How were sentiments of the various authors in the primary sources (from the Seminar) reflected in the actions of the British?
In "The Superior Anglo-Saxon Race" by Cecil Rhodes, he states how they are "the finest race in the world and that more of the world we inhabit the better it it for the human race." This is obviously reflected on the British's actions towards the Indians. They took over their country, manipulated the rulers to keep them from cooperating, and introduced a new education system, the English language, British laws that banned certain customs, and invited Christian missionaries to spread their beliefs. The British believed that their ways were better and superior, so obviously, once taking over India, they would attempt to westernize India to make it "better." This is also shown in Joseph Chamberlain's "The British Empire: Colonial Commerce and The White Man's Burden." They believe it is the duty of the white men to westernize all the other "failed" races, because they are the superior race.
How did the British maintain control in India and what were the biggest barriers to control? How did Britain’s exercise of control change over time?
The British maintained control of India because at that time, the Mughal Empire in India was extremely weak. By the 1800, the British East India Company, created to control trade between Britain, India, and East Asia, started to rule over much of India. Before that however, the Mughal Empire was strong enough in India, so the British East India Company was restricted to coastal trading cities. In the mid 1700s though, the empire started to break apart into small states, and the leaders of the British East India Company took this opportunity to manipulate the rulers and keep them from cooperating. Keeping India in chaos, the company took over India, claiming to "restore order." However, the changes in India, such as banning certain Indian customs and spreading Christian beliefs made some Indians believe that the British were trying to destroy Indian customs and Hinduism. This led to a rebellion known as the Sepoy Mutiny, which lasted two years, with hundreds of innocents dying. As a result of the mutiny, the British ended the rule of the British East India Company in 1858, and instead, the British government would rule India directly, as a British colony. India became a market of goods to Britain, but Britain did not treat them right. Indians were unhappy with the government because they were rarely given a say in the government. This led to the formation of the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress, which would later become the main organizations in the struggle for Indian Independence.
To what extent did British imperialism encourage Indian nationalism?
British imperialism encouraged Indian nationalism a lot. Because the British tried to westernize India, many Indians did not like it, and instead believed that the British were trying to destroy their culture. This led to the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857. Sepoys, both Muslim and Hindu, refused to use the new cartridges, which they believed were to make them abandon their own religion, because before using a cartridge, one had to bite the end off, which was usually greased with pork and beef fat. Their protest caused them to be punished; the fighting lasted two years. The British ended up directly ruling India as a colony. They still did not treat the Indians right now, devastating India's pre-existing industry, and not giving Indians a voice in the government. Activist Ram Mohun Roy argued for India's right to govern itself. The first Indian nationalist organization, the Indian National Congress, first requested for positions for indians in the Indian Civil Service (ICS) and better representation, but it soon became more extreme requests. When Britain announced plans of breaking Bengal into two provinces, those in the Indian National Congress called for a boycott of British goods. They would wear only Indian made garments, and some even burned British cloth.
In "The Superior Anglo-Saxon Race" by Cecil Rhodes, he states how they are "the finest race in the world and that more of the world we inhabit the better it it for the human race." This is obviously reflected on the British's actions towards the Indians. They took over their country, manipulated the rulers to keep them from cooperating, and introduced a new education system, the English language, British laws that banned certain customs, and invited Christian missionaries to spread their beliefs. The British believed that their ways were better and superior, so obviously, once taking over India, they would attempt to westernize India to make it "better." This is also shown in Joseph Chamberlain's "The British Empire: Colonial Commerce and The White Man's Burden." They believe it is the duty of the white men to westernize all the other "failed" races, because they are the superior race.
How did the British maintain control in India and what were the biggest barriers to control? How did Britain’s exercise of control change over time?
The British maintained control of India because at that time, the Mughal Empire in India was extremely weak. By the 1800, the British East India Company, created to control trade between Britain, India, and East Asia, started to rule over much of India. Before that however, the Mughal Empire was strong enough in India, so the British East India Company was restricted to coastal trading cities. In the mid 1700s though, the empire started to break apart into small states, and the leaders of the British East India Company took this opportunity to manipulate the rulers and keep them from cooperating. Keeping India in chaos, the company took over India, claiming to "restore order." However, the changes in India, such as banning certain Indian customs and spreading Christian beliefs made some Indians believe that the British were trying to destroy Indian customs and Hinduism. This led to a rebellion known as the Sepoy Mutiny, which lasted two years, with hundreds of innocents dying. As a result of the mutiny, the British ended the rule of the British East India Company in 1858, and instead, the British government would rule India directly, as a British colony. India became a market of goods to Britain, but Britain did not treat them right. Indians were unhappy with the government because they were rarely given a say in the government. This led to the formation of the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress, which would later become the main organizations in the struggle for Indian Independence.
To what extent did British imperialism encourage Indian nationalism?
British imperialism encouraged Indian nationalism a lot. Because the British tried to westernize India, many Indians did not like it, and instead believed that the British were trying to destroy their culture. This led to the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857. Sepoys, both Muslim and Hindu, refused to use the new cartridges, which they believed were to make them abandon their own religion, because before using a cartridge, one had to bite the end off, which was usually greased with pork and beef fat. Their protest caused them to be punished; the fighting lasted two years. The British ended up directly ruling India as a colony. They still did not treat the Indians right now, devastating India's pre-existing industry, and not giving Indians a voice in the government. Activist Ram Mohun Roy argued for India's right to govern itself. The first Indian nationalist organization, the Indian National Congress, first requested for positions for indians in the Indian Civil Service (ICS) and better representation, but it soon became more extreme requests. When Britain announced plans of breaking Bengal into two provinces, those in the Indian National Congress called for a boycott of British goods. They would wear only Indian made garments, and some even burned British cloth.