Rebels and State Important Short and Long Question Class 12 History Chapter-10 Book-Themes in Indian History-III

 

Question: What are the main reasons for the revolt of 1857? 

Answer -

• Religious reasons 

• Political Reasons 

• commercial purpose 

• Military reasons 

• Social Causes 

Social Causes 

• racial discrimination 

• considering Indian as inferior 

Political Reasons 

• imposition of subsidiary treaty 

• Insult of Indian Kings 

• Weakening of the Talukdars 

commercial purpose 

• Land Revenue Policy 

• Ruining Indian Industries 

• Economic exploitation 

• Forced cultivation of indigo 

Religious reasons 

• conversion by missionaries 

• Converting Indians to Christianity 

Military reasons 

• Discrimination against Indian soldiers 

• grease cartridges 

• Salary 

• Holiday 

Question:  What are the main reasons for the failure of the revolt of 1857? 

Answer -

• not having a purpose at all 

• Lack of unity 

• Lack of organization 

• Lack of resources 

• British Army Strength 

Question –  What is meant by subsidiary treaty?

Answer -

The Subsidiary Treaty was a system prepared by Lord Wellesley in 1798.  Those who signed this treaty with the British had to agree to certain conditions. 

• The British would protect their ally from external and internal challenges

• A British contingent will be stationed on Allied territory

• The allied side will have to make arrangements for the maintenance of this contingent

• The allies would neither be able to enter into a treaty with any other ruler nor take part in any war without the permission of the British.

Question: How did an entire social system get destroyed with the end of the power of the Talukdars? 

Answer -

• The result of snatching the power of the Taluqdars was that an entire social system got destroyed. 

• The bonds of loyalty and patronage that bound the peasants to the talukdars were disrupted. 

• Before the British, it was the talukdars who used to oppress the people, but in the eyes of the people, many talukdars also had the image of kind guardians.

• They used to collect money from farmers in the name of various kinds of aid   but they also helped the farmers in bad times. 

• Now under the British rule, the farmers were suffering badly under arbitrary revenue assessment and non-flexible revenue system. 

• Now there was no guarantee that the government would reduce the revenue demand in difficult times or in case of crop failure

Question:  What methods were adopted to establish unity among the rebels?

Answer -

• The proclamations issued by the rebels in 1857 appealed to all sections of society, without distinction of caste and religion. 

• Many proclamations were issued on behalf of or in the name of Muslim princes or nawabs. But even in them, the sentiments of Hindus were taken into consideration. 

• This rebellion was being presented as a war in which both Hindus and Muslims had equal gains and losses.

Question:  What methods did the British adopt to crush the rebellion?

Answer -

• Troops called in from Britain

• began to punish rebels with death 

• Launched a two pronged attack from Calcutta and Punjab

• Use of military force on a horrific scale

• Lured the landlords 

• martial law was imposed 

Question - The revolt of 1857 was not merely a military revolt but it was a revolt of farmers, landlords, tribals and rulers?  

Answer -

• The revolt of 1857 started as a military rebellion   but later it became a mass movement 

• Farmers, landlords, tribals and rulers had joined this rebellion

• Everyone together contributed to this movement  

Question:  What was the contribution of rumours and predictions in the revolt of 1857? 

Answer -

• Rumours and prophecies played an important role in the revolt of 1857  

• The immediate cause of this revolt was the rumour of greased cartridges 

• People started to think that the British would convert them to Christianity 

Question –  Why were people believing the rumours? 

Answer -

• Religious sensitivities

• Illiteracy and lack of awareness

• Distrust of British policies

Question - Why was the rebellion so widespread in Awadh? Why did farmers, talukdars and zamindars join it? Explain? 

Answer -

• Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh was dethroned and exiled to Calcutta by the British on the grounds that he was not ruling well. The British government also drew the unfounded conclusion that Wajid Ali Shah was not popular.

• The annexation of Awadh did not only deprive the Nawab of his throne. It also rendered the taluqdars of the area helpless. The taluqdars' estates and forts were scattered throughout the countryside of Awadh.

• These people had been controlling land and power in their area for generations. Before the British came, the talukdars had armed soldiers. They had their own forts. The British were not at all ready to tolerate the power of these talukdars. Immediately after the takeover, the armies of the talukdars were disbanded. Their forts were demolished. That is why the talukdars and zamindars joined this rebellion.

Question -  What do the pictures tell us about the revolt of 1857? Describe it?

Answer -

An important record of Bridoh containing paintings prepared by the British and Indians.

• Paintings, pencil drawings, engraved portraits, posters, cartoons and market prints related to the rebellion are available.

• The photographs created by the British evoke a variety of emotions and reactions.

• A praise for the British heroes who saved the British and crushed the rebels.

• Relief of Lucknow, painted by Thomas Jones Barker in 1859

• The news published in newspapers has a huge impact on the imagination and mood of the public.

• Britain's public demands for retribution for the violence against women and children.

• "In Memoriam" portrait of Joseph Noël Pétain.

• Many paintings portray the rebels as demons.

• Depiction of helpless women bravely fighting the rebels.

• The picture of Miss Wheeler protecting herself from the soldiers at Kanpur presents a deep religious thought.

• The struggle to protect Christianity.

• Violent suppression of rebellion and retaliation were deemed necessary and justified.

• Many illustrations and cartoons in the British press sanctioning the violent suppression of the revolt.