Chapter 6

The British Conquest of Bengal

Answer the following question in brief:

Q1. Which was considered the richest of all Indian provinces in the 18 th century?
Ans Bengal was considered the richest of all the Indian provinces in the 18 th
century was signed between

Q2. What were the terms of the Treaty of Alinagar?

Ans The Treaty of Alinagar was signed between the British and Siraj-ud-Daulah,
the Nawab of Bengal. The Nawab restored trading rights and the city of Calcutta
to the British. Rights to fortify Calcutta were also given to the British.

Q3.Who was Jagat Seth?

Ans Jagat Seth was a rich Businessman from Murshidabad during the rule of
Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah. He was one of the conspirators who sided with Robert
Clive against Siraj-ud-Daulah.

Q4. When and between whom was the Treaty of Allahabad signed?
Ans The Treaty of Allahabad was signed between the Mughal emperor, Shah Alam
II and Robert Clive in 1765.

Q5. Who is credited with the introduction of an organized system of government

in Bengal?
Ans Warren Hastings is credited with the introduction of an organized system of
government in Bengal.

Answer the following questions in detail

Q1. Explain the causes for the outbreak of the battle of P lassey.
Ans The causes for the Battle of Plassey were as follows
1. Fortifications at Calcutta by the British:
The French had established their settlement in Chandernagore. Anticipating
war with the French, the British began to fortify their settlement in Calcutta
without the Nawab’s permission. Enraged, Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah asked
the British and the French to pull down their fortifications. While the
French agreed, the British refused. This led to direct conflict between the
Nawab and the British.
2. Capture of Calcutta:
In 1756, Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah marched towards Calcutta with a large
army and captured Fort William, which was a British stronghold. Robert
Clive soon recaptured Calcutta. The Treaty of Alinagar was signed between
the two parties, according to which Siraj-ud-Daulah restored trading rights
and the city of Calcutta to the British. They wanted to place a puppet ruler
on the throne of Bengal to suit their expansionist designs. The British under
Robert Clive, and with the support of the former subedar of Bengal, Mir
Jafar, presented unreasonable demands to the Nawab. After this, battle
was inevitable.

Q2. What reforms did Mir Qasim undertake to reorganize Bengal’s

administration?
Ans On becoming the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Qasim took a number of measures to
reform and reorganize Bengals administration. They are given below.
1. He shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Monghyr, far from the British
control.
 2. He hired French officials to train the Bengal army. The new army was
modern and well-equipped.
3. To prevent the misuse of duty-free trading privileges by the British, he
abolished all duties on internal trade for Indians as well. This affected
the British monopoly in trade.

Q3.What were the results of Battle of Buxar?

Ans The Battle of Buxar marked the beginning of the British colonial oppression in
Bengal. Other results of the Battle are as follows
1. After the Battle of Buxar, the British became the absolute masters of Bengal
2. The British gained political control over Awadh
3. The Treaty of Allahabad was siganed between Shah Alam II and Robert Clive
in1765. According to the Treaty, the British obtained the right to collect
revenue from Bihar, Bengal and Orissa.
4. Awadh was made a buffer state between the British posessions in Bengal
and the Marathas.
5. The British agreed to defend the Nawab of Awadh against his enemies.
However, the Nawab was expected to pay for the expenses of the British
troops.

Q4. Write a short note on Dual Government in Bengal.

Ans The Dual Government in Bengal was established in 1765. According to the
system of Dual government, the English enjoyed all the privileges of being a ruler
but had no responsibility. On the other hand, the Nawab had to look after the
administration, and law and order. The Nawab was supposed to disband most of
his army. A small amount of revenue was given to the Nawab to run the civil
administration. Actual administrative powers reposed with the British. The
collection of revenue was also controlled by them. This system of government
affected the life of the people of Bengal. Misery of the peasants increased. The
system of administration and the economy of Bengal collapsed.
Q5. What were the effects of the Dual Government?
Ans The effects of the Dual government in Bengal were as follows.
1. Corruption of the officials who collected taxes grew.
2. Misery of the peasants increased
3. The British did not bother about the welfare of the people. As a result,
when the Great Famine broke out in Bengal in 1770, one-third of Bengal’s
population perished.