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Session:2020-2021 HISTORY ICSE CLASS-10

CHAPTER-01
The First War of Independence, 1857 / Sepoy Mutiny / The Great Uprising / The Revolt of 1857

1. What was the Subsidiary Alliance? Name two Indian states brought under the British control using
the Subsidiary Alliance.
Ans: Subsidiary Alliance was an agreement between the British East India Company and the Indian Princely
States by virtue of which these states lost their sovereignty. It was introduced by Lord Wellesley. Under this
system the Indian ruler who agreed to the subsidiary alliance:

• Accepted British as the Supreme Power.

• Surrendered their foreign relations to the East India Company.
• Accepted a British Resident at their headquarters and agreed not to employ any European in their
service without consulting the Company.
• Agreed to maintain British troops at their own cost and they virtually lost their independence.
Hyderabad, Mysore and Awadh.
2. Name the two ways in which the British expanded their territorial power in India?
Ans: The two ways in which the British expanded their territorial power in India were:

• Subsidiary Alliance
• Doctrine of Lapse
• Outright wars
• Pretext of Alleged Misrule
3. Numerous causes gave rise to the First war of Independence and its consequences led to several
change in the British Government in India. In this context answer the following:
a) Explain any three political causes of the Revolt of 1857.
Ans: Two of the important political causes responsible for the First War of the Independence were:

i. The British policy of annexation of kingdoms under the Pretext of Alleged Misrule.
ii. The Doctrine of Lapse introduce by Lord Dalhousie that imposed unsentimental law of ‘No Adoption
Policy’ for rulers and the lapse of kingdoms into the hands of the British in the absence of natural
heir.
b) Briefly explain the immediate cause of the Great Revolt.
Ans: In 1856, British authority decided to replace the old-fashioned Musket by the new ‘Enfield Rifle’. The
cartridges used in the rifle were said to be greased with the fat of cows and pigs. Greased paper of the
cartridges had to be bitten off with the teeth before loading them in the Rifle. The Sepoys were convinced
that the introduction of greased cartridges was a deliberate move to defile Hindu and Muslim religions as
the cow is sacred to Hindus and the sacrificing pig is a taboo to Muslims. Thus, Hindu and Muslim soldiers
refused to use these cartridges and staged an uproar when they forced to use them.
c) Explain any three military causes of the Revolt of 1857.
d) Explain any four economic causes of the Revolt of 1857.
Ans: The four Economic causes of the Revolt of 1857 were:
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i. Decay of Cottage Industries and Handicraft: - Heavy duties on Indian silk and cotton textiles in
Britain destroyed Indian Industries, while British goods were imported into India at a nominal duty.
Export of cotton and silk goods from India ceased. The art of spinning and weaving which was a
source of employment to thousands of Artisans, become extinct.
ii. Economic Decline of Peasantry: - Increase in land revenue force many peasants into indebtedness
or into selling their lands. Traditional Zamindars were replaced by merchants and Moneylenders
who had no mercy for the peasants. They pushed rents to exorbitant levels and evicted their
tenants in case of non-payment.
4. What impact did the uprising of 1857 have on the Mughal Rule?
Ans: With the death of Bahadur Shah-II the Mughal Dynasty came to an end. Nana Saheb the last Peshwa
had taken an active part in the uprising and had fled to Nepal after the failure of uprising so the office of the
Peshwa also came to an end thus ended two of the most formidable foes of the British the Marathas and
the Mughals.
5. Name any two social reforms advocated by the British which affected the religious traditions of the
Indian people.
Ans: The two social reforms advocated by the British which affected the religious traditions of the Indian
people were:
i. Abolition of Sati System
ii. Implementation of Widow Remarriage Act.
6. What was the General Service Enlistment Act?
Ans: As per the General Service Enlistment Act 1856, the Indian soldiers could be sent overseas on duty. The
act did not take into account the sentiments of Indian soldiers since it was a taboo for a Brahmin to cross
the seas.
7. What was the influence of Western Education on the minds of educated Indians in the 19th Century?
Ans: Western education widened the horizon of Indians
i. It gave them a rational, secular, democratic and national outlook.
ii. They learnt about the National Movements in European Countries.
iii. Through the study of European History, political thought and economic ideas, educated Indians had
an access to liberty, equality, nationality, rule of law and self-government.
8. Which is called the India’s first war of Independence?
Ans: The Sepoy Mutiny or Revolt of 1857.
9. Name two famous Indian leaders of the Revolt of 1857.
Ans: Rani Lakshmibai and Nana Saheb
10. Why was the ‘war of 1857’ called as the first war of independence?
Ans: People of different castes, communities and religions came together for the first time and fought for
the independence.
11. What is meant by ‘Doctrine of Lapse’? Name the two states annexed by the British using the
‘Doctrine of Lapse’.
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Ans: This was the policy of annexation followed by Lord Dalhousie. The Doctrine meat that when a ruler of a
dependent state died without a natural heir, the state is passed on to the British.
12. Which policy was used by Lord Dalhousie against Rani Lakshmi Bai? Why did Rani Lakshmi Bai become
the bitter enemy of the British?
Ans: Doctrine of Lapse.
When the ruler of Jhansi died in 1853, leaving no natural heir, the widowed Rani was pensioned and their
adopted son, Anand Rao, was not recognized as a lawful successor to the throne, so Lakshmi Bai became
bitter enemy of the British.
13. What were the apprehension of Indians about the introduction of the railways?
Ans: Introduction of railways was regarded as an attempt to interfere with the Caste rules because Brahmins
and untouchables had to sit in the same compartment.
14. What was the Nana Saheb’s grievance against the British?
Ans: The British refused to accept Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the last Peshwa Baji Rao-II. As the ruler
of the Maratha and was refused to get the pension which his father was getting.
15. Name any two acts which interfered with the religious and social life of the people.
Ans:

