Class 5 SST Question Answers - The Revolt of 1857

Q1: Who were the first European traders to come to India, and what did they want from India?
Ans: The first European traders to come to India were the British, along with the Portuguese, Dutch, and French. They wanted to trade with India and take back Indian cloth and spices to Europe in exchange for goods from their countries.

Q2: How did the British become rulers of India?
Ans: The British cleverly took advantage of the disunity among Indian rulers, who were constantly fighting each other. Over time, the British East India Company gained political control over Indian states, and they gradually became the rulers.

Q3: What did the British traders export from India to England?
Ans: British traders exported raw materials from India to England for their factories. For example, they exported Indigo for dyeing mill cloth in England.

Q4: How did the British control the prices of Indian products?
Ans: The British traders determined the prices for Indian products, including silk, and Indian farmers and artisans had to sell their products to British traders at the rates fixed by the British.

Q5: Why did Indian handloom industry suffer losses during British rule?
Ans: Indian handloom industry suffered losses because it couldn't compete with cheap factory-made cloth imported by the British, which led to job losses for weavers.

Q6: What caused widespread unemployment and discontent among Indians during British rule?
Ans: The British rule led to widespread unemployment and discontent among Indians because many soldiers and civil employees were discharged by the East India Company, resulting in economic hardships.

Q7: What triggered the revolt of 1857, and why did it spread rapidly?
Ans: The revolt of 1857 was triggered when Indian soldiers were given cartridges greased with pig and cow fat, which offended both Hindu and Muslim soldiers. It spread rapidly because the soldiers refused to use these cartridges, and their discontent ignited a larger rebellion.

Q8: Who was declared the leader of the revolt of 1857, and where did it spread to?
Ans: Bahadur Shah, the last Mughal Emperor, was declared the leader of the revolt of 1857. The revolt spread to various parts of northern and central India.

Q9: Can you name some important leaders of the revolt of 1857 and where they led the revolt?
Ans: Yes, some important leaders of the revolt of 1857 include Rani Laxmi Bai, who led the revolt in Jhansi, Nana Sahib in Kanpur, Begum Hazrat Mahal in Lucknow, and Tantia Tope, the most loyal general of Nana Sahib.

Q10: What were the consequences of the revolt of 1857 for India?
Ans: Although the revolt of 1857 was suppressed, it inspired an urge among the Indian people to throw out British rule. The British government took direct control over India, and Indian princes retained their kingdoms but had to work under strict British control. Harassment of Indian people continued, and the battle for independence continued for the next 90 years.