Development of Company rule in India 1800-1857

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  • Created by: WgouldUk
  • Created on: 11-03-17 13:09
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  • Development of the Indian Colonies 1800-1857
    • Growth of the company territory
      • Due to the army’s strength and professionalism, by 1800 the company territory had grown to 243,000km
      • 1829-1853 the Company fought campaigns in North West & Afghanistan as was fearful of a Russian invasion
      • 1823-1826 the company army had annexed Assam, Manipur and Cacher
      • First Afghan war 1838 was a disaster - 20,000 killed, total cost= £15 million
      • 1843- Sind was annexed
      • 1849- Punjab finally annexed due to Sikh support
      • 1856- Dalhousie annexed Awadh under the doctrine of lapse and paramountcy
    • Growing importance of Bengal
      • Was the most important president
      • It’s general governor, at Fort William, had control over the governing board and all presidencies
      • Annexation of Bengal led to start of territory expansion
      • The administrative section was set up in Bengal by Lord Cornwallis and Code of Regulations became the framework for Indian governing
      • Collectors of tax were supported by the Board of Revenue -located in Calcutta
      • Until 1911, Calcutta was the capital of British India
      • Army of Bengal was twice the size of the other 2 armies
      • The Bengal presidency army was recruited from the higher castes- from other princely states
    • Development of the company army
      • 1820- 200,000 soldiers-  majority were sepoys of upper Brahmin Caste
      • Ratio of sepoys to whites = 9:1
      • 1857- 277,000 soldiers, 45,000 Europeans were recruited
      • Company army ensured that local rulers signed treaties with the company to protect themselves against other local rulers or self-preservation in the face of British military superiority
      • Army supported Company’s tax collection and administrative roles
    • Development of Utilitarianism
      • Utilitarianism=  philosophy that governing should ensure the greatest happiness for the greatest number
      • Utilitarian thought formed the basis for significant social reform in 19th C Britain
        • Had led to education reform, prison reform and the abolition of child labour under 12
      • Most associated with Jeremy Bentham
      • Governor Bentinck sought to promote utilitarianism in India - stated that"he'd govern in name, but would lead it to the Indians to govern in fact"
      • Counter argument: development of authority rule
        • John Stuart Mill
          • Whilst a supporter of utilitarianism, he argued that people could not have liberty if they were uneducated and uneligntened
          • Claimed that  authority rule is justified as long as it is used to improve people's ability to grasp the concept of liberty and democracy

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