Case Study Based Questions: When People Rebel (1857 and After) | Social Studies (SST) Class 8 PDF Download

Case Study 1

Since the mid-eighteenth century, nawabs and rajas had seen their power erode. They had gradually lost their authority and honour. Residents had been stationed in many courts, the freedom of the rulers reduced, their armed forces disbanded, and their revenues and territories taken away by stages. Many ruling families tried to negotiate with the Company to protect their interests. For example, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi wanted the Company to recognise her adopted son as the heir to the kingdom after the death of her husband. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, pleaded that he be given his father’s pension when the latter died. However, the Company, confident of its superiority and military powers, turned down these pleas. Awadh was one of the last territories to be annexed. In 1801, a subsidiary alliance was imposed on Awadh, and in 1856 it was taken over. Governor-General Dalhousie declared that the territory was being misgoverned and British rule was needed to ensure proper administration. The Company even began to plan how to bring the Mughal dynasty to an end. The name of the Mughal king was removed from the coins minted by the Company. In 1849, Governor-General Dalhousie announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place in Delhi to reside in. In 1856, Governor-General Canning decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal king and after his death none of his descendants would be recognised as kings – they would just be called princes.

Question and Answer: 1 Mark

Q1: Who was the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II?
Ans: Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II.

Q2: Who decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal King?
Ans: In 1856, Governor-General Canning decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal king.

Question and Answer: 2 Mark

Q1: In 1849, what did Governor-general Dalhousi announce?
Ans: In 1849, Governor-General Dalhousie announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place in Delhi to reside in.

Q2: What did Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi want?
Ans: Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi wanted the Company to recognise her adopted son as the heir to the kingdom after the death of her husband.

Case Study 2

In the countryside, peasants and zamindars resented the high taxes and the rigid methods of revenue collection. Many failed to pay back their loans to the moneylenders and gradually lost the lands they had tilled for generations. The Indian sepoys in the employ of the Company also had reasons for discontent. They were unhappy about their pay, allowances and conditions of service. Some of the new rules, moreover, violated their religious sensibilities and beliefs. Did you know that in those days many people in the country believed that if they crossed the sea they would lose their religion and caste?

So when in 1824, the sepoys were told to go to Burma by the sea route to fight for the Company, they refused to follow the order, though they agreed to go by the land route. They were severely punished, and since the issue did not die down, in 1856 the Company passed a new law which stated that every new person who took up employment in the Company’s army had to agree to serve overseas if required. Sepoys also reacted to what was happening in the countryside. Many of them were peasants and had families living in the villages. So the anger of the peasants quickly spread among the sepoys.

Another account we have from those days are the memoirs of Subedar Sitaram Pande. Sitaram Pande was recruited in 1812 as a sepoy in the Bengal Native Army. He served the English for 48 years and retired in 1860. He helped the British to suppress the rebellion though his own son was a rebel and was killed by the British in front of his eyes.

On retirement he was persuaded by his Commanding Officer, Norgate, to write his memoirs. He completed the writing in 1861 in Awadhi and Norgate translated it into English and had it published under the title From Sepoy to Subedar.

Here is an excerpt from what Sitaram Pande wrote:

It is my humble opinion that this seizing of Oudh filled the minds of the

Sepoys with distrust and led them to plot against the Government.

Agents of the Nawab of Oudh and also of the King of Delhi were sent all over India to discover the temper of the army. They worked upon the feelings of sepoys, telling them how treacherously the foreigners had behaved towards their king. They invented ten thousand lies and promises to persuade the soldiers to mutiny and turn against their masters, the English, with the object of restoring the Emperor of Delhi to the throne. They maintained that this was wholly within the army’s powers if the soldiers would only act together and do as they were advised.On the evening of 3 July 1857, over 3,000 rebels came from Bareilly, crossed the river Jamuna, entered Delhi, and attacked the British cavalry posts. The battle continued all through the night.

Question and Answer: 1 Mark

Q1: When the sepoys were told to go to Burma?
Ans: In 1824, the sepoys were told to go to Burma.

Q2: When did the company pass a new law for the employees?
Ans: In 1856 the Company passed a new law for the employees.

Question and Answer: 2 Mark

Q1: When Sitaram Pande was recruited? And for how many years did he serve?
Ans: Sitaram Pande was recruited in 1812 as a sepoy in the Bengal Native Army. He served the English for 48 years.

Q2: What happened on the evening of 3rd  July,1857?
Ans: On the evening of 3 July 1857, over 3,000 rebels came from Bareilly, crossed the river Jamuna, entered Delhi, and attacked the British cavalry posts. The battle continued all through the night.

Case Study 3

On 8 April 1857, a young soldier, Mangal Pandey, was hanged to death for attacking his officers in Barrackpore. Some days later, some sepoys of the regiment at Meerut refused to do the army drill using the new cartridges, which were suspected of being coated with the fat of cows and pigs. Eighty-five sepoys were dismissed from service and sentenced to ten years in jail for disobeying their officers. This happened on 9 May 1857. The response of the other Indian soldiers in Meerut was quite extraordinary. On 10 May, the soldiers marched to the jail in Meerut and released the imprisoned sepoys. They attacked and killed British officers. They captured guns and ammunition and set fire to the buildings and properties of the British and declared war on the firangis. The soldiers were determined to bring an end to their rule in the country. But who would rule the land instead? The soldiers had an answer to this question – the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. Unnerved by the scale of the upheaval, the Company decided to repress the revolt with all its might. It brought reinforcements from England, passed new laws so that the rebels could be convicted with ease, and then moved into the storm centres of the revolt. Delhi was recaptured from the rebel forces in September 1857. The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar was tried in court and sentenced to life imprisonment. He and his wife Begum Zinat Mahal were sent to prison in Rangoon in October 1858. Bahadur Shah Zafar died in the Rangoon jail in November 1862. The recapture of Delhