Question

Elucidate the features of Wellesley’s policy of expansion.

Answer 1

Instructions: Answer to this question can be broken down into two parts:

• Why did Wellesley launch the policy of expansion?
  • Rivalry between France and England
• What was Wellesley’s policy of expansion?
  • Features of the Subsidiary Alliance

Solution:

• When Lord Wellesley was appointed as the Governor General of India, cut-throat competition and rivalry existed between England and France.
• England did not want France become powerful in India. Therefore, Wellesley introduced the Subsidiary Alliance.
• As per this policy, any princely state that accepted the alliance had to maintain the British Army and keep a British representative in the Royal Court.
• Subsidiary Alliance acted like a slow poison for the princely states.
• The Indian States that became the victims of the Subsidiary Alliance were Hyderabad, Mysore, Ayodhya, Jodhpur, Gaekwads of Vadodara, Peshwas of Pune and Scindhias of Gwalior. Within 7 years, Wellesley expanded the Company rule in India.