Methods Used by the British to Annex Indian Kingdoms
The Doctrine of Lapse was a policy introduced by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India from 1848-1856. According to this policy, any Indian prince or ruler who did not have a male heir would have his kingdom annexed by the British East India Company. This policy was used to annex Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur, and several other Indian states.
In some cases, the British annexed Indian kingdoms directly without any pretext. For example, the British annexed the kingdom of Awadh in 1856, citing misrule and mismanagement as the reasons behind their decision. The annexation of Awadh was met with widespread protests and was one of the main causes of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
- Subsidiary Alliance System
The Subsidiary Alliance System was a policy introduced by Lord Wellesley, the Governor-General of India from 1798-1805. According to this policy, Indian rulers were required to pay for the maintenance of a British army stationed in their territory. In return, the British would provide protection to the ruler and his kingdom. This policy was used to annex several Indian states, including Hyderabad and Awadh.
The British used the Divide and Rule policy to create divisions among the Indian rulers and their subjects. They pitted one ruler against another and created rivalries between different communities. This policy was used to weaken the Indian states and make them easier to conquer and annex.
The British used treaties and diplomacy to annex Indian kingdoms. They signed treaties with Indian rulers that were often unfair and one-sided. These treaties were used to gain access to resources, territories, and markets. The British also used diplomacy to create alliances with Indian rulers and to isolate their enemies.