisory Jurisdiction of GGB in council over Presidencies of Bombay
and Madras Clearly Defined
GGB made subordinate to British Government
GGB Can’t declare war without permission
Distinguished between the commercial and political functions of the EIC
EIC’s territories in India ‘British possessions in India

Nature of Act: Foundation for Centralisation

Act of1786
Governor General of Bengal was given overriding powers to his council

Lord Cornwallis appointed as Governor General

Charter Act of 1793

Government by Written law and Regulation ‘Rule of Law’

Recognized the Company’s political functions and clearly established

that the "acquisition of sovereignty by the subjects of the Crown is on
behalf of the Crown and not in its own right."
Charter Act of 1813
Background- 1808 Committee appointed by House of Commons
Changes in England
Ideological Influences
1.‘Free Traders’- Believed against Monopoly
Adam Smith- Wealth of Nations

2. Utilitarian's- Maximum Happiness to

Maximum no. Of people

Supported Direct rule by the British

Crown, also supported free trade
Charter Act of 1813
Background- 1808 Committee appointed by House of Commons
Changes in England

3.Liberals Liberalism
British administrations task was
to civilise rather than conquer

4. Evangelicals- Christian Missionaries

Charter Act of 1813
Changes in India
1.EIC monopoly abolished
Except ‘tea’ and
trade with china

2.Diluted monopoly extended to 20 years

Charter Act of 1813
Changes in India

3.British subjects allowed to come

and settle in India

4.Christian Missionaries were

allowed to propagate, profess
Christianity in India

5.A sum of Rs.1 Lakh was set aside

for promotion of education
Thank You