CLASS- VIII SUBJECT- SOCIAL SCIENCE DATE -

Chapter. FIRST WAR OF INDEPENDENCE :1857

1. The revolt of 1857 was the landmark in the history of India’s struggle for independence. Justify the
statement with any three arguments.

Answer: The revolt of 1857 was landmark in the history of India’s struggle for freedom because:

➡️It was the first popular rebellion against the British which spread over various regions and was
supported by both Hindus and Muslims. It shook the foundations of British rule in India.

➡️The revolt develops some sort of patriotism and national unity, when the rebels declared Bahadur
Shah Zafar as ruler of India and ignored the local princes and kingdoms.

➡️The revolt paved the way for the Indian National Movement and India’s struggle for independence.
So, most Indian scholars declared the revolt as First War of Independence.

2. What was the Doctrine of Lapse and how did it affect the rulers of India?

Answer: The Doctrine of Lapse was a policy of annexation introduced by Lord Dalhousie. The
doctrine declared that if any Indian ruler died without leaving behind a natural heir to the throne, his
kingdom automatically became a part of the British territory. Several kingdoms like Satara,
Sambalpur, Udaipur, Nagpur, Jhansi and Awadh were annexed by applying this doctrine. This
doctrine created fear and resentment among the Indian kings.

3. Explain subsidiary alliances with the help of examples.

Answer: Subsidiary alliances is a system developed by the East India Company. An Indian ruler
entering into a subsidiary alliance with the British had to accept British forces in his territory and also
agreed to pay for their maintenance. If the Indian rulers failed to make the payments required by the
alliance, then part of their territory was to be taken away as a penalty.

For example: The Nawab of Awadh was forced to give over half of his territory to the company in
1801.

4. How did the economic policies of the British adversely affect the Indian economy?

Answer: The economic policies of the British adversely affect the Indian economy in following ways:

➡️The Zamindari system exploited the peasants.

➡️The peasants were forced to grow only those crops which were required by the British industries.

➡️British goods like textiles overtook the Indian markets. These things made artisans and peasants
unemployed.

5. Why is the Revolt of 1857 called the First War of Independence? What were its immediate
causes?
Answer: The revolt of 1857 called the First War of Independence because it was the first time that, a
combined effort had been made by the Indian nationals against the British.

The immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857 was the introduction of Enfield rifles whose cartridges
were said to have greased cover made of beef and pork sparked off the revolt.

E. Answer the following questions.

1. Describe the course of the Revolt of 1857.

Answer: The revolt of 1857 was began on 10 May 1857 at Meerut. It was lead by Nana Saheb in
Kanpur along with his general Tatya Tope and the Begum Hazrat mahal in Awadh, Rani Lakshmi Bai
of Jhansi led the revolt in central India. The revolt was started by the sepoys but the participation of
the peasants and the artisans gave the revolts real strength. As the revolt was started in Meerut but
it also spread to Bareilly, Agra, Benaras and other places. Although, the revolt was a great event but
it was effectively suppressed by the Britishers.

2. Describe five main causes of the First War of Independence.

Answer: Five main causes of the First War of Independence are:

➡️Doctrine of lapse which snatched the kingdoms of princes without legal heirs was one of the major
causes of First War of Independence.

➡️Economic exploitation of people in the form of taxes and land revenue was another main cause of
First War of Independence.

➡️Interference in the social and religious life of people also made Indians to turn against the British.

➡️Discrimination in army with Indian sepoys made the sepoys to turn against the British.

➡️The immediate cause was the introduction of new rifles with a rumor of greased cartridges of fat of
cow and pig.

3. What steps did the British take to suppress the Revolt?

Answer: The British take the following steps to suppress the Revolt:

➡️The British military officers freed Delhi, the epicenter of the Revolt, from the rebels. The Kashmiri
Gate was blown up. Hundreds of people were killed.

➡️Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was tried for treason and exiled to Rangoon.

➡️Lucknow was recaptured in 1858. Rani Lakshmi Bai was killed in the battle and Tantya ➡️Tope was
captured, put on trial and executed. Thus, the British finally suppressed the massive force of popular
rebellion.

4. Why did the First War of Independence fail inspite of the participation of different sections of
Indian Society? Explain.
Answer: The First War of Independence fail inspite of the participation of different sections of Indian
Society because:

➡️The revolt had been planned for months but it broke out before the appointed date.

➡️There was no unity among the rebels. Their motives were not the nationalism but they fought for
their own self-interest.

➡️The sepoys of Bengal wanted to revive the glory of the Mughals, while Nana Sahab and Tantya
Tope tried to re-establish the Maratha power and Rani Laxmi Bai fought for her lost kingdom.

➡️The revolt was limited to North and Central India. In the North, the Sikhs, the Nizams and the
Scindias were unaffected by the revolt and the Gurkhas still remained loyal to the Britishers.

➡️The rebels lacked the modern weapons and the disciplined army.

➡️The leadership of the Revolt was very weak. The Indian rulers fought to liberate their own
territories and did not think about the freedom of the entire country.

5. What changes were made in the administration of India after the Revolt was suppressed?

Answer: After the Revolt was suppressed following types of changes were made in the
administration of India:

➡️The rule of the East India company ended. The British crown took over the administration.

➡️A secretary of state was appointed by the British Parliament to look after the governance of India
with the help of a council.

➡️The Governor-General was given the title of Viceroy which was the representative of the British
Crown.

➡️The British reorganised the army to prevent any future revolts.

➡️The policy of annexations of Indian territories was given up. The Indian princes were granted the
right of adoption.

➡️Full religious freedom was guaranteed to the Indians