Question

Mention two political causes of the First War of Independence.

Answer 1

The political reasons which antagonised the Indians rulers were the following:

• Policy of Expansion- The British policy of control and gradual extinction of the native Indian States was one of the major grievances of the Indians rulers. Ever since the Battle of Plassey, the East India Company's territorial power increased rapidly. the British tried to expand their political power in India four ways, i.e., by outright wars, by the system of Subsidiary Alliance, by adopting the Doctrine of Lapse and on the pretext of alleged misrule.

• Disrespect shown to Bahadur Shah- Bahadur Shah Zafar, the Mughal ruler, was under the protection of the Company and received a pension from the British. In 1849, Lord Dalhousie announced that successors of Bahadur Shah Zafar would not be permitted to use the Red Fort as their palace. They were required to shift to a place near the Qutab Minar.