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The Conquest of Punjab: Expansion of British Power in Punjab

Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth as well as the last Guru of Sikhs who had transformed
the religious sect of Sikhism into a military brotherhood.

After the invasion of Ahmed Shah Abdali and Nadir Shah, the Sikhs consolidated their
military strength in midst of confusion and disorder after invasion. This led to emergence of
Sikh power aided by strong military.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1792-1839):

He is considered to be greatest Indian ruler in his time who founded Sikh rule in Punjab.
He occupied Lahore in 1799 to make Lahore his capital. Thereafter he conquered
Amritsar, Ludhiana, Kangra, Multan, Kashmir, Attock, Hazara, Bannu, Peshawar and
Derajat. After laying strong foundation of Sikh rule in large parts around Punjab, he died in
1839 which led to struggle for succession.

After the death of Ranjit Singh there was anarchy in Punjab. The Sikh Kingdom saw
begining of process of disintegration when Kharak Singh, the eldest son and successor of
Ranjit Singh and his only son Naunihal Singh (grandson of Ranjit Singh) were killed in
1840. Thereafter Sher Singh, another son of Ranjit Singh was successful with help of the
Sikh army in proclaiming himself the Maharaja in January 1841 but he too was
assassinated in 1843.

In September 1843 Duleep Singh, youngest son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was proclaimed
the Maharaja of Sikh Kingdom with Rani Jindan as regent and Hira Singh Dogra as Wazir
(who was murdered later).

The First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-1846)

Since the British were closely watching the developments in Punjab and had their eyes on
the fertile plains across the other side of Sutlej, they began engaging Sikh troops. With the
appointment Major Broad as Company’s Agent in 1843 at Ludhiana for Sikhs affairs then
worsened Anglo-Sikh relations.

The British moves and preparations alarmed the Sikh troops which crossed the Sutlej in
December, 1845 and took offensive position against the English troops. Henceforth,

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battles were fought at Mudki, Ferozeshah and Aliwal. To settle the issue the final battle of
Sobraon (10 Feb, 1848) proved decisive in first Anglo Sikh War.

After victory at Sobraon, the English army occupied Lahore and dictated peace terms.
Therefore, the First Anglo-Sikh Battle ended by the Treaty of Lahore (1846). In the treaty
of Lahore, Dalip Singh, was recognized as Raja and the Jullandur Doab was added to the
British territory, it also limited the Sikh army to a specified number and most importantly
a British Resident (Sir Henry Lawrence) was appointed to assist the Sikh Council of
Regency. The British imposed a heavy war indemnity amounting one and half crores
rupees on the Lahore durbar. Out of this, Half a crore was paid, and in lieu of the balance
war indemnity Lahore durbar offered to cede territory of Kashmir.

The Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-1849):

After a few months  after the treaty of Lahore, Rani Jindan and Lai Singh realised the true
intentions of the English Company. The major causes for Second Anglo Sikh War were :

● The Sikh Sardars were discontent with the British control over Punjab,
● The Sikh army wanted to avenge their humiliation in the first war
● The treatment of Rani Jindan by the British when she was removed from Lahore to
Shekhupura on charges of conspiracy against the British Resident.
● The immediate cause for the English Company’s invasion of the Punjab was the revolt of
Mulraj, the Governor of Multan.

In the second Anglo Sikh War a large army under command of Lord Gough fought an
indecisive battle at Ramnagar in November 1848. Next, at battle of Chilianwala in January,
1849 the Sikh soldiers won with glory. The final and decisive battle at Gujrat near Chenab
was won by the English in 1849. This war resulted in the annexation of Punjab.

In March 1849, Lord Dalhousie annexed Punjab under the Treaty of Lahore and pensioned
off Dalip Singh to England along with his mother Rani Jindan.

Sir John Lawrence became the first Chief Commissioner of Punjab to look after
administration of Punjab. Therefore, Punjab became a British province.

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Although Patiala and some other small states retained their rulers after recognizing
sovereignty of the British. The second Anglo Sikh War ended with British conquest of
Punjab.

