Why the revolt failed, and its impact and legacy
The revolt failed for want of unity of purpose, strong leadership and modern weapons. Yet it ended Company rule in 1858 and sowed the seeds of nationalism.
Why the revolt failed
- No unity of purpose: the Bengal sepoys wanted to revive Mughal glory. Nana Saheb and Tantia Tope wanted Maratha power back, and Rani Lakshmi Bai fought to regain Jhansi.
- Limited spread: it stayed mainly in north and central India. Kashmir, Punjab, Sind and Rajputana kept away.
- Many stayed loyal to the British: the Madras and Bombay regiments, the Sikh states, Afghans and Gurkhas. Many Indian rulers refused help or even fought the rebels.
- Classes that kept away: the middle and upper classes and the modern, English-educated Indians did not support it.
- Weak leadership: leaders were brave but not trained generals, lacked planning and fought for their own territories. No national leader emerged to give direction.
- Few weapons and little money: the rebels' arms were old and outdated.
- Poor coordination: risings in different places did not work together. The British used the telegraph and post to move fast, and their command of the sea to bring troops from England.
How British rule changed after 1857
| Area | Change |
|---|---|
| Government | The Act of August 1858 ended East India Company rule. The Crown now ruled through a Secretary of State for India, helped by a council of 15 members. The Governor General was now also called the Viceroy. |
| Indian rulers | The Queen's Proclamation of 1 November 1858 promised to honour all treaties and to accept adopted heirs. India became a colony of the British Empire. |
| Army | More European troops, fewer Indian ones. Artillery (big guns) stayed with British soldiers, and top posts went to Europeans. Indians were set against one another by caste, religion and region. |
| Civil service | The Indian Civil Service Act, 1861 set up a yearly competitive exam, held in London, for the top civil service. |
| Councils | The Indian Councils Act, 1861 made a humble start towards representative institutions, since lack of contact between ruler and ruled had helped cause the revolt. |
| Policy | Alarmed by Hindu-Muslim unity, the British adopted divide and rule. In 1877 Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India. |
Company rule and Crown rule: know the difference
Significance and legacy of the revolt
- It was the first sign that Indians wanted to end British rule and could stand united for it.
- It cut across caste, community and class, a unified challenge to British rule.
- It sowed the seeds of nationalism, and its heroes were remembered.
- It also marked the start of distrust between Hindus and Muslims, which the British later used to stay in power.
- Racial bitterness between rulers and ruled was perhaps its worst legacy; many Indians never trusted their rulers again.
- The English-educated class kept away in 1857, but some of its members turned against the British thirty or forty years later. With the Indian National Congress (1885) and later Gandhi, the struggle gathered strength again.
The competitive civil service exam that began in London in 1861 is the forerunner of today's civil services exam conducted in India by the Union Public Service Commission. Many cantonments of that age, such as Meerut and Barrackpore, are still army towns.
2 marks: “When and how was the rule of the East India Company brought to an end?” In 1858. The Act for the Better Government of India (August 1858) transferred power to the British Crown, and the Queen's Proclamation of 1 November 1858 announced it.
3 marks: “What changes did the British make in the Indian army after 1857?” (1) More European and fewer Indian troops. (2) Artillery kept with British soldiers only, and top posts reserved for Europeans. (3) Soldiers set against one another on the basis of caste, religion and region.
6 marks: “Explain six reasons why the Revolt of 1857 could not drive out the British.” (1) No unity of purpose among leaders. (2) Confined to north and central India. (3) Many rulers, regiments and the educated classes stayed loyal to the British. (4) Weak leadership and no national leader. (5) Old weapons and little money. (6) Poor coordination, while the British had the telegraph, post and command of the sea.
Failure = U-S-L-W-C: no Unity of purpose, limited Spread, weak Leadership, few Weapons, poor Coordination (the British had the telegraph and the sea).