Results of the Indian rebellion

Longer term lessons of the rebellion
1. The modernising agenda of Bentinck and Macauley had been misjudged
2. Saw India as an important source of wealth but were less inclined to develop Indians
3. Modernisation in terms of infrastructure instead
  1. By 1861, 1588 miles of railway track had been built
Changes to the Indian Army
1. The proportion of Indian sepoys in the army way reduced by 40% and British troops increased by 50% so that the ratio became 3:1 rather than 9:1
2. Sepoys recruited from more loyal areas such as the Sikh Punjab
3. Troops could use whatever grease they preferred for cartridges
4. Mix of ethnicities in order to stop the spread of mutineering
Punishment of rebels
1. Cawnpore: public hangings and forced to eat beef
2. Peshawar: 40 men strapped to barrels and blown apart
3. Delhi: shooting of Bahadur Shah's three sons
End of Company rule
1. The Government of India Act was passed on 2 August 1858
  1. British India was directly ruled by Britain through the medium of a viceroy
2. Royal proclamation with conciliatory tone which promised the Indians religious freedom and equal protection under the law
3. Bahadur Shah II sent into exile in Burma
4. In Awadh, accomodation was made with the rebellious talukdars and from then on the British steered clear of land reform which challenged feudal ties
5. Cost of rebellion had been £50 million
6. British were far more cautious about cultural reform
  1. The age of marriage for girls was not increased until 1891
  2. However London Missionary Society still tried to send 20 missionaries
7. The massacre at Cawnpore meant that racial prejudice, segregation and racial hatred grew amongst the side imperialists of the British Empire

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Results of the Indian rebellion

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	Created by Danni Watts over 7 years ago