Selina Textbook Solutions: The Great Uprising of 1857 | History Class 8 ICSE PDF Download

 Page 1


The Great Uprising of 1857 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. By his policy of Doctrine of Lapse Lord Dalhousie annexed Nagpur and Jhansi. 
2. Rani Laxmibai captured Gwalior with Tantya Tope’s help. 
3. In Lucknow Hazrat Mahal led the revolt. 
4. The rebels proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar as the emperor of India. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
Column A                                  Column B 
 
Answer: 
Column A                                          Column B 
 
 
III. State whether the following statements are True or Filse: 
1. Awadh was annexed on the ground of malad-ministration. 
True 
2. The British supported Sati. 
False. 
3. The Indian soldiers were given lesser salary as compared to their British 
counterparts. 
 True. 
4. The Revolt of 1857 did not involve the masses. 
True. 
 
Page 2


The Great Uprising of 1857 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. By his policy of Doctrine of Lapse Lord Dalhousie annexed Nagpur and Jhansi. 
2. Rani Laxmibai captured Gwalior with Tantya Tope’s help. 
3. In Lucknow Hazrat Mahal led the revolt. 
4. The rebels proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar as the emperor of India. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
Column A                                  Column B 
 
Answer: 
Column A                                          Column B 
 
 
III. State whether the following statements are True or Filse: 
1. Awadh was annexed on the ground of malad-ministration. 
True 
2. The British supported Sati. 
False. 
3. The Indian soldiers were given lesser salary as compared to their British 
counterparts. 
 True. 
4. The Revolt of 1857 did not involve the masses. 
True. 
 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
How were the economic policies of the British responsible for the Revolt of 1857? 
Answer: 
The British had changed the entire economic structure of India. 
1. Introduction of the new land revenue system which allowed the government to 
confiscate land and accept revenue in cash caused and suffering to the Indian 
peasants. 
2. Due to Industrial Revolution markets were flooded with machine made goods. 
Indian Industries could not compete with them and thus declined. 
3. When an Indian state was annexed, the administration was replaced by the 
company. This created unemployment and caused resentment. 
Question 2. 
Discuss the social and religious causes responsible for the Revolt of 1857. 
Answer: 
1. British advocated many reforms such as abolition of Sati, female infanticide, child 
marriage, widow remarriage. This caused discontent all over. These reforms were 
interpreted by Indians as interference in their religious and social customs. 
2. Introduction of Railways and telegraph was viewed with fear and suspicion. 
3. Introduction of western Education was viewed as an attack on Indian social and 
religious customs. 
4. Policy of racial discrimination practiced by British led to anger and resentment. 
Question 3. 
Why do you think the Revolt of 1857 failed? Discuss four, causes for its failure. 
Answer: 
1. Though it was wide spread it failed to involve all sections of the population. 
2. The revolt did not involve the masses. Only those people joined revolt who had 
been adversely affected by the British. Scindia, Holkar, Raja of Jodhpur did not 
join it. Instead they supported the British. Merchants, western educated middle 
class did not join it. 
3. The British soldiers were better equipped. Indians had outdated weapons. The 
British had experienced and competent Generals. Indian leaders lacked this 
expertise. 
4. The revolutionaries did not have enough resources. The British were stronger 
financially and militarily. 
5. The revolt was not planned and organised. 
6. The British had the advantage of post and telegraph. This helped them to 
communicate and exchange messages, plan strategies and act immediately. 
Page 3


The Great Uprising of 1857 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. By his policy of Doctrine of Lapse Lord Dalhousie annexed Nagpur and Jhansi. 
2. Rani Laxmibai captured Gwalior with Tantya Tope’s help. 
3. In Lucknow Hazrat Mahal led the revolt. 
4. The rebels proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar as the emperor of India. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
Column A                                  Column B 
 
