The First War of Independence, 1857 Questions and Answers

 

I. Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)

Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options.

1. The East India Company's territorial power began to increased rapidly in India after which of the following Battles?

(a) The Battle of Buxar

(b) The Battle of Plassey

(c) The First Anglo-Mysore War

(d) The Third Anglo-Maratha War.

Ans: b) The Battle of Plassey

2. The First Indian State to enter into the Subsídiary Alliance with the East India Company was ________.

(a) Awadh

(b) Mysore

(c) Tanjore

(d) Jhansi

Ans: a) Awadh

3. Lord Dalhousie annexed a number of Indian States to the East India Company using ________.

(a) The Subsidiary of Lapse

(b) The Doctrine of Lapse

(c) The Government of India Act of 1858

(d) Queen Victoria's Proclamation

Ans: b) The Doctrine of Lapse

4. Nana Saheb was the adopted son of ________.

(a) Bahadur Shan Zafar

(b) Tantia Tope

(c) Baji Rao I

(d) Baji Rao II

Ans: d) Baji Rao II

5. Where was the family seat of Nana Saheb located?

(a) Nagpur

(b) Lucknow

(c) Pune

(d) Kanpur

Ans: c) Pune

6. Which of the following reforms was resented by the Indians?

(a) The Abolition of Sati

(b) The Widow Remarriage Act

(c) Opening of Girls' school

(d) Both (a) and (b)

Ans: d) Both (a) and (b)

7. Jhansi was annexed by applying which of the following?

(a) Alleged Misrule

(b) Subsidiary Alliance

(c) Queen's Proclamation

(d) The Doctrine of Lapse

Ans: d) The Doctrine of Lapse

8. Seventy-five thousand of the Company's sepoys belonged to which of the following states?

(a) Jaipur

(b) Awadh

(c) Mysore

(d) Sambalpur

Ans: b) Awadh

9. By the provisions of which of the following, 20,000 estates of the landlords were confiscated by the East India Company?

(a) The Hunter Commission

(b) Frazer Commission

(c) The Inam Commission

(d) The Woods' Dispatch

Ans: c) The Inam Commission

10. Which of the following Acts was resented by the Indian sepoys?

(a) The General Service Enlistment Act

(b) The Indian Service Rules

(c) The Government of India Act, 1858

(d) The Queen's Proclamation

Ans: a) The General Service Enlistment Act

11. Which of the following events of the Uprising of 1857 and their leaders is not correctly matched?

(a) Lucknow-Begum Hazrat Mahal

(b) Kanpur-Nana Saheb

(c) Kalpi-Tantia Tope

(d) Bihar-Khan Bahadur

Ans: d) Bihar-Khan Bahadur

12. Which of the following was the result of the Great Uprising of 1857?

(a) End of the rule of the British Crown

(b) End of the rule of the East India Company

(c) End of the rule of the Governor-General

(d) End of the Board of Directors

Ans: b) End of the rule of the East India Company

13. The Uprising of 1857 began from ________.

(a) Meerut

(b) Plassey

(c) Buxar

(d) Delhi

Ans: a) Meerut

14. An effect of the Uprising of 1857 was that-

(a) the spirit of rebellion in India was crushed

(b) the British became totally demoralised

(c) the British abandoned their repressive policies

(d) unity was forged between the Hindus and Muslims

Ans: d) unity was forged between the Hindus and Muslims

15. Who introduced the Subsidiary Alliance in India?

(a) Lord Hastings

(b) Lord Amherst

(c) Lord Wellesley

(d) Lord Cornwallis

Ans: c) Lord Wellesley

16. After the initial success of the Uprising of 1857, the objective of the leaders of the Uprising included

(a) restoring the former glory to the Mughal empire,

(b) forming a Federation of Indian States under the negis of Bhadur Shah II;

(c) eliminating foreign rule and return of the old order

(d) establishing his own power in his respective region by each leader

Ans: c) eliminating foreign rule and return of the old order

17. Under the Government of India Act 1858, who gave up the direct administration of India?

(a) The East India Company

(b) The British Crown

(c) Lord Mountbatten

(d) The Mughal Emperor

Ans: a) The East India Company

18. The Uprising of 1857 was a prolonged period of armed uprising against the British in Northern and Central India. Which of the following was not a major centre of the Uprising?

(a) Delhi

(b) Awadh

(c) Mumbai

(d) The Chambal Region

Ans: c) Mumbai

II. Short Answer Questions

1. What was the nature of revolts against the British before the First War of Independence?

Ans: Before 1857, the revolts against the British were local, scattered and isolated. They were started by different groups such as kings, queens, peasants, landlords, tribals and soldiers whose interests were affected by British policies. These revolts were not organised on a national level and did not pose a serious threat to British rule.