1. Which of the following was the first Anglo-Sikh War?

o A. 1845-46
o B. 1848-49
o C. 1857-58
o D. 1860-61
o E. 1879-80
o Correct Answer: A
2. Who declared war on the Sikh Empire in the First Anglo-Sikh War?
o A. The Sikhs
o B. The British East India Company
o C. The Mughal Empire
o D. The Afghan Empire
o E. The Maratha Empire
o Correct Answer: B
3. Which battle was the decisive victory for the British in the First Anglo-Sikh War?
o A. The Battle of Mudki
o B. The Battle of Ferozeshah
o C. The Battle of Sobraon
o D. The Battle of Chillianwala
o E. The Battle of Gujrat
o Correct Answer: C
4. What were the terms of the Treaty of Lahore, which ended the First Anglo-Sikh War?
o A. The Sikhs ceded the Punjab to the British
o B. The Sikhs agreed to pay a large indemnity to the British
o C. The Sikhs agreed to disband their army
o D. All of the above
o E. None of the above
o Correct Answer: D
5. Which of the following was the Second Anglo-Sikh War?
o A. 1845-46
o B. 1848-49
o C. 1857-58
o D. 1860-61
o E. 1879-80

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o Correct Answer: B
6. Who was the commander of the Sikh forces in the Second Anglo-Sikh War?
o A. Ranjit Singh
o B. Maharaja Duleep Singh
o C. Sher Singh
o D. Gulab Singh
o E. Hari Singh Nalwa
o Correct Answer: C
7. Which battle was the decisive victory for the British in the Second Anglo-Sikh War?
o A. The Battle of Ramnagar
o B. The Battle of Chillianwala
o C. The Battle of Gujrat
o D. All of the above
o E. None of the above
o Correct Answer: C
8. What were the terms of the Treaty of Amritsar, which ended the Second Anglo-Sikh War?
o A. The Sikhs ceded the Punjab to the British
o B. The Sikhs agreed to pay a large indemnity to the British
o C. The Sikhs agreed to disband their army
o D. All of the above
o E. None of the above
o Correct Answer: D
9. What was the impact of the Anglo-Sikh Wars on the British Empire?
o A. The British Empire gained control of the Punjab
o B. The British Empire became the dominant power in India
o C. The British Empire was able to consolidate its control over the Indian
subcontinent
o D. All of the above
o E. None of the above
o Correct Answer: D
10. What was the impact of the Anglo-Sikh Wars on the Sikh people?
o A. The Sikh Empire was dissolved
o B. The Sikhs lost their independence
o C. The Sikhs were forced to convert to Hinduism
o D. All of the above
o E. None of the above
o Correct Answer: A
11. Which of the following was the most important consequence of the Anglo-Sikh Wars?
o A. The British Empire gained control of the Punjab
o B. The British Empire became the dominant power in India
o C. The British Empire was able to consolidate its control over the Indian
subcontinent
o D. The Sikh Empire was dissolved

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o E. The Sikhs lost their independence

o Correct Answer: C

11. What was the name of the Sikh leader who founded the Sikh Empire?
o A. Ranjit Singh
o B. Duleep Singh
o C. Sher Singh
o D. Gulab Singh
o E. Hari Singh Nalwa
o Correct Answer: A
12. What was the capital of the Sikh Empire?
o A. Lahore
o B. Amritsar
o C. Simla
o D. Delhi
o E. Agra
o Correct Answer: A
13. What was the main reason for the First Anglo-Sikh War?
o A. The Sikhs were expanding their territory into British-controlled areas.
o B. The British were worried that the Sikhs were becoming too powerful.
o C. The Sikhs were refusing to pay taxes to the British.
o D. The Sikhs were supporting the Indian independence movement.
o E. None of the above
o Correct Answer: A
14. What was the main reason for the Second Anglo-Sikh War?
o A. The Sikhs were trying to regain their independence.
o B. The British were trying to expand their control over the Punjab.
o C. The Sikhs were supporting the Indian independence movement.
o D. The British were worried that the Sikhs were becoming too powerful again.
o E. None of the above
o Correct Answer: D
15. Which of the following was not a Sikh general who fought in the Anglo-Sikh Wars?
o A. Hari Singh Nalwa
o B. Sher Singh
o C. Gulab Singh
o D. Ranjit Singh
o E. Hari Chand
o Correct Answer: E
16. Which of the following was not a battle that was fought during the Anglo-Sikh Wars?
o A. The Battle of Mudki
o B. The Battle of Ferozeshah
o C. The Battle of Sobraon
o D. The Battle of Chillianwala