Answer: 
Column A                                          Column B 
 
 
III. State whether the following statements are True or Filse: 
1. Awadh was annexed on the ground of malad-ministration. 
True 
2. The British supported Sati. 
False. 
3. The Indian soldiers were given lesser salary as compared to their British 
counterparts. 
 True. 
4. The Revolt of 1857 did not involve the masses. 
True. 
 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
How were the economic policies of the British responsible for the Revolt of 1857? 
Answer: 
The British had changed the entire economic structure of India. 
1. Introduction of the new land revenue system which allowed the government to 
confiscate land and accept revenue in cash caused and suffering to the Indian 
peasants. 
2. Due to Industrial Revolution markets were flooded with machine made goods. 
Indian Industries could not compete with them and thus declined. 
3. When an Indian state was annexed, the administration was replaced by the 
company. This created unemployment and caused resentment. 
Question 2. 
Discuss the social and religious causes responsible for the Revolt of 1857. 
Answer: 
1. British advocated many reforms such as abolition of Sati, female infanticide, child 
marriage, widow remarriage. This caused discontent all over. These reforms were 
interpreted by Indians as interference in their religious and social customs. 
2. Introduction of Railways and telegraph was viewed with fear and suspicion. 
3. Introduction of western Education was viewed as an attack on Indian social and 
religious customs. 
4. Policy of racial discrimination practiced by British led to anger and resentment. 
Question 3. 
Why do you think the Revolt of 1857 failed? Discuss four, causes for its failure. 
Answer: 
1. Though it was wide spread it failed to involve all sections of the population. 
2. The revolt did not involve the masses. Only those people joined revolt who had 
been adversely affected by the British. Scindia, Holkar, Raja of Jodhpur did not 
join it. Instead they supported the British. Merchants, western educated middle 
class did not join it. 
3. The British soldiers were better equipped. Indians had outdated weapons. The 
British had experienced and competent Generals. Indian leaders lacked this 
expertise. 
4. The revolutionaries did not have enough resources. The British were stronger 
financially and militarily. 
5. The revolt was not planned and organised. 
6. The British had the advantage of post and telegraph. This helped them to 
communicate and exchange messages, plan strategies and act immediately. 
Question 4. 
Discuss the nature of the Uprising/Revolt of 1857. 
Answer: 
There are divergent view regarding the nature of the outbreak of 1857. British historians 
have called it a Mutiny – confined to the army which did not command the support of the 
people at large. 
Same view was held by .contemporary Indians like Munshi Jiwan Lai, Moinuddin, (Both 
eye witnesses at Delhi) and Durgadas Bandopadhyaya. Others have described it as 
racial struggle for supremacy between the Black and White. Some describe it as a 
struggle between oriental and occidental civilisation and culture. 
A few have described it as Hindu-Muslim conspiracy to overthrow the British rule. Some 
Indian have called it a “well planned struggle” and as “the first war of Indian 
Independence”. 
V. Give reasons why: 
1. State of Awadh was annexed by the British. 
Ans. The state of Awadh was annexed on account of maladministration. 
2. Indian artisans, weavers and craftsmen lost their means of livelihood. 
Ans. With the coming of Industrial Revolution markets were flooded with machine made 
goods. Indian Industries could not compete 
3.The Indian sepoys refused to bite the cartridges of the Enfield rifle. 
Ans. The Indian sepoys refused to bite the cartridges of the Enfield rifle as it was 
rumoured that these cartridges were greased with the fat of cows and pigs. This 
enraged the Hindus and Muslims as the cow is a holy animal of Hindus and the pig is 
considered taboo for the Muslims. 
VI. Picture Study – 
The picture shows the revolt of 1857 
 
Page 4


The Great Uprising of 1857 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. By his policy of Doctrine of Lapse Lord Dalhousie annexed Nagpur and Jhansi. 
2. Rani Laxmibai captured Gwalior with Tantya Tope’s help. 
3. In Lucknow Hazrat Mahal led the revolt. 
4. The rebels proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar as the emperor of India. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
Column A                                  Column B 
 