• The act of 1850 which changed the Hindu Law of Property and
• The Widow Remarriage Act.
16. What assurance was given to the Indian Princes by Queen Victoria in her proclamation of 1858?
Ans:

• The policy of annexation and the Doctrine of Lapse were abandoned.

• Most of the Indian princes had remained loyal to the British and had helped them in suppressing
the uprising. Their loyalty was rewarded with the announcement that their right to adopt heirs
would be respected and the integrity of their territories guaranteed against future annexation.
17. Explain the military causes which led to the revolt of 1857.
Ans: The military causes which led to the revolt of 1857 were: -

• Ill-treatment of Indian Soldiers: - Though, Indian were as efficient as their British Counterparts,
they were poorly paid, ill-bed and badly housed. The British Military Authorities forbade the
sepoys from wearing caste of sectarian marks, beards or turbans.
• General Service Enlistment Act: - As per this Act, the Indian soldiers could be sent overseas on
duty neglecting the sentiments of Indian soldiers since it was a taboo for a Brahmin to cross the
seas.
• Bleak Prospects of Promotion: - All higher positions were reserved for the British, irrespective of
their performance. They could not rise above the ranks of a subedar.
• Deprivation of Allowances: - The Indian Soldiers were required to serve in areas away from their
homes without extra payment and additional Bhatta (Foreign Service Allowance). The Post Office
Act of 1854 withdrew the privilege of free postage enjoyed by the Sepoys.
• Faulty Distribution of Troops: - Places of strategic importance like Delhi, Allahabad had no British
Armies and were completely held by Indian soldiers. Besides, England was in several wars outside
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India, e.g. the Persian War, Crimean War and Chinese War. Indian soldiers thought that the British
were in difficulty and the safety of her Indian Empire depended on them. Hence, they were
determined to strike at them at a suitable time.
• Introduction of Enfield Rifle: -This immediate cause of discontentment among sepoys was the
introduction of Enfield Rifle with cartridges which were greased with the fat of cows and pigs.
These cartridges had to be bitten off before loading them in the rifle. So, both the Hindus and the
Muslim soldiers refused to use these cartridges as the cow is sacred to Hindus and pig is a taboo
to Muslims.
18. What assurance did the Queen Victoria’s Proclamation give to the Indian people regarding ‘Religious
Freedom’ and ‘Appointment to Public Offices’?
Ans:
i. Religious Freedom: -The Proclamation promised that the Government of India would follow a
policy of Non-intervene in social and religious matters of Indians.
ii. Appointment to Public Offices: - To treat all subjects, Indians and Europeans as equals and the
education and ability would be the basis of all appointment.
19. The First war of Independence 1857 led to several changes. With reference to this explain the rights
granted to the Indian Princes and Chiefs.
Ans:
i. The Doctrine of Lapse was abandoned and the right to adoption was recognized.
ii. The Indian Princes were assured that their territories would never be annexed.
iii. The British Government declared that all the treatise and agreements would be honoured.
20. Study the picture and answer the following questions: -
i. Identify the person in the picture.
ii. Name the theory proposed by him.
iii. Briefly explain the above theory.
Ans:
i. Dadabhai Naoroji.
ii. He proposed the ‘Drain of Wealth’ Theory.
iii. The constant flow of national wealth from India to England for which India did not get an
adequate economic, commercial or material return has been described by Indian Nationalist
Dadabhai Naoroji as ‘Drain of Wealth Theory’. This was one of the most important cause of India’s
poverty.