Source-Based Question Sheet: 1-5

Section A of Paper 1 Guidelines:

Students have to answer one compulsory question made up of four parts (a, b, c and d) worth a total of
25 marks. These parts are linked by a common theme and the first two questions (a) and (b) are source-
based questions using historical sources.

Source A:
Full accounts of the earlier scenes of the recent revolt in the Bengal army have now reached us. Several
regiments have broken out into open mutiny, murdered their officers and entered into direct rebellion
against the British government. At present revolt seems to be confined to the army of Bengal, the
largest and most important of the three presidencies, and only about 8000 men have taken part.
Everywhere else, according to reports received, all is quiet and the native army is true to its duty.
An account of the events of 1857, written in an English newspaper in June 1857.

(a): According to Source A, how widespread, was the ‘revolt’ of 1857? [3]

Source B:
The public handing of Indians who took part in the War of Independence.

(b): What does Source B tell us about the British attitude towards the uprising? [5]
(c): Why did the War break out in 1857? [7]
(d): How successful was Sir Syed Ahmed Khan in restoring the reputation of Muslims in the eyes of the
British in the years after the war? [10]
A painting of a British official of the British E.I.C ridding in an Indian procession in 1825.

(a): What does the Source tell us about the British E.I.C in 1825? [5]

A painting of a Mughal emperor, representing the Mughal rule in India.

(a): What does this source tell us about Mughal rule in India? [5]

Source A:
Nawab Siraj ud-daula opposed the growing British power in Bengal in 1757. Robert Clive, commander of
the British East India Company's troops that had just retaken Calcutta from the Nawab, began to re-
establish control of Bengal. Clive was heavily outnumbered by the Nawab's forces but persuaded Mir
Jafar, the Nawab's commander to switch sides and not fight when the two armies meet. The Nawab
opened the battle with heavy gunfire until it started to rain heavily. Clive's troops covered their canons
and muskets to protect them from the rain, while the Nawab's troops did not. When the rain cleared,
Clive attacked. The Nawab's troops retreated. Twenty-two of Clive's soldiers were killed and 500 of the
Nawab's soldiers were killed.
From Seven Years’ War: Battle of Plassey by Kennedy Hickman

Source B:
A painting of a British official of the British E.I.C ridding in an Indian procession in 1825.

(a): According to Source A, what reasons are suggested for the British victory at the Battle of Plassey in
1757? [3]
(b): What does Source B tell us about the British East India Company in 1825? [5]

Source A:
Clive was an opportunist not overburdened with scruple, but unlike the others, he had diplomatic as
well as military qualities of a high order... He moved with deftness and resolution through a maze of
uncertainty and intrigue. He seized his opportunity and rose to great eminence by dint of personal
initiative, resourcefulness, and bold Enterprise. He saw far ahead of him and planned accordingly. He
laid the foundation of British power in the subcontinent and showed unusual qualities of leadership.
(But) He was not above taking presents, even bribes, and he could be quite unscrupulous.
From the History of Pakistan

Source B:
lord Robert Clive meeting with Mir Jafar after the battle of Plassey

(a): According to Source A, why was Robert Clive able to lay down the foundation of British power in the
sub-continent? [3]
(b): What does Source B tells us about the outcomes of the Battle of Plassey? [5]

Source A:
The railway is a triumph, to which, in comparison, all our victories in the East seem tame and
commonplace. The natives of India will remember the opening of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway
when battlefields of Plassey, Assaye, Meanee, and Goojerat have become landmarks of history.
The Overland Telegraph and Couriers, April 1853

Source B:
Afghans attacking the retreating British and Indian army

(a): What benefits of the railway have been outlined in Source A? [3]
(b): What does Source B tell us about British fate to invade Afghanistan in 1841? [5]

Source A:
Romesh Dutt, who became the President of the Congress in 1899, has written that the purpose of
Britain's economic policy in India 'was to make India subservient to the industries of Britain and to make
the Indian people grow raw produce only to supply materials for the manufacturing industry in Britain'.
Historians have calculated that in the 150 years after the Battle of Plassey, a sum of 1000 million pounds
was transferred from India to Britain. This helps explain the poverty that existed in India and may
explain why the famines had such a devastating effect. From 1760 until 1943, India experienced terrible
famines on a regular basis. Why the official British sources estimated, more than 85 million Indians died
in these famines, which were in reality genocides done by the British Raj.