Answer: 
Column A                                          Column B 
 
 
III. State whether the following statements are True or Filse: 
1. Awadh was annexed on the ground of malad-ministration. 
True 
2. The British supported Sati. 
False. 
3. The Indian soldiers were given lesser salary as compared to their British 
counterparts. 
 True. 
4. The Revolt of 1857 did not involve the masses. 
True. 
 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
How were the economic policies of the British responsible for the Revolt of 1857? 
Answer: 
The British had changed the entire economic structure of India. 
1. Introduction of the new land revenue system which allowed the government to 
confiscate land and accept revenue in cash caused and suffering to the Indian 
peasants. 
2. Due to Industrial Revolution markets were flooded with machine made goods. 
Indian Industries could not compete with them and thus declined. 
3. When an Indian state was annexed, the administration was replaced by the 
company. This created unemployment and caused resentment. 
Question 2. 
Discuss the social and religious causes responsible for the Revolt of 1857. 
Answer: 
1. British advocated many reforms such as abolition of Sati, female infanticide, child 
marriage, widow remarriage. This caused discontent all over. These reforms were 
interpreted by Indians as interference in their religious and social customs. 
2. Introduction of Railways and telegraph was viewed with fear and suspicion. 
3. Introduction of western Education was viewed as an attack on Indian social and 
religious customs. 
4. Policy of racial discrimination practiced by British led to anger and resentment. 
Question 3. 
Why do you think the Revolt of 1857 failed? Discuss four, causes for its failure. 
Answer: 
1. Though it was wide spread it failed to involve all sections of the population. 
2. The revolt did not involve the masses. Only those people joined revolt who had 
been adversely affected by the British. Scindia, Holkar, Raja of Jodhpur did not 
join it. Instead they supported the British. Merchants, western educated middle 
class did not join it. 
3. The British soldiers were better equipped. Indians had outdated weapons. The 
British had experienced and competent Generals. Indian leaders lacked this 
expertise. 
4. The revolutionaries did not have enough resources. The British were stronger 
financially and militarily. 
5. The revolt was not planned and organised. 
6. The British had the advantage of post and telegraph. This helped them to 
communicate and exchange messages, plan strategies and act immediately. 
Question 4. 
Discuss the nature of the Uprising/Revolt of 1857. 
Answer: 
There are divergent view regarding the nature of the outbreak of 1857. British historians 
have called it a Mutiny – confined to the army which did not command the support of the 
people at large. 
Same view was held by .contemporary Indians like Munshi Jiwan Lai, Moinuddin, (Both 
eye witnesses at Delhi) and Durgadas Bandopadhyaya. Others have described it as 
racial struggle for supremacy between the Black and White. Some describe it as a 
struggle between oriental and occidental civilisation and culture. 
A few have described it as Hindu-Muslim conspiracy to overthrow the British rule. Some 
Indian have called it a “well planned struggle” and as “the first war of Indian 
Independence”. 
V. Give reasons why: 
1. State of Awadh was annexed by the British. 
Ans. The state of Awadh was annexed on account of maladministration. 
2. Indian artisans, weavers and craftsmen lost their means of livelihood. 
Ans. With the coming of Industrial Revolution markets were flooded with machine made 
goods. Indian Industries could not compete 
3.The Indian sepoys refused to bite the cartridges of the Enfield rifle. 
Ans. The Indian sepoys refused to bite the cartridges of the Enfield rifle as it was 
rumoured that these cartridges were greased with the fat of cows and pigs. This 
enraged the Hindus and Muslims as the cow is a holy animal of Hindus and the pig is 
considered taboo for the Muslims. 
VI. Picture Study – 
The picture shows the revolt of 1857 
 
