Notes-Class 8-History-Chapter-3-Effects of British Rule-Maharashtra Board

The British and The Marathas :

Entry of the British :

• Marathas had a strong hold on the areas in and around Mumbai which was prime centre of British in Western India.
• Britishers tried to acquire nearby territories but the Marathas checked their expansion.
• After the death of Peshwa Madhavrao, his uncle, Raghunathrao approached for help from the British due to his greed for Peshwaship.
• This led to the entrance of the British in Maratha politics.

First Anglo-Maratha War :

• Three wars were fought between Marathas and the British, during 1774 to 1818.
• As the Marathas fought unitedly, the British were defeated in the first Anglo-Maratha War.
• It concluded with Treaty of Saibai in 1782.

Second Anglo-Maratha War :

• In 1802, Bajirao II entered into Subsidiary Alliance with the British by the Treaty of Bassein (Vasai).
• The Second-Anglo-Maratha war took place as some Maratha Sardars opposed the treaty.
• Marathas were defeated in the war.

Third Anglo-Maratha War :

• The defeat of the Marathas led to the increase in interference of the British in the Maratha state.
• Bajirao II declared war against the British as he could not tolerate their interference.
• He was defeated in this war and surrendered in 1818.

Daulatrao Shinde :

• The capital of Mughals was under the control of Daulatrao Shinde.
• General Lake defeated and captured him.

The Subsidiary Alliance :

In 1798, Govemor General Lord Wellesley with a view to bring the whole of India under the British rule introduced the Subsidiary Alliance.

He entered into treaties with many Indian rulers whereby assurance of military assistance was given by the British.

The conditions of Subsidiary Alliance :

• Indian rulers should keep the British army in their court territory.
• They were to pay the company towards the maintenance of these forces in cash or cede a part of their territory giving equivalent amount of revenue.
• The rulers would not have alliance or go to war with other powers without the mediation of the British.
• The ruler should accept a British resident in their state.

Those Indian rulers who accepted these conditions lost their freedom.

Acts passed by Parliament :

Regulating Act (1773) :

• This Act designated the Governor of Bengal as the Governor General.
• Lord Warren Hastings became the first Governor General of India.
• He controlled powers over the Bombay and Madras Presidencies.
• It provided a council of four members to assist him.

Pitt's India Act (1784) :

• A Board of Control was constituted to regulate and manage affairs of East India Company in India.
• The Board was authorised to issue directives to the company regarding the governance of India.
• In 1813, 1833 and 1853 new laws were passed by the Parliament to change the working of the company.

Merits and Defects in Judicial System :

Equality before law :

• In early times, law in India differed from place to place.
• There was difference in judgement on the basis of casteism.

Merits of judicial system :

• A committee under the leadership of Lord Macaulay enforced Indian Penal Code all over British ruled India.
• It was based on the British principle of Equality before Law.

Defects of judicial system:

• There were separate laws and courts for the Europeans.
• Common people did not understand the new laws.
• Justice was very expensive and time consuming as cases remained pending for years.

Land revenue policy before the British rule :

• Land revenue was assessed according to the type of the crop,
• Land revenue was collected in the form of grains,
• The system of collection of revenue was same in all regions.
• Land revenue was waived if the crop failed,
• The land was not confiscated if there was delay in payment of tax.

Policy in the British period :

The British made a number of changes in the existing system to increase the revenue, which included :

• Tax was fixed on the basis of area.
• Payment of revenue in cash within the prescribed time limit.
• Confiscation of land in case of the failure to pay revenue in time.
• The system of collection differed from region to region.
• All these led to the exploitation of the farmers.

Consequences of new Land revenue system :

• Farmers were forced to sell their produce to the merchants and middlemen at a low price in order to pay revenue.
• Farmers mortgaged land and became indebted to moneylenders.
• They were forced to sell land to pay debts. So, they became bankrupt.
• The farmers were exploited by the government, landlords, merchants and moneylenders.

Developments in transport and communication system :

• For increase in trade and convenience of administration, the British developed modern facilities like transport and communication in India.
• The first train plied between Mumbai and Thane in 1853.
• Telegraph system connected major cities and military stations in 1853.
• The British introduced the postal services.
• They had long term impact on the social life of the Indians.
• These developments generated a sense of unity among the people of India.

Development of new Industries in India :

• Due to the lack of British support, experience of management and capital, the Indian businessmen could not come forward in large numbers. Yet some of Indian businessmen were able to built their business.
• Kawasjee Nanabhoy Davar started first cotton textile mill in Mumbai in 1853.
• First Jute mill was started at Rishrain Bengal in 1855.
• Jamshedji Tata started the first steel plant, the Tata Iron and Steel Company, at Jamshedpur in 1907.
• Coal, metal, sugar, cement and chemical industries also developed gradually.

Educational reforms :

• For carrying out administration in India, the British required English educated Indians.
• English education was introduced in India on the recommendations of Lord Macaulay in 1835.

• Indians were introduced to Western thoughts, modem reforms, science and technology.
• Universities at Mumbai, Madras (Chennai) and Kolkata were established in 1857.
• The western educated middle class led the social reforms movement in India.