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o E. The Battle of Panipat

o Correct Answer: E
17. Which of the following was not a treaty that was signed at the end of an Anglo-Sikh War?
o A. The Treaty of Lahore
o B. The Treaty of Amritsar
o C. The Treaty of Gujrat
o D. The Treaty of Delhi
o E. The Treaty of Yandaboo
o Correct Answer: E
18. Which of the following was not a consequence of the Anglo-Sikh Wars?
o The British Empire gained control of the Punjab.
o The British Empire became the dominant power in India.
o The British Empire was able to consolidate its control over the Indian subcontinent.
o The Sikh Empire was dissolved.
o The Sikhs lost their independence.
o Correct Answer: E
19. Which of the following was not a major impact of the Anglo-Sikh Wars on the Sikh people?
o The Sikhs were forced to convert to Hinduism.
o The Sikhs lost their political power.
o The Sikhs lost their economic power.
o The Sikhs lost their cultural identity.
o The Sikhs lost their religious freedom.
o Correct Answer: A
20. Which of the following was not a major consequence of the Anglo-Sikh Wars for the British
Empire?
o The British Empire gained control of a strategically important region.
o The British Empire gained a large new source of revenue.
o The British Empire gained a large new pool of manpower.
o The British Empire gained a large new market for its goods.
o The British Empire gained a large new source of prestige.
o Correct Answer: C
21. Which of the following was not a major impact of the Anglo-Sikh Wars on the Indian
subcontinent?
o The British Empire became the dominant power in India.
o The British Empire was able to consolidate its control over the Indian subcontinent.
o The Indian independence movement gained momentum.
o The Indian economy was disrupted.
o The Indian culture was influenced by British culture.
o Correct Answer: B

23. The Anglo-Sikh Wars were fought between the British East India Company and the Sikh
Empire.
o True

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o False
o Correct Answer: True
24. The First Anglo-Sikh War began in 1845 and ended in 1846.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
25. The Second Anglo-Sikh War began in 1848 and ended in 1849.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
26. The First Anglo-Sikh War was caused by a dispute over the ownership of the city of Lahore.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: False
27. The Second Anglo-Sikh War was caused by the Sikh Empire's refusal to pay taxes to the
British East India Company.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: False
28. The First Anglo-Sikh War was won by the British East India Company.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
29. The Second Anglo-Sikh War was also won by the British East India Company.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
30. The First Anglo-Sikh War resulted in the British East India Company gaining control of the
Punjab.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
31. The Second Anglo-Sikh War resulted in the British East India Company gaining control of
the entire Sikh Empire.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
32. The Anglo-Sikh Wars were a major turning point in the history of India.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
33. The Anglo-Sikh Wars helped to pave the way for the British East India Company to become
the dominant power in India.

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o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
34. The Anglo-Sikh Wars had a profound impact on the Sikh people, who lost their
independence and were forced to live under British rule.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
35. The Anglo-Sikh Wars are still remembered today by the Sikh people as a time of great
hardship and suffering.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
36. The Anglo-Sikh Wars are an important part of the history of India and the Sikh people.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
37. The Anglo-Sikh Wars are a reminder of the importance of freedom and independence.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
38. The Anglo-Sikh Wars are a reminder of the dangers of imperialism and colonialism.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
39. The Anglo-Sikh Wars are a reminder of the resilience of the Sikh people and their
determination to preserve their culture and identity.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True
40. The Anglo-Sikh Wars are a reminder of the importance of peace and understanding
between different cultures.
o True
o False
o Correct Answer: True

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