Question 1. 
How far were the greased catridges responsible for the Revolt? 
Answer: 
It was an immediate cause which supplied the spark to ignite diy firewood awaiting to be 
ignited. Other causes like oppressive economic policy, aggressive annexation policy, 
religious social interference by the British were already there waiting to be triggered into 
Revolt. This was provided by the rumour that cartridges were greased with the fat of 
cow and pig and hence this enraged the Hindus and Muslims. 
Question 2. 
Give your opinion as to how the Revolt would have been successful. 
Answer: 
It would have been successful if it had been well organised and well planned or if it had 
involved the masses. It would have been successful if merchants, educated middle 
class and zamindars had supported it and the Indian soldiers had better weapons and 
goods generals. 
Additional Questions 
A. Fill in the blanks: 
1. Dalhousie annexed the states of Satara, Nagpur, and Jhansi on the basis of the 
Doctrine of Lapse. 
2. Prior to the outbreak of the Revolt, Bahadur Shah Zafar lived in Delhi as 
a Pensioner of the British. 
3. The Revolt of 1857 started as a Mutiny of the sepoys. 
4. The immediate cause of the Revolt was the issue of the greased cartridges. 
5. The Revolt ended the rule of the English East India Company. 
B. Match the following: 
 
 
Page 5


The Great Uprising of 1857 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. By his policy of Doctrine of Lapse Lord Dalhousie annexed Nagpur and Jhansi. 
2. Rani Laxmibai captured Gwalior with Tantya Tope’s help. 
3. In Lucknow Hazrat Mahal led the revolt. 
4. The rebels proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar as the emperor of India. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
Column A                                  Column B 
 
Answer: 
Column A                                          Column B 
 
 
III. State whether the following statements are True or Filse: 
1. Awadh was annexed on the ground of malad-ministration. 
True 
2. The British supported Sati. 
False. 
3. The Indian soldiers were given lesser salary as compared to their British 
counterparts. 
 True. 
4. The Revolt of 1857 did not involve the masses. 
True. 
 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
How were the economic policies of the British responsible for the Revolt of 1857? 
Answer: 
The British had changed the entire economic structure of India. 
1. Introduction of the new land revenue system which allowed the government to 
confiscate land and accept revenue in cash caused and suffering to the Indian 
peasants. 
2. Due to Industrial Revolution markets were flooded with machine made goods. 
Indian Industries could not compete with them and thus declined. 
3. When an Indian state was annexed, the administration was replaced by the 
company. This created unemployment and caused resentment. 
Question 2. 
Discuss the social and religious causes responsible for the Revolt of 1857. 
Answer: 
1. British advocated many reforms such as abolition of Sati, female infanticide, child 
marriage, widow remarriage. This caused discontent all over. These reforms were 
interpreted by Indians as interference in their religious and social customs. 
2. Introduction of Railways and telegraph was viewed with fear and suspicion. 
3. Introduction of western Education was viewed as an attack on Indian social and 
religious customs. 
4. Policy of racial discrimination practiced by British led to anger and resentment. 
Question 3. 
Why do you think the Revolt of 1857 failed? Discuss four, causes for its failure. 
Answer: 
1. Though it was wide spread it failed to involve all sections of the population. 
2. The revolt did not involve the masses. Only those people joined revolt who had 
been adversely affected by the British. Scindia, Holkar, Raja of Jodhpur did not 
join it. Instead they supported the British. Merchants, western educated middle 
class did not join it. 
3. The British soldiers were better equipped. Indians had outdated weapons. The 
British had experienced and competent Generals. Indian leaders lacked this 
expertise. 
4. The revolutionaries did not have enough resources. The British were stronger 
financially and militarily. 
5. The revolt was not planned and organised. 
6. The British had the advantage of post and telegraph. This helped them to 
communicate and exchange messages, plan strategies and act immediately. 
Question 4. 
Discuss the nature of the Uprising/Revolt of 1857. 
Answer: 
There are divergent view regarding the nature of the outbreak of 1857. British historians 
have called it a Mutiny – confined to the army which did not command the support of the 
people at large. 
Same view was held by .contemporary Indians like Munshi Jiwan Lai, Moinuddin, (Both 
eye witnesses at Delhi) and Durgadas Bandopadhyaya. Others have described it as 
racial struggle for supremacy between the Black and White. Some describe it as a 
struggle between oriental and occidental civilisation and culture. 
A few have described it as Hindu-Muslim conspiracy to overthrow the British rule. Some 
Indian have called it a “well planned struggle” and as “the first war of Indian 
Independence”. 
V. Give reasons why: 
1. State of Awadh was annexed by the British. 
Ans. The state of Awadh was annexed on account of maladministration. 
2. Indian artisans, weavers and craftsmen lost their means of livelihood. 
Ans. With the coming of Industrial Revolution markets were flooded with machine made 
goods. Indian Industries could not compete 
3.The Indian sepoys refused to bite the cartridges of the Enfield rifle. 
Ans. The Indian sepoys refused to bite the cartridges of the Enfield rifle as it was 
rumoured that these cartridges were greased with the fat of cows and pigs. This 
enraged the Hindus and Muslims as the cow is a holy animal of Hindus and the pig is 
considered taboo for the Muslims. 
VI. Picture Study – 
The picture shows the revolt of 1857 
 