Source B:
The black hole of Calcutta, 20 June 1756

(a): According to Source A, what was the purpose of Britain’s economic policy in India? [3]
(b): What does Source B tells us about the Black Hole Tragedy? [5]

Source A:
The Indian Cotton Industry
At first, the East India Company and the British parliament discouraged the Indian production of cotton
goods in order to encourage the growing Cotton Industry in Great Britain. British policy developed
during the 19th Century to allow Indian people to grow raw cotton in order to supply material for the
Cotton factories of Great Britain. Orders were sent out to force Indian skilled workers towards the East
India Company's factories. The East India Company was given legal powers to control production in the
villages and communities of Indian Weavers. Very high tariffs excluded Indian silks and cotton goods
from Great Britain, but British goods were admitted into India free of duty.
From the Economic History of India under Early British Rule by R.C. Dutt.

Source B:
(a): According to Source A, what difficulties did the Indian cotton industry face during the 19 th century?
[3]
(b): How does Source B help us to understand Indian concerns about the building of railways in India
during the 19th Century? [5]

Source B:

(b): How does Source B tell us about the British Military strength? [5]

Source A:
Robert Clive was a reckless, unstable person, whose violence and daring played an important role in the
British conquest of the subcontinent. Clive was an opportunist not overburdened with scruple, but
unlike the others, he had diplomatic as well as military qualities of a high order... He moved with
deftness and resolution through a maze of uncertainty and intrigue. He seized his opportunity and rose
to great eminence by dint of personal initiative, resourcefulness, and bold Enterprise. He saw far ahead
of him and planned accordingly. He laid the foundation of British power in the subcontinent and showed
unusual qualities of leadership. (But) He was not above taking presents, even bribes, and he could be
quite unscrupulous.
From, A Concise History of Indo-Pakistan

Source B:
Shah ‘Alam conveying the Grant of the Diwani to Lord Clive
(a): According to Source A, how was Robert Clive a successful military leader? [3]
(b): How does Source B help us to understand the authority of Shah Alam II after the Battle of Buxar in
1764? [5]

Source B:
British conquest of India, battle of Ferozshah, 1845, during the Sikh Wars

(a): What does Source B tell us about the British Army? [5]

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Source A:
Full accounts of the earlier scenes of the recent Revolt in the Bengal Army have now reached us. Several
regiments have broken out into open mutiny, murdered their offices and, entered into a direct rebellion
against the British government. At present, the revolt seems to be confined to the Army of Bengal, the
largest and most important of the three presidencies, and only about 8,000 men have taken part.
Everywhere else, according to reports received all is quiet and the native army is true to duty.

Source B:
(a): According to Source A, how widespread was the ‘revolt’? [3]
(b): What does Source B tell us about the British attitude towards the mutineers of 1857? [5]

Source B:

(b): How the British are being depicted superior to Indians in the Source B? [5]

Source B:

(b): What kind of justice is depicted by Source B? [5]

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Source A:
"We are numerically one-fifth of the other community. Now suppose that all the English were to leave
India, and then who would be the rulers of India? Is it possible that under these circumstances, two
Nations the Muslims and Hindus, could sit on the same throne and remain equal in power? Most
certainly not. It is necessary that one of them should conquer the other and thrust it down. To hope that
both could remain equal is to desire the impossible and the inconceivable. If at any time the British
government ceases to exist in India, we shall have to live as the subjects of the Hindus, and our lives, our
property, our self-respect, and our religion will all be in danger."
Part of a speech by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan in 1878

Source B:

(a): According to Source A, What was Sir Syed worried about? [3]
(b): What does the Source B depict? [5]

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Source B:

(a): How does source B help us to understand Bengali concerns about the decision to choose Urdu as the
national language of Pakistan? [5]