Short Answer Questions: The Revolt of 1857

Q1: Who were the first European traders to come to India, and what did they want from India?
Ans: The Portuguese were the first European traders to reach India, followed by the Dutch, the British and the French. They wanted Indian goods such as cloth, spices and dyes to sell in Europe, and they traded European goods in return.

Q2: How did the British become rulers of India?
Ans: The British East India Company used the disunity among Indian rulers to its advantage. By making alliances, winning wars and signing unequal treaties, the Company gradually gained control over Indian states and then became the main ruler.

Q3: What did the British traders export from India to England?
Ans: The British exported raw materials from India to feed their factories in England. Examples include cotton, indigo for dyes and spices, which were sent to British mills and markets.

Q4: How did the British control the prices of Indian products?
Ans: British traders fixed the prices of Indian goods. Indian farmers and artisans had to sell their products at the prices set by the British, so they received little money for their work.

Q5: Why did Indian handloom industry suffer losses during British rule?
Ans: The Indian handloom industry could not compete with cheap, machine-made cloth imported from Britain. These imports flooded the Indian market, so many weavers lost their work and incomes.

Q6: What caused widespread unemployment and discontent among Indians during British rule?
Ans: Many soldiers (sepoys) and civil employees were dismissed by the East India Company, and traditional industries declined. This caused loss of jobs and poverty, which led to widespread unemployment and public discontent.

Q7: What triggered the revolt of 1857, and why did it spread rapidly?
Ans: The immediate trigger was the introduction of rifle cartridges rumoured to be greased with pig and cow fat, which offended both Hindu and Muslim soldiers. When the soldiers refused to use the cartridges, protests and punishments turned into mutiny. The revolt spread quickly because many soldiers and people were already angry about economic hardships and British policies.

Q8: Who was declared the leader of the revolt of 1857, and where did it spread to?
Ans: Bahadur Shah II (Bahadur Shah Zafar), the last Mughal Emperor, was declared the leader by the rebels in Delhi. The revolt spread to many parts of northern and central India, including places such as Meerut, Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow and Jhansi.

Q9: Can you name some important leaders of the revolt of 1857 and where they led the revolt?
Ans: Yes. Important leaders included Rani Laxmi Bai who led the fight in Jhansi, Nana Sahib who led in Kanpur, Begum Hazrat Mahal who led in Lucknow, and Tantia Tope who fought in several parts of central India and supported other leaders.

Q10: What were the consequences of the revolt of 1857 for India?
Ans: Although the revolt was suppressed, it created a strong desire for freedom among Indians. The British government took direct control of India from the East India Company, Indian princes kept their thrones but had to accept strict British control, and the struggle for independence continued for many decades.