2. Why was the "War of 1857" hailed as the First War of Independence?

Ans: The War of 1857 is hailed as the First War of Independence because it was the first mass uprising in which different sections of Indian society participated against a common enemy, the British. It aimed at ending foreign rule and restoring Indian authority. It also inspired the rise of the national movement and future freedom fighters in India.

3. Mention two political causes of the First War of Independence.

Ans: Doctrine of Lapse: Lord Dalhousie annexed several Indian states like Jhansi by refusing to recognise adopted heirs.

Annexation of Awadh: Awadh was annexed in 1856 on the pretext of alleged misrule, causing widespread resentment among the people.

4. Name two ways in which the British expanded their territorial power in India.

Ans: The British expanded their territorial power in India through:

1. Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley.
2. Doctrine of Lapse introduced by Lord Dalhousie.

5. What was the Subsidiary Alliance? Name two Indian States brought under the British control using the Subsidiary Alliance.

Ans: The Subsidiary Alliance was a system introduced by Lord Wellesley under which Indian rulers accepted the British as the supreme power, kept British troops in their states, and surrendered control over their foreign relations. In return, they lost their independence and came under British control.

Two Indian States brought under British control through the Subsidiary Alliance were:
1. Awadh (Oudh)
2. Hyderabad

6. Explain the term: Doctrine of Lapse. Name the two States annexed by the British using the Doctrine of Lapse.

Ans: The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by Lord Dalhousie. According to this policy, if an Indian ruler died without a natural male heir, his kingdom would be annexed by the British. The British refused to recognise adopted sons as legal heirs.

Two States annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse were:
1. Satara
2. Jhansi

7. Who was Nana Sahib? What was his main grievance against the British?

Ans: Nana Sahib was the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II. After the death of Baji Rao II, he lived at Kanpur. His main grievance against the British was that Lord Dalhousie refused to grant him the pension of ₹8 lakh per year which his father had been receiving. The British also refused to recognise him as the adopted heir of Baji Rao II.

8. Which policy was used by Lord Dalhousie against Rani Laxmi Bai? Why did Rani Laxmi Bai become a bitter enemy of the British?

Ans: Lord Dalhousie used the Doctrine of Lapse against Rani Laxmi Bai. Rani Laxmi Bai became a bitter enemy of the British because after the death of her husband, Raja Gangadhar Rao, the British refused to recognise her adopted son as the heir to the throne and annexed Jhansi under the Doctrine of Lapse. This injustice made her strongly oppose British rule.

9. State two announcements which adversely affected the Mughal dynasty in India.

Ans: The two announcements which adversely affected the Mughal dynasty were:
1. The British announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, his successors would no longer be allowed to use the title of "King" and would have to leave the Red Fort.
2. The British decided that the successors of Bahadur Shah Zafar would not be recognised as rulers and their royal privileges and status would be withdrawn.
These measures deeply hurt the sentiments of the Mughal family and their supporters.

10. Mention any two consequences of the annexation of Awadh.

Ans: Any two consequences of the annexation of Awadh were:
1. Many nobles, officials, soldiers and artisans lost their jobs and became unemployed.

2. A large number of landlords (taluqdars) lost their estates and privileges, which created great resentment against the British.

11. State any two consequences of the disbanding of the armies of the annexed States by the British.

Ans: Two consequences were:
1. Thousands of soldiers of the annexed States lost their jobs and became unemployed.
2. These unemployed soldiers became dissatisfied with the British and joined the revolt of 1857 against them.

12. Give the meaning of Absentee Sovereignty. Why was it resented by the Indians?

Ans: Absentee Sovereignty means a system in which a country is governed by rulers who live in another country. In India, the British ruled the country from England and used India's resources for their own benefit.
It was resented by the Indians because:
1. India's wealth was drained to England instead of being used for the welfare of the Indian people.
2. The British rulers were not concerned about the interests and needs of Indians and governed mainly for their own benefit.

13. What were the apprehensions of Indians about the introduction of the railways?

Ans: The Indians had several apprehensions about the introduction of railways:
1. They feared that the British were trying to destroy their caste system and social customs, as people of different castes had to travel together.
2. Many Indians believed that the railways were a part of a British plan to spread Christianity and convert Indians to their religion.

14. Mention any two social reforms advocated by the British which affected the religious traditions of the Indian people.

