O Level History Notes Qasim Raza

War of Independence (1857)

Introduction:
 The War of Independence of 1857 (also called the Indian Mutiny or
the First War of Independence) was the first large-scale attempt by
Indians to overthrow British rule.
 It began as a military revolt by Indian soldiers (sepoys) but soon
spread across different sections of society, including peasants,
landlords, and rulers.
 The war marked a turning point in Indian history as it led to the end
of the rule of the East India Company and the formal establishment
of the British Raj in 1858.
 While the British referred to it as a "mutiny," Indian historians and
nationalists regard it as the first organized attempt to gain
independence.

Reasons for the War of Independence:

1. Political Causes:
 Doctrine of Lapse: Introduced by Lord Dalhousie, this policy allowed
the British to annex any princely state where the ruler died without a
male heir.
o Key states annexed: Satara (1848), Jhansi (1853), and Awadh
(1856).
o The annexation of Awadh deeply angered the local population
and the Nawabs.
 Discontent among Rulers: Indian rulers resented the loss of their
power and the disrespect shown to traditional authority by the
British.
o The Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was reduced to a
symbolic figure with no real power.
 British Expansion: Many Indian states had been annexed, and former
rulers were stripped of their titles and privileges.

O Level History Notes Qasim Raza

2. Economic Causes:
 Heavy Taxation: The British imposed high land taxes on peasants,
leading to widespread poverty and famine. Many lost their land due
to the inability to pay taxes.
 Destruction of Local Industries: Traditional industries like weaving
and handicrafts were destroyed due to the influx of cheap British
goods, especially textiles.
o British policies promoted the export of raw materials from
India to Britain, while manufactured goods were imported back
to India, harming local artisans.
 Unfair Treatment of Indian Soldiers: The sepoys were paid much less
than their British counterparts and were often given poorer living
conditions.
o Indian soldiers felt discriminated against and were angered by
the harsh punishments for minor offenses.

3. Social and Religious Causes:

 Religious Sensitivities: The British were seen as disrespectful
towards Indian religious practices and customs.
o The introduction of new laws, such as the Abolition of Sati
(1829) and the promotion of Western education, was seen as an
attack on traditional values.
 Greased Cartridges Incident: A major trigger of the revolt was the
introduction of the Enfield rifle, whose cartridges were believed to
be greased with cow and pig fat.
o For Hindus, cows were sacred, and for Muslims, pigs were
considered unclean. The requirement to bite off the cartridge
before use angered both communities.

4. Military Causes:
 Discontent among Sepoys: Indian soldiers (sepoys) formed a large
part of the British army in India but were treated unfairly.
o Indian sepoys were often sent on overseas campaigns, which
went against their religious beliefs (crossing the seas was
seen as impure by Hindus).

O Level History Notes Qasim Raza

 o There was no promotion beyond a certain rank for Indians, and
they were paid lower wages than British soldiers.
 British Arrogance: The British commanders often insulted and
humiliated Indian soldiers, leading to growing resentment among the
sepoys.

Key Events of the War of Independence:

1. The Beginning of the Revolt (Meerut, May 1857):
 The revolt began in Meerut on 10th May 1857, when Indian sepoys
refused to use the greased cartridges and were punished severely.
o The enraged sepoys broke open the jails, freed fellow soldiers,
and killed British officers.
o They then marched towards Delhi, where they proclaimed
Bahadur Shah Zafar as the emperor of India.

2. Capture of Delhi:
 On 11th May 1857, the sepoys entered Delhi and declared Bahadur
Shah Zafar the leader of the revolt.
o Delhi became the center of the rebellion, and the Mughal
Emperor reluctantly accepted the leadership of the rebels.
 The British saw this as a major threat and began organizing military
reinforcements to recapture Delhi.

3. Spread of the Revolt:

 The revolt spread rapidly to various parts of northern and central
India, including Kanpur, Lucknow, Bareilly, Jhansi, and Gwalior.
o Nana Sahib led the revolt in Kanpur, while Rani Lakshmibai of
Jhansi emerged as one of the most prominent leaders.
o The revolt also spread to parts of Bihar and Awadh (present-
day Uttar Pradesh).

O Level History Notes Qasim Raza

4. Key Battles:
 Kanpur (1857): Led by Nana Sahib, the rebels initially defeated the
British, but after a fierce battle, the British recaptured Kanpur.
 Lucknow (1857): The siege of Lucknow, led by Begum Hazrat Mahal,
was one of the most significant events. The British forces eventually
overpowered the rebels.
 Jhansi (1858): The heroic resistance of Rani Lakshmibai in Jhansi
remains a memorable part of the war. She fought bravely against
the British but was ultimately killed in battle.

5. Fall of Delhi (September 1857):

 The British laid siege to Delhi and, after a fierce battle, recaptured
the city in September 1857.
 Bahadur Shah Zafar was arrested, tried for treason, and exiled to
Rangoon, Burma, where he died in 1862.

6. End of the Revolt (June 1858):

 The revolt was effectively over by mid-1858. The British recaptured
all major rebel strongholds, including Kanpur, Lucknow, and
Gwalior.
 Many rebel leaders were killed in battle or captured and executed.
Others fled and went into hiding.

O Level History Notes Qasim Raza

Reasons for the Failure of the War of Independence (1857)
Introduction:
 The War of Independence of 1857 was the first large-scale attempt
by Indians to overthrow British rule but ended in failure.
 The reasons for its failure can be attributed to a combination of
political, military, and organizational factors.

1. Lack of Unity Among Indians:

 Diverse Goals: Different groups had varied motives—some fought for
local rulers, others against British policies.
 Religious Divisions: Hindus and Muslims were not united, and the
British exploited these divisions through their Divide and Rule
strategy.
 Regional Disunity: The revolt was concentrated in North India, with
little participation from South and East India.

2. Superior British Military Power:

 Advanced Weapons: The British had modern rifles, artillery, and
better communication through telegraphs, while rebels used
outdated arms.
 Organized Army: British forces were disciplined and better
commanded by leaders like Sir Colin Campbell, compared to the
disorganized rebel forces.
 Naval Power: The British controlled the seas, blocking supplies to
the rebels.

O Level History Notes Qasim Raza

3. Weak Leadership:
 Bahadur Shah Zafar, the symbolic leader, was old and lacked real
power.
 Key rebel leaders like Rani Lakshmibai, Nana Sahib, and Tantia Tope
acted independently without a coordinated strategy.

4. Lack of Resources:
 Shortage of Arms and Ammunition: Rebels had limited access to
weapons and relied on looted supplies.
 Financial Problems: The rebellion lacked proper funding, while the
British had vast financial resources.

5. Betrayal by Local Rulers:

 Several Indian rulers, like the Nizam of Hyderabad and Maharaja of
Patiala, supported the British instead of the rebels, weakening the
revolt.

O Level History Notes Qasim Raza