Class 8 Notes

Class 8 Social Science Notes Chapter 2 (From Trade to Territory) – Our Pasts - III (Part-1) Book

Philoid

Philoid

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Our Pasts - III (Part-1)
Alright class, let's focus on Chapter 2, "From Trade to Territory: The Company Establishes Power." This is a crucial chapter for understanding how a mere trading company, the English East India Company, transformed itself into the political master of India. Pay close attention, as the concepts and events here frequently appear in government exams.

NCERT Class 8 History (Our Pasts - III Part 1) - Chapter 2: From Trade to Territory

Detailed Notes for Government Exam Preparation

1. Introduction: The Decline of Mughal Authority and Rise of European Powers

  • Context: By the first half of the 18th century, the powerful Mughal Empire, especially after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, began to decline.
  • Emergence of Regional Powers: Governors of large provinces and powerful zamindars asserted their authority, creating regional kingdoms (e.g., Bengal, Awadh, Hyderabad). Delhi could no longer function as an effective centre.
  • Arrival of European Traders: Even before the Mughal decline, European trading companies – Portuguese (Vasco da Gama arrived in 1498), Dutch, French, and English – were attracted to India for its spices (pepper, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon), fine cotton, and silk.

2. The English East India Company (EIC) Begins Trade

  • Royal Charter (1600): Queen Elizabeth I granted the EIC a charter, giving it the sole right (monopoly) to trade with the East. This meant no other English trading group could compete with it in that region.
  • Mercantilism: The EIC operated on mercantilist principles – aiming to buy goods cheap and sell them dear in Europe, eliminating competition to maximize profits.
  • Competition: The EIC faced stiff competition from other European powers (Portuguese, Dutch, French) who wanted the same goods. This led to fierce rivalries and battles between trading companies. They often sank each other's ships, blockaded routes, and fortified their trading posts.
  • Trading Posts: The EIC established its first 'factory' (trading post/warehouse) on the banks of the river Hugli in 1651. They persuaded Mughal officials to grant them trading concessions.
  • The 'Farman': Emperor Aurangzeb issued a farman (royal edict) granting the Company the right to trade duty-free. However, Company officials often misused this for their private trade, causing enormous loss of revenue for Bengal.

3. How Trade Led to Battles: Focus on Bengal

  • Conflict with Nawabs: The Nawabs of Bengal (Murshid Quli Khan, Alivardi Khan, Siraj-ud-daulah) resented the Company's misuse of trade concessions, refusal to pay taxes, expansion of fortifications, and disrespectful behaviour.
  • Battle of Plassey (1757):
    • Causes: Siraj-ud-daulah asked the Company to stop fortification, pay revenues, and stop meddling in political affairs. The Company refused. Siraj marched to Kassimbazar, captured Company officials, locked the warehouse, disarmed Englishmen, and blockaded their ships. He then marched to Calcutta to establish control.
    • Key Players: Siraj-ud-daulah (Nawab of Bengal) vs. Robert Clive (EIC).
    • Conspiracy: Clive conspired with Mir Jafar (Siraj's commander), Rai Durlabh, Jagat Seth (banker), and Omi Chand (merchant).
    • Outcome: The Company won, largely due to Mir Jafar's betrayal (he didn't fight). Siraj-ud-daulah was captured and killed. Mir Jafar was made the puppet Nawab.
    • Significance: This was the EIC's first major political victory in India. It gained significant influence and extracted vast sums of money and trading privileges from Bengal. It marked the beginning of territorial control.
  • Puppet Nawabs and Issues: Mir Jafar protested when the Company demanded excessive revenues and interfered too much. The Company deposed him and installed Mir Qasim.
  • Battle of Buxar (1764):
    • Causes: Mir Qasim attempted to assert his independence, reorganized his army, and shifted his capital. He complained about the misuse of trade privileges.
    • Key Players: Mir Qasim (deposed Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-daulah (Nawab of Awadh), Shah Alam II (Mughal Emperor) vs. Hector Munro (EIC).
    • Outcome: The EIC decisively defeated the combined forces.
    • Significance: This victory was more significant militarily than Plassey. It confirmed the EIC's power.
  • Treaty of Allahabad (1765): Following Buxar, Robert Clive forced the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II to grant the Diwani (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the EIC.
    • Impact of Diwani: The Company gained control over vast financial resources, which it used to finance its expenses (trade, wars, administration) without relying on gold/silver imports from Britain.

