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British Raj Facts & Worksheets

The British Raj was a period of British rule on the Indian subcontinent that lasted from 1858 to 1947.

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The British Raj was a period of British rule on the Indian subcontinent that lasted from 1858 to 1947. The British Government took over the administration and established the British Raj after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, instituted in 1858 as the rule of the East India Company, an English and later British joint-stock company, was nationalized. Nationalization refers to the government taking over the control or ownership of a private property.

See the fact file below for more information on the British Raj or alternatively, you can download our 26-page The British Raj worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

THE MUGHAL EMPIRE

  • Before the British Raj, the Mughal Empire was present in India, an early-modern empire that lasted for two centuries. The Mughal rule lasted from 1526-1671, leaving a lasting impact on Indian history and culture.
  • Many factors led to the Mughal Empire’s decline. The Mughal emperors implemented policies that were particularly intolerant towards religion, and the resented these policies because they divided the kingdom and weakened their rule. Alongside these declines in the government came economic difficulties. Through rivalries and wars, the empire lost most of its territory to its rivals and the British by the mid-1800s.
  • Their extremely prosperous rule from around 1526 to 1858 CE birthed the present-day connotation of the term “mogul”, which refers to powerful figures or leaders within industries.

RISE OF BRITISH INFLUENCE

  • Initially, Europeans were only interested in trade with the Mughal Empire. However, this interest greatly contributed to the decline of the empire. Europeans began establishing forts and factories along the periphery of the Indian subcontinent; the Portuguese arrived in Kerala in 1498, the Dutch controlled the Coromandel Coast, and the British became involved in 1600.
  • As other Europeans had initially done, the British East India Company was founded in 1600 with the mere interest in trading within the Indian Ocean region.
  • However, during the empire’s decline, the British took advantage in influencing Mughal rulers by defeating the nawab, or ruler of Bengal, together with French forces at the Battle of Plassey in 1757.
  • This battle was fought by the army of the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud Daulah, together with his French allies, but they were defeated because heavy rain spoiled the Nawab’s cannon powder.
  • Soon after, the East India Company seized control of much of the Indian subcontinent. This period was also known as the company rule in India.
  • After the defeat at the Battle of Plassey, the East India Company’s interests in Indian resources were no longer limited to the trade of cotton, silk, tea, and opium, and they began to be involved as military authority in sections of India. Company taxations and policies impoverished Bengalis, and by 1773, about 10 million people had died of famine in Bengal, equivalent to one-third of the population. Mughal emperors held onto the thrones but had little real power; until finally the British exiled the last Mughal emperor in the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
  • The Indian Rebellion of 1857 or the Indian Mutiny, an unsuccessful uprising in India against the British East India Company, led to the dissolution of the East India Company. This resulted in the British government taking over and establishing the British Raj. The mutiny, known in other terms such as the Sepoy Mutiny, the Indian Resurrection, the Great Rebellion, and the First War of Independence, led to the death of at least a few thousand Indian mercenaries called Sepoys and the loss of a couple of hundred British citizens.
  • The British Parliament passed the Government of India Act on August 2, 1858, which transferred British power over India from the Company to the Crown.

THE BRITISH RAJ

  • British rule in India was called the British Raj or simply the Raj, literally meaning “rule” in Hindi. The rule was over parts of countries that were all part of the British Indian Empire; these parts are now five countries – the Republic of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.
  • The British Raj included only approximately two-thirds of modern India, with other portions remaining under the control of local princes.
  • These areas continued independent governance by over 560 large and small principalities; some of their rulers had even fought against the British during the mutiny, but had then made treaties with the Raj.
  • Though under the overall authority of the British Crown, these areas were ruled by their own traditional rulers. Although the most powerful British political leaders became secretaries of state for India during the British Raj, actual power over Indian government remained with British viceroys (governors).
  • Historians believe that the British rule prevailed due to the division in Indian society, which the British took advantage of. During this time, India greatly benefited Britain, exporting huge quantities of goods to Britain, which they then exported to other countries. The British also took advantage of human resources, forming the British Indian Army, which was used by Britain all around the globe, particularly in the two World Wars.