Ans: Two social reforms advocated by the British were:
1. Abolition of Sati (1829) by Lord William Bentinck.
2. Widow Remarriage Act (1856) which legalised the remarriage of Hindu widows.
Many Indians believed that these reforms interfered with their religious traditions and customs.

15. Mention any two measures which point to the policy of social discrimination followed. by the British in India.

Ans: The following measures show the policy of social discrimination followed by the British:
1. The British considered themselves superior and treated Indians with contempt and disrespect.
2. Qualified Indians were not given higher posts in the civil and military services and were discriminated against in employment.

16. Give two examples to show how the British exploited resources of India.

Ans: The British exploited the resources of India in the following ways:
1. India was forced to export raw materials such as cotton, silk, indigo and jute to Britain at cheap rates.
2. British manufactured goods were imported into India and sold here, which benefited British industries at the expense of Indian industries.

17. Give any two grievances of the peasantry against the British.

Ans: The peasantry had the following grievances against the British:
1. The British imposed heavy land revenue and taxes on the peasants, which they found difficult to pay.
2. Peasants were often forced to borrow money from moneylenders and fell into debt due to their poor economic condition.

18. What did the British do to reduce the landed aristocracy to poverty?

Ans: The British reduced the landed aristocracy to poverty by:
1. Confiscating many estates and lands of the landlords under the provisions of the Inam Commission (1852).
2. Taking away the privileges, powers and sources of income of many princes, nobles and landlords through annexations and British land policies.
As a result, many members of the landed aristocracy lost their wealth and became poor.

19. What was the provision of the General Service Enlistment Act which was resented by the Indian soldiers? Why was it resented?

Ans: The General Service Enlistment Act (1856) provided that Indian soldiers could be sent overseas for military service if required.
This was resented because:
1. Many Indian soldiers believed that crossing the sea (Kala Pani) would lead to the loss of their caste and religion.
2. It interfered with their religious beliefs and social customs.

20. Mention any two grievances harboured by the Indian soldiers which created an atmosphere favourable to the First War of Independence.

Ans: Two grievances of the Indian soldiers were:
1. Indian soldiers received lower salaries and allowances than their British counterparts.
2. They had very limited opportunities for promotion and could not rise to higher ranks in the army.

21. State two effects of the defeat of the British in the first Afghan War and the Punjab Wars on the Indian soldiers.

Ans: The defeat of the British in the First Afghan War and the Punjab Wars had the following effects on Indian soldiers:
1. Indian soldiers realised that the British were not invincible and could be defeated.
2. Their confidence increased, and they became more willing to challenge British authority.
These events helped create an atmosphere favourable to the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857.

22. What was the immediate cause of the First War of Independence?

Ans: The immediate cause of the First War of Independence was the introduction of the Enfield Rifle. The cartridges of this rifle were believed to be greased with the fat of cows and pigs. Since soldiers had to bite off the ends of the cartridges before loading them, it hurt the religious sentiments of both Hindus (who regard the cow as sacred) and Muslims (for whom the pig is unclean). This led to widespread anger among the Indian soldiers and triggered the Revolt of 1857.

23. Who was Mangal Pandey? What did he do?

Ans: Mangal Pandey was a soldier (sepoy) of the 34th Native Infantry Regiment stationed at Barrackpore. On 29 March 1857, he attacked British officers in protest against the use of the greased cartridges of the Enfield Rifle. He fired at and wounded a British officer and encouraged other Indian soldiers to rise against the British. He was arrested and later executed.

24. State two consequences of the First War of Indian Independence on the East India Company.

Ans: The First War of Independence had the following consequences for the East India Company:
1. The rule of the East India Company in India came to an end.
2. The administration of India was transferred directly to the British Crown under the Government of India Act, 1858.

25. How was the Army organised after the First War of Independence?

Ans: After the First War of Independence, the British reorganised the army in the following ways:
1. The number of British soldiers in India was increased, while the proportion of Indian soldiers was reduced.
2. The artillery was placed almost entirely under the control of British soldiers.
3. Indian soldiers belonging to different castes, regions and religions were mixed in the army to prevent unity among them.

26. What impact did the Uprising of 1857 have on the Mughal rule and Peshwaship?

Ans: The Uprising of 1857 brought an end to both the Mughal rule and the Peshwaship in India.
1. Mughal Rule: After the revolt, Bahadur Shah Zafar was captured by the British, tried for treason and exiled to Rangoon (Myanmar). Thus, the Mughal dynasty came to an end.
2. Peshwaship: The revolt led by Nana Saheb failed, and the British finally ended all claims of the Peshwas, bringing the institution of Peshwaship to an end.

