History — Our Pasts (Ancient to Modern India) • Topic 4 of 5

Company Rule & The Revolt of 1857

The English East India Company arrived to trade but gradually became a political power. The turning point was the Battle of Plassey (1757), where Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal - a victory helped by the betrayal of the Nawab's commander Mir Jafar. After the Battle of Buxar (1764) the Company gained the Diwani of Bengal (the right to collect revenue) in 1765, which made it the real ruler of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Company rule reshaped the colonial economy: heavy land-revenue settlements (the Permanent Settlement under Cornwallis), the ruin of Indian handloom weavers as cheap British machine-made cloth flooded in, and forced cultivation of crops like indigo (leading to revolts such as the Blue Rebellion in Bengal). Tribal and rural communities lost their lands, forests and old ways of life, sparking many uprisings (Santhals, Kols and others). All this discontent exploded in the Revolt of 1857 - often called the First War of Independence - which began with sepoys at Meerut (angered by the greased cartridges of the new Enfield rifle, rumoured to use cow and pig fat) and spread across north and central India. Though crushed, it ended Company rule: in 1858 the British Crown took over direct control of India.

✅ Solved examples

1. The 1757 battle that gave the East India Company control over Bengal and is seen as the start of British political power in India was the:
Battle of Plassey (1757), where Robert Clive defeated Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, aided by the betrayal of Mir Jafar.
2. After the Battle of Buxar, the Company obtained the Diwani of Bengal in 1765. The Diwani gave the Company the right to:
Collect land revenue (and administer civil justice) in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa - making it the effective ruler of the region.
3. The immediate spark of the Revolt of 1857 among the sepoys was:
The new Enfield rifle cartridges, rumoured to be greased with cow and pig fat, which offended both Hindu and Muslim soldiers. The revolt began at Meerut.
4. A major economic effect of Company rule on India was that:
Indian handloom weavers and craftsmen were ruined as cheap British machine-made cloth flooded the market, while heavy land revenue impoverished farmers.

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. The Revolt of 1857 is also remembered by which other name?
It is seen as the first major national uprising.
A "war" of freedom.
The First War of Independence
2. The Revolt of 1857 first broke out among the sepoys at which town?
Near Delhi.
In present-day Uttar Pradesh.
Meerut
3. Forced cultivation of which crop by the Company led to the Blue Rebellion in Bengal?
Used to make blue dye.
Grown under coercion by planters.
Indigo
4. After the Revolt of 1857 was suppressed, the rule of India passed in 1858 from the Company to the:
Direct rule began.
Queen Victoria.
British Crown / British Government

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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