Question 1. 
How far were the greased catridges responsible for the Revolt? 
Answer: 
It was an immediate cause which supplied the spark to ignite diy firewood awaiting to be 
ignited. Other causes like oppressive economic policy, aggressive annexation policy, 
religious social interference by the British were already there waiting to be triggered into 
Revolt. This was provided by the rumour that cartridges were greased with the fat of 
cow and pig and hence this enraged the Hindus and Muslims. 
Question 2. 
Give your opinion as to how the Revolt would have been successful. 
Answer: 
It would have been successful if it had been well organised and well planned or if it had 
involved the masses. It would have been successful if merchants, educated middle 
class and zamindars had supported it and the Indian soldiers had better weapons and 
goods generals. 
Additional Questions 
A. Fill in the blanks: 
1. Dalhousie annexed the states of Satara, Nagpur, and Jhansi on the basis of the 
Doctrine of Lapse. 
2. Prior to the outbreak of the Revolt, Bahadur Shah Zafar lived in Delhi as 
a Pensioner of the British. 
3. The Revolt of 1857 started as a Mutiny of the sepoys. 
4. The immediate cause of the Revolt was the issue of the greased cartridges. 
5. The Revolt ended the rule of the English East India Company. 
B. Match the following: 
 
 
Answer: 
 
 
C. Choose the correct answer: 
1. When Awadh/Nagpur/Jhansi was annexed, the estates of the zamindars and 
talukdars were confiscated by the British. 
Ans. When Awadh was annexed, the estates of the zamindars and talukdars were 
confiscated by the British. 
2. The rumour regarding greased cartidges started in Madras/ Calcutta/Delhi. 
Ans. The rumour regarding greased cartidges started in Calcutta. 
3. Mangal Pandey was a sepoy at Barrackpore/Nagpur/Satara, who refused to use the 
greased cartidges in 1857. 
Ans. Mangal Pandey was a sepoy at Barrackpore, who refused to use the greased 
cartidges in 1857. 
4.The Revolt in Lucknow/Meerut/Kanpur was led by Nana Saheb. 
Ans. The Revolt in Kanpur was led by Nana Saheb. 
5. Nana Saheb/Hazrat Mahal/Rani Lakshmibai led the Revolt in Lucknow. 
Ans. Hazrat Mahal led the Revolt in Lucknow. 
D. State whether the following are true or false: 
1. Indian rulers were quite satisfied with Lord Dalhousie’s expansionist policies. 
False. 
Correct: Indian rulers were dissatisfied with Lord Dalhousies expansionist policies. 
2. Peasants benefitted from the land revenue system of the British. 
False. 
Correct : Peasants were not benefitted from the land revenue system of the 
British. 
3. Social reforms such as the abolition of sati and female infanticide, and the Widow 
Remarriage Act caused deep resentment among the orthodox sections of society. 
True.