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Period: to
Imperialism in India
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British East India Company
Coming after the Portuguese, the British East India Company took over the last independent native state. India was considered the "Jewel of the British Empire". -
Great Rebellion
In response to the British intrusion, the Indians rebelled. The rebellion, which was considered a mutiny, spread throughout India before being stopped. Muslim and Hindu mercenaires from the British army crushed the native troops from India. -
British Parliament took over India
After the rebellion, Britain ruled India directly. They were ruled by a parliament in London and administered by a tiny all white civil service in India. -
Suez Canal was opened
The Suez Canal made it much easier for civil servants from Britain to bring their wives and children with them to India. They lived apart from Indian society and occupied large houses. A small minority of British women, most of them feminists, social reformers or missionaries sought to go further with the "White Woman's Burden". -
Reforms in India
Women tried to improve the lives of Indian women, both Hindu and Muslim. They believed that the solution was to educate some of the elite Hindu women. Both British men and women introduced many changes to India. They established a modern system of progressive secondary education in which all instruction was in English. Through the education and government service, Indians were offered opportunities for both social and educational advancements. -
Reforms in India Continued
Some Hindus adapted quickly and became skilled intermediaries between the British people and the Indians. Irrigation projects for agriculture, the world's third largest railroad network and large tea and jute plantations helped the world economy become well developed. Indian lifestyle improved little because of their vast population. -
A unified state was created
It was made possibly by well educated, English speaking Indians and bureaucracy and modern communications. They were placed under general law and administration. The problem was Indians could never become equal to the British. -
Hindu Indian National Congress was founded
For the Indian elite, the racism contradicted the Western concepts of human rights and equality. They came together and created the Hindu Indian National Congress and demanded an increase of equality and self government. -
Small group of white elite ruled India
By the 1900s, the white elite considered of less than 3,500 top officials for a population of 300 million. -
Indian National Congress wanted independence
Embolded by Japan's success, the Indian National Congress called for complete independence. Even the moderates were demanding a home rule for India through elected parliament. The common heritage of British rule and Western ideals, along with reform of the Hindu religion, made the movement for national independence possible.