4. Company Rule Expands: Methods of Annexation

  • Direct Military Confrontation: Used when political or economic interests were threatened.
    • Anglo-Mysore Wars: Four wars fought with Mysore (under Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan). Tipu Sultan was seen as a threat due to his modernization of the army and close ties with the French. He was killed defending his capital Seringapatam in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799). Mysore was placed under the former ruling dynasty (Wodeyars) who accepted a Subsidiary Alliance.
    • Anglo-Maratha Wars: Three wars fought with the Marathas, who were weakened by internal divisions after their defeat at Panipat (1761). The EIC gradually dismantled Maratha power, culminating in the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-19), after which the Peshwa was pensioned off and most of his territory annexed.
    • Annexation of Punjab: After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1839), political instability followed. Two Anglo-Sikh wars were fought, leading to the annexation of Punjab in 1849.
  • Indirect Methods:
    • Subsidiary Alliance (Introduced by Lord Wellesley):
      • Terms: Indian rulers accepting the alliance had to:
        1. Accept British forces (the 'subsidiary force') in their territory and pay for their maintenance.
        2. Accept a British 'Resident' in their court.
        3. Not employ any other Europeans without British permission.
        4. Not enter into any alliance or war with other powers without British consent.
        5. Effectively lose their sovereignty and independence.
      • Consequences: If rulers failed to pay, part of their territory was taken away as penalty. (e.g., Nawab of Awadh forced to cede territory in 1801; Hyderabad also forced to cede territories).
    • Doctrine of Lapse (Masterminded by Lord Dalhousie):
      • Principle: If an Indian ruler under British protection died without a natural male heir, his kingdom would 'lapse', i.e., become part of Company territory. Adoption was not recognized for succession purposes without British approval (which was often denied).
      • Annexed States: Satara (1848), Sambalpur (1850), Udaipur (1852), Nagpur (1853), Jhansi (1854).
      • Awadh (1856): Annexed on the pretext of 'misgovernment', causing widespread resentment.

5. Setting Up a New Administration

  • Presidencies: British territories were broadly divided into administrative units called Presidencies: Bengal, Madras, and Bombay. Each was ruled by a Governor. The supreme head was the Governor-General (Warren Hastings was the first).
  • Justice System:
    • Warren Hastings introduced reforms from 1772.
    • Each district had two courts:
      • Diwani Adalat: Civil court (presided over by European District Collectors, assisted by Maulvis and Hindu Pandits interpreting Indian laws).
      • Faujdari Adalat: Criminal court (still under a Qazi and Mufti but supervised by the Collector).
    • A Supreme Court was established in Calcutta (Regulating Act of 1773), and a Court of Appeal (Sadar Nizamat Adalat) was also set up.
    • Major change: Shift towards codification of laws (based on European models, though initially drawing from Indian texts). Brahman pandits compiled digests of Hindu laws, and Muslim laws were also compiled.
  • The Company Army:
    • Colonial rule rested on military strength.
    • Shift from cavalry (sawar) dominance (Mughal style) to infantry dominance.
    • Recruited Indian soldiers (sepoys) trained in European methods (muskets, matchlocks).
    • Emphasis on discipline and uniformity, often disregarding caste and community feelings, which later caused resentment (e.g., 1857 revolt).

6. Conclusion: From Trader to Master

  • By 1857, the EIC controlled about 63% of the territory and 78% of the population of the Indian subcontinent.
  • Starting as a trading venture, driven by profit motives and competition, the EIC skillfully used diplomacy, military force, and administrative control to become the paramount political power in India, paving the way for direct British Crown rule after 1857.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for Practice:

  1. The English East India Company secured a charter granting it the sole right to trade with the East from which ruler?
    (a) Queen Victoria
    (b) King James I
    (c) Queen Elizabeth I
    (d) King Charles II

  2. The Battle of Plassey was fought in which year?
    (a) 1764
    (b) 1757
    (c) 1765
    (d) 1772

  3. Who was the Nawab of Bengal during the Battle of Plassey?
    (a) Mir Jafar
    (b) Murshid Quli Khan
    (c) Alivardi Khan
    (d) Siraj-ud-daulah

  4. The right to collect revenue (Diwani) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa was granted to the EIC by which Mughal Emperor?
    (a) Aurangzeb
    (b) Bahadur Shah Zafar
    (c) Shah Alam II
    (d) Akbar II

  5. Which Governor-General introduced the policy of Subsidiary Alliance?
    (a) Lord Dalhousie
    (b) Warren Hastings
    (c) Lord Wellesley
    (d) Robert Clive

  6. Tipu Sultan, known as the 'Tiger of Mysore', died fighting the British in which Anglo-Mysore War?
    (a) First Anglo-Mysore War
    (b) Second Anglo-Mysore War
    (c) Third Anglo-Mysore War
    (d) Fourth Anglo-Mysore War

  7. The policy of 'Doctrine of Lapse' was used to annex several states. Which of the following was annexed using this policy?
    (a) Awadh
    (b) Punjab
    (c) Satara
    (d) Mysore

  8. Under the new system of justice introduced by Warren Hastings, the criminal court in each district was known as:
    (a) Diwani Adalat
    (b) Faujdari Adalat
    (c) Sadar Nizamat Adalat
    (d) Supreme Court

  9. The first English factory (trading post) in India was set up on the banks of which river in 1651?
    (a) Ganga
    (b) Yamuna
    (c) Hugli
    (d) Narmada

  10. The Battle of Buxar (1764) was significant because:
    (a) It was the first major victory for the EIC in India.
    (b) It led to Mir Jafar becoming the Nawab.
    (c) It resulted in the EIC acquiring the Diwani rights of Bengal.
    (d) It ended the French challenge to the EIC in India.

Answer Key:

  1. (c)
  2. (b)
  3. (d)
  4. (c)
  5. (c)
  6. (d)
  7. (c) (Note: Awadh was annexed for misgovernance, not Lapse)
  8. (b)
  9. (c)
  10. (c) (While Plassey was the first major political victory, Buxar led directly to the grant of Diwani rights, solidifying financial and administrative control).

Study these notes thoroughly. Understanding the sequence of events and the different strategies used by the Company is key. Let me know if any part needs further clarification!

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