Chapter 14:
The Height of Imperialism
Section 3:
British Rule in India
The Sepoy Mutiny
 The British East India Company was given power by
the British Government to become actively involved
in India’s political and military affairs.
 Sepoys are Indian soldiers hired by the British to
protect the interest of the British East India
Company.
 In 1857 the Sepoys revolted against the British know
as the Sepoy Mutiny by the Indians or the Great
Rebellion by the British.
 The revolt was crushed within a year.
Colonial Rule
British ruled India directly through an
official known as a viceroy.
Viceroy is a governor who rules as a
representative of a monarch.
Had a staff of about 3,500 people. They
ruled about 300 million.
Colonial Rule
Positive and Negative effects
Positive
 Order to society
Negative
 Destroyed local industry
 Honest government  Increased taxes
 Persuaded Indians to grow
 School system
cotton
 Infrastructure
 Top jobs reserved for
British
 disrespected Indian culture
 Racism
An Indian Nationalist Movement
 The first Indian nationalist were upper-class,
English-educated people who preferred reform
over revolution.
 In 1915 Mohandas Gandhi, a young lawyer,
returned to India from South Africa.
 He used his experience from South Africa to
turn the Indian independence movement into
one of nonviolent resistance. It led to
independence.