Question

The First War of Independence was the culmination of people's dissatisfaction against the British rule. In this context enumerate the following causes:
(a) Military causes
(b) Economic Causes
(c) Political Causes

Answer 1

Military Causes:

1. Low salary and poor prospects of promotion.
2. The disproportion between Indian and British troops.
3. The social distance between officers and Indian soldiers.
4. Loss of British prestige in Afghan War.
5. General Service Enlistment Act by which Indians enlisted in British Army could be sent overseas.

Economic Causes:

1. The British Government restrictions on the import of Indian textiles besides imposing heavy import duties on such goods.
2. India was forced to export raw materials like raw cotton and raw silk at cheaper rates that the British industries needed urgently; plantation products (like indigo, tea); and food grains which were in short supply in Britain.
3. The British Company confiscated the jagirs of many landlords and taluqdars.

Political Causes:

1. The British policy of territorial annexations led to the displacement of a large number of rulers and chiefs. The vigorous application of the policies of Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse angered the ruling sections of the society. Rani Lakshmi Bai and Nana Sahib became bitter enemies of the British and led to the revolt in their respective territories.
2. The annexation of Awadh, on grounds of misgovernment, was greatly resented. The Nawabs of Awadh had always been loyal to the British. The annexation was widely seen as a blatant act of back-stabbing by the British. It deeply hurt the sentiments of the Company’s sepoys because most of them came from Awadh.
3. Moreover, even under the new regime, the people of Awadh got no relief from oppression. Peasants had to pay even higher revenue and additional taxes were imposed.
4. The British provided no alternative source of employment to the people who lost their jobs due to the dissolution of the Nawab’s administration.