Causes of Revolt of 1857

Notes

Political causes

Doctrine of Lapse: annexation of Satara, Jhansi and Nagpur by Dalhousie; Awadh annexed (1856) on grounds of misrule, which hurt the sepoys (many came from Awadh) and the taluqdars.
Subsidiary Alliance and loss of sovereignty of rulers.
Nana Saheb's pension was stopped; the Mughal title was to end after Bahadur Shah II, with the emperor to leave the Red Fort.

Economic causes

Heavy land revenue, evictions and indebtedness; resumption of rent-free (inam) lands (the Inam Commission in Bombay, 1852); ruin of artisans and deindustrialisation; the drain of wealth; famines; the disruption of the old landed elite (the Awadh taluqdars lost their estates).

Social and religious causes

Fear of conversion: the activities of Christian missionaries; the Religious Disabilities Act (1850) (converts could inherit property); the abolition of sati (1829), Widow Remarriage Act (1856), Western education; taxation of mosque and temple lands.
Racial arrogance and discrimination.
General Service Enlistment Act (1856): sepoys to serve overseas, which meant loss of caste by crossing the sea.

Military causes

Indian sepoys were poorly paid compared with Europeans, with no promotion beyond subedar; the loss of batta (foreign service allowance) in Sind and Punjab; the Post Office Act (1854) ended free postage for sepoys; the Bengal army was mainly drawn from Awadh and Bihar Brahmins and Rajputs; the ratio of Europeans to Indians was low.

Immediate cause: the introduction of the Enfield rifle, whose cartridges were rumoured to be greased with cow and pig fat (to be bitten open), offending both Hindus and Muslims. Sepoys at Barrackpore (Mangal Pandey) and Meerut refused them.

Other: rumours (a prophecy that British rule would end 100 years after Plassey, on 23 June 1857), and the chapati and lotus circulation as a signal. Lord Canning was Governor-General.

Key Points

Political: Doctrine of Lapse, Awadh annexation, Nana Saheb's pension.
Economic: high revenue, inam resumption, deindustrialisation.
Social-religious: missionaries, Religious Disabilities Act (1850), Widow Remarriage Act (1856).
Military: discrimination, General Service Enlistment Act (1856), loss of batta.
Immediate: greased cartridges of the Enfield rifle.

MCQs

Q1. The immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857 was: (a) The Doctrine of Lapse (b) Greased cartridges of the Enfield rifle (c) Annexation of Awadh (d) General Service Enlistment Act Ans: (b).

Q2. The General Service Enlistment Act (1856) required sepoys to: (a) Serve overseas (b) Serve for life (c) Be vaccinated (d) Learn English Ans: (a). Crossing the sea meant loss of caste.

Q3. Awadh was annexed by Dalhousie in: (a) 1848 (b) 1853 (c) 1856 (d) 1857 Ans: (c). On the ground of misrule.