BRITISH INDIA IN THE WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR II

  • In the first World War, Britain declared war on Germany, making about 1.5 million Indian soldiers and laborers serve the British Indian Army. Though many Indians fought for the British flag, many remained eager for independence, led by the efforts of Indian lawyer Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, better known as Mahatma Gandhi.
  • In April 1919, unarmed protesters gathered at Amritsar in Punjab, one of the areas that remained difficult for the British to control. On the morning of April 13, 1919 was the Baisakhi festival. Acting Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered British troops to fire arms into the crowd of unarmed protesters; the massacre killed at least 379 people and injured over 1,200 civilians. This became known as the Amritsar Massacre or the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
  • India also played a great role in British efforts during World War II. Princely states had to donate cash in addition to providing troops.
  • Indian nationalism became more evident, and the Indian independence movement became stronger, with the British rule resented by most.

EFFORTS AGAINST THE BRITISH RULE

  • By the late 19th century, India took steps towards self-government; Indian counselors were appointed to advise British viceroys, and provincial councils included Indian members. With the Government of India Act of 1909 or the Morley-Minto Reforms, Indians were given roles in the legislative councils, now being elected compared to previously being appointed only.
  • Muhammad Ali Jinnah was an influential figure in Hindu-Muslim unity. Jinnah joined the Muslim League in 1913.
  • As WWII raged on, Gandhi and other members of the Indian National Congress (INC), founded in 1885, continued to act against the British rule. Jinnah joined the Congress with the aim to make demands on the British.
  • In December 1916, the INC and the Muslim League met in joint session under the leadership of Jinnah and Pandit Motilal Nehru, forming the Congress-Muslim League Pact, often referred to as the Lucknow Pact.
  • Constitutional reforms were made to the Government of India Act 1919 known as the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, which helped increase elected Indian members in local government bodies. However, these reforms were not enough for Indians. The Amritsar Massacre spurred political leaders Nehru and Gandhi further to urge the masses to action. Attempts at movements were unsuccessful, and with the British involving India into WWII without consulting Indians, India remained divided.

END OF THE RAJ

  • In July 1942, the INC passed a resolution which demanded complete independence from the British, indicating that if they did not accede to the demands, there would be massive civil disobedience.
  • The Quit India Resolution was passed in 1942 which was the beginning of the Quit India Movement, peaceful demonstrations and denial of authority influenced by Gandhi’s non-violence principles. However, the movement ended by 1943.
  • Indian revolutionary Subhas Chandra Bose escaped house arrest in Calcutta and sought the help of the Axis Powers with the aim of raising an army against British rule over India.
  • Bose formed the Azad Hind Government as the Provisional Free Indian Government while in exile, and also organized the Indian National Army (INA) with Indian prisoners of war.
  • The INA battled in Assam, Bengal, and Burma, and laid siege to Imphal and Kohima with the Japanese 15th Army; however, they failed due to disrupted logistics, poor arms and supplies, and lack of support in training.
  • These actions were not in vain, as many historians argue that the INA became the driving force for India’s independence. INA soldiers were executed, which led to the mutinies breaking out in the British Indian Army.
  • Finally, these revolts shaped the end of the Raj. Prisoners of war were all released by 1946, and British rule ended on August 15, 1947. On August 14, 1947. Pakistan was granted independence, while India was granted independence the next day. The end of the Raj created Pakistan, and later, Pakistan created Bangladesh.

British Raj Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the British Raj across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use The British Raj worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the British Raj, which was a period of British rule on the Indian subcontinent that lasted from 1858 to 1947. The British Government took over the administration and established the British Raj after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, instituted in 1858 as the rule of the East India Company, an English and later British joint-stock company, was nationalized. Nationalization refers to the government taking over the control or ownership of a private property.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

  • The British Raj Fact File
  • Both Sides
  • The White Man’s Burden
  • True or False?
  • Indian Nationalist Leaders
  • India: A Land Sought After
  • Unity in Religion
  • Power of Nationalism
  • Nationalization
  • Life During the British Raj
  • More Nationalist Leaders

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Link will appear as British Raj Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 5, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

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