Question

Give a summary about the methods used by Lord Dalhousie to expand the British Empire

Answer 1

Instructions:
This answer to this question can be broken down into three parts.

• Talk about the Doctrine of Lapse
• Mention the areas he annexed in wars
• Mention the other areas he annexed under the pretence of maladministration and by ending titles and pensions

Solution:
Lord Dalhousie used the following methods to expand the British Empire:

• The Doctrine of Lapse
• Wars
• Annexation of areas under the pretence of maladministration and by ending titles and pensions

Let’s look at each method in detail.

• The Doctrine of Lapse is a policy where if a ruler does not have a male successor, his states would be annexed by the British Government after his death. The king was not allowed to adopt. Satara, Sambalpur, Udaipur and Jhansi were some states that were annexed under this law.
• In 1848 AD he annexed Punjab by taking advantage of a rivalry between two kings. In 1850 AD he attacked Sikkim and annexed it. In 1852 AD he annexed the areas of Prom and Pegu.
• In 1856, he annexed Awadh by alleging maladministration. He annexed Karnataka, Poona, Tanjore and Surat by ending titles and pensions.