CLASS VIII 

 CHAPTER-9 ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPANY RULE IN INDIA

Q1. Which Portuguese explorer discovered the sea route to India?

A1. Vasco Da Gama was the Portuguese explorer who discovered the sea route to India.

Q2. Define the term factory.

A2. The trading centres were called factories- the places where ‘factors’ or ‘officials’ worked.

Q3. Name 4 states that revolted against the weak successors of Aurangzeb.

A3. Bengal, Hyderabad, Awadh, Mysore

Q4. Name the 3 presidency settlements set up by the East India Company.

A4. Fort William in Bengal, Fort St. George in Madras, Bombay Castle.

Q5. List the members of Triple Alliance of1767.

A5. In 1767, the Nizam, the Marathas and the English made a triple alliance against Hyder Ali of Mysore.

Q6. Why did the European trading companies set up trade centres in Coastal areas?

A6. The European trading companies set up trade centres in Coastal areas as they bought spices, cotton textiles (handlooms), indigo (for dying) and saltpeter (raw material for making gun powder) at cheap rates from India and sold them in Europe and America at high prices. The coast areas made trade easier through sea routes.

Q7. Mention any 2 resuts of Battle of Buxar.

A7.  1. It established British Colonial Rule in Bengal presidency and further expansion of British control all over India.

        2. The East India Company gained the rule and Diwani (right to collect the revenue from Bengal) of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.

Q8. Write any two reasons that attracted the European trading companies to India.

A8. 1. The European trading companies purchased goods at cheaper rate and sold them in Europe at higher prices.

   

 2. The East India Company took advantage of the political instability in India.

Q9. Explain the meaning of Dual govt. in Bengal. How did it lead to public suffering?

A9. Right to collect Diwani by the British began a Dual Government in Bengal, according to which the Nawab looked after the administration and the company controlled the army, the judiciary and the revenue collection of Bengal.

 This arrangement gave immense power to the British without any responsibility. But the general public suffered. Thousands of people died in the Bengal famine in 1770 but the company did not help the victims and the Nawab did not have the resources.

Q10. How did a trading company became an imperial power? Briefly explain the steps that the East India Company took to gain political and economic power in India.

A10. i) The East India Company became an imperial power to protect its trading interests from other European traders.

ii) It began as a trading company, took over political control and became the ruler of entire India.

The steps taken were:

i) The company came into conflict with other foreign traders and built up its own military and administrative departments.

ii) It became a strong force that took over the governance of Bengal, Madras, and Bombay.

iii) The trading company transformed into an auxiliary government and military power that ended only in 1858.

Q11. Prepare a timeline chart of four Anglo-Mysore Wars marking the important events.

A11.                            FIRST ANGLO-MYSORE WAR (1767-69) 

In 1767, the Nizam , the Marathas and the English made a Triple Alliance against Hyder Ali of Mysore as they were jealous of his increasing power. But Hyder Ali beat the English at their own game by making peace with the Marathas and luring the Nizams with territorial gains. The British had to sign a treaty of peace and mutual  help with Hyder Ali.

SECOND ANGLO-MYSORE WAR (1780-84)

In 1780, the English wanted to attack the French at Mahe, situated on the West coast of Mysore. Hyder Ali did not permit it. Therefore, the English declared a war against Hyder ali and his alliance with the Nizam and the Marathas. Hyder Ali captured Arcot by defeating the English army. The British broke the alliance. Inspite of that, Hyder Ali gave a crushing defeat to the British. Hyder Ali died but his son, Tipu Sultan continued to fight against the British.

                                

THIRD ANGLO-MYSORE WAR ( 1790-92)

Tipu Sultan invaded Travancore, which was under the protection of the British. Tipu’s alliance with the French did not help as France was busy in French Revoution. The British laid siege on Srirangapattnam. Tipu was forced to sign the treaty of Srirangapattnam in 1792. Mysore had to hand over half of it territory to the British along with Tipu’s two sons as war hostages.

                               

                                      FOURTH ANGLO-MYSORE WAR (1799)

Lord Wellesley became the Governor-General of India in 1798. Tipu Sultan known Tiger of Mysore, tried to sign an alliance with the French but the French support did not arrive in time. Lord Wellesly attacked and the wa ended with Tipu’s death.

Q12. What were the two basic reasons of the British and the Maratha conflict between 1775 to 1818? Give examples in support of your answer.

A12. 1. The internal problems of the Marathas.

        

2. The growing ambition of the English saw the conflict of interests between the British and the Marathas.

Q13. Prepare a timeline chart of three Anglo-Maratha Wars.

 A14.                         FIRST ANGLO-MARATHA WAR (1775-82)

British wanted to sign an alliance with aspiring Peshwa, Raghunath Rao against Madhav Rao II. The Maratha chieftains backed Madhav Rao. The two sides signed the Treaty of Salbai which gave the British twenty years of peace with the Marathas.

SECOND ANGLO-MARATHA WAR (1803-05)

Peshwa Baji Rao II entered the subsidiary alliance with the British and got the British protection against Jaswant Rao Holkar. The British troops drove Holkar out. Peshwa Baji Rao signed a treaty with the British. It was opposed by Maratha chieftains- the Sindia and the Bhosle which resulted in the Second Anglo-Maratha War.

THIRD ANGLO-MARATHA WAR (1817-18)

Peshwa Baji Rao II tried to unite the Maratha chiefs against the British but failed and surrendered. The British abolished the positon of Peshwa and Marathas were limited to the small kingdom of Satara. This was the end of mighty Maratha power.

Q14. Prepare a timeline chart of two Anglo-Sikh Wars.

A14.                                  FIRST ANGLO-SIKH WAR (1845-46)

 Sikh power was growing under the leadership of Ranjit Singh. After his death, there was a lot of infighting among Sikhs.The united forces of Punjab- Hindu, Muslim and Sikh faced the huge British army bravely. But Prime Minister Lal Sing and Commander Tej Singh turned traitors and the Punjab army was defeated. They were forced to sign the Treaty of Lahore. The British occupied Jullander Doab and handed Jammu Kashmir to Raja Gulab Singh Dogra.

SECOND ANGLO-SIKH WAR (1848-49)

The British wanted a complete control of Punjab by ending the Sikh Kingdom. The immediate cause of this war was the exile of Lal Singh on charges of conspiracy. Lord Dalhousie attacked Punjab and made it a part of British India in 1849.

Q15.Prepare a timeline chart of three Carnatic Wars

A15.                                     FIRST CARNATIC WAR (1746-48)

The trouble erupted between France and Britain at Arcot (between Pondicherry and Madras). The French attacked Fort St. George under General Dupleix. The French supported Chanda Sahib as the new Nawab and the English were in favour of Muhammad Ali. A war broke out in which the French were defeated.

SECOND CARNATIC WAR (1749-54)

The French collected revenue from the Nizam of Hyderabad for providing him protection. After the death of the Nizam, a war broke out between Nazir Jung (son of Nizam) and Muzaffar Jung (grandson of Nizam). The French helped Muzaffar Jung and Chanda Sahib to defeat Nazir Jung. The French gained monopoly of trade over South India. On the other hand, the Englih plotted with Nazir Jung and defeated the French army.

THIRD CARNTIC WAR (1756-63)

The third Carnatic war started when the British captured the French settlement of Chanderngore, defeated the French and captured Pondicherry. The war concluded with treaty wherein Pondicherry was returned to France. The French East Company was dissolved n 1770.    

Q16. Name the two warring countries who fought the carnatic war?

A 16. Britain and France