1. Background of Revolt of 1857
2. Causes of Revolt
2.1. Economic Causes
2.2. Political Causes
2.3. Administrative Causes
2.4. Socio-Religious Causes
3. Influence of Outside Events
4. Dissatisfaction Among the Sepoys
5. The Revolt
6. Bahadur Shah – Head of the Revolt
7. Leaders of the Revolt and Storm Centres
8. Contributions of Civilians
9. Suppression of the Revolt
10. Causes of Failure of the Revolt
11. Nature and Consequences of the Revolt
12. Significance of the Revolt
13. Hindu Muslim Unity
14. Conclusion
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Topic – Revolt of 1857 (Notes)
Subject – Political Science
(Indian National Movement & Constitutional Development)
Table of Contents
The Revolt of 1857 was a significant rebellion in India between 1857 and 1858 against the government of the British East India Company, which acted as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. The uprising began on May 10, 1857, with a mutiny of Company army sepoys at the garrison town of Meerut, 40 miles northeast of Delhi. It eventually burst into further mutinies and civilian rebellions, primarily in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, though there were also incidents of insurrection in the north and east.
Background of Revolt of 1857
- Following the Battle of Plassey in 1757, the British took the first step toward gaining control of northern India.
- And in 1857, there was a great ‘Revolt,’ which was a result of the character and practices of colonial administration after 1757, and which resulted in significant changes in British policy toward India.
- Over time, the cumulative effect of British expansionist tactics, economic exploitation, and administrative innovations had harmed all—rulers of Indian states, sepoys, zamindars, peasants, traders, craftsmen, gurus, maulvis, and so on.
- In 1857, the simmering anger erupted in a violent storm that rocked the British empire in India to its very core.
- However, there were intermittent public eruptions in the form of religiopolitical violence, tribal movements, peasant uprisings, agrarian riots, and civil rebellions between 1757 and 1857.
- Even in famine years, increased revenue expectations sparked resentment.
- Because the moneylenders had the protection of the police, many protests against local moneylenders escalated into rebellions against the Company’s control.
- Interference by the British in native religious/traditional rituals sparked discontent and led to rebellions.
- Rebellions and uprisings happened almost from the beginning of the East India Company‘s reign, for various reasons in various places.
- Even after the 1857 Revolt, some of the movements persisted.
- Major revolts broke out in the south, east, west, and north-eastern districts, which the Company brutally repressed.
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