27. Mention any two drawbacks of the First War of Independence.

Ans: Two drawbacks of the First War of Independence were:
1. The revolt was not a nationwide movement. Many parts of India, especially Punjab, Bengal, Bombay and Madras, did not actively participate.
2. There was a lack of unity and coordination among the leaders and rebels, which weakened the movement.

III. Structured Questions

1. Economic exploitation of the country produced discontent, resentment, and resistance among the people that culminated in the Great Uprising of 1857.

(a) The ruin of trade and handicrafts

Ans: The British ruined Indian trade and handicrafts by following policies that favoured British industries:
1. Indian handicrafts and cottage industries declined because machine-made goods from Britain were imported into India and sold at cheaper rates.
2. Indian goods were heavily taxed in Britain, while British goods entered India with little or no duty. This made it difficult for Indian artisans to compete.
3. As a result, thousands of weavers, craftsmen and artisans lost their livelihood and became unemployed.

(b) Impoverishment of the cultivators

Ans: The cultivators were impoverished due to the economic policies of the British.
1. The British imposed heavy land revenue on the peasants, which they had to pay even during crop failures.
2. To pay taxes, many peasants borrowed money from moneylenders and fell into debt.
3. Frequent famines and the government's neglect further worsened the condition of the cultivators, making them extremely poor.

(c) Subordination of Indian economy to British interests (making India an agricultural colony of British capitalism)

Ans: The British subordinated the Indian economy to serve their own interests.
1. India was made a supplier of raw materials such as cotton, jute, silk and indigo for British industries.
2. India became a market for British manufactured goods, which harmed Indian industries and handicrafts.
3. The economic policies of the British were designed to benefit Britain rather than India, turning India into an agricultural colony of British capitalism.

2. The Great Outbreak of 1857 brought about important changes in the character of Indian administration and the future development of the country. In this context discuss:

(a) The changes introduced in the administrative set-ip of the British territories in India.

Ans: After the Revolt of 1857, important changes were introduced in the administration of India through the Government of India Act, 1858.
1. The rule of the East India Company was abolished, and the administration of India was transferred directly to the British Crown.
2. A Secretary of State for India was appointed in Britain to control Indian affairs. He was assisted by a Council of India.
3. The Governor-General of India was given the additional title of Viceroy and became the direct representative of the British Crown in India.

(b) The changes in the Army

Ans: After the Revolt of 1857, the British reorganised the Indian Army to prevent future rebellions.
1. The number of British soldiers was increased, while the proportion of Indian soldiers was reduced.
2. The artillery and other key military positions were kept under the control of British soldiers.
3. Indian soldiers of different castes, religions and regions were mixed together so that they could not unite against the British.

(c) The changes in the relationship with Princely States.

Ans: After the Revolt of 1857, the British changed their policy towards the Princely States.
1. The British abandoned the Doctrine of Lapse and assured the princes that their states would not be annexed arbitrarily.
2. The rulers of Princely States were allowed to adopt heirs, and their right of succession was recognised.
3. The British promised to respect the rights, dignity and territories of the Indian princes, provided they remained loyal to the British Crown.

3. Although the First War of Independence of 1857 failed, it had important consequences for India. In the context, answer the following questions:

(a) How did the Uprising give rise to nationalism in India?

Ans: Although the Revolt of 1857 failed, it played an important role in the growth of Indian nationalism.
1. It was the first large-scale attempt by Indians to unite against foreign rule. People from different regions, religions and sections of society fought together against the British.
2. The sacrifices of leaders like Rani Laxmi Bai, Nana Saheb, Tantia Tope and Mangal Pandey inspired future generations to continue the struggle for freedom.
3. The revolt created a sense of national consciousness among Indians and laid the foundation for the later national movement.

(b) How did the end of the East India Company's rule bring in grave economic perils in India?

Ans: Although the East India Company's rule ended in 1858, the economic exploitation of India continued under the British Crown.
1. India continued to be used as a source of raw materials for British industries and as a market for British manufactured goods.
2. The drain of wealth from India to Britain continued through salaries, pensions, profits and administrative expenses paid to British officials.
3. These policies led to poverty, unemployment and the continued backwardness of the Indian economy.

(c) State how the British Government tried to pacify the feelings of Indians with regard to: (i) their religious practices; (ii) the Princely States

Ans: (i) The British Government assured the Indians that it would not interfere in their religious beliefs, customs and social practices. This assurance was given in Queen Victoria's Proclamation of 1858.

(ii) 1. The Doctrine of Lapse was withdrawn and Indian rulers were allowed to adopt heirs.
2. The British promised to respect the rights, dignity and territories of the Princely States, provided they remained loyal to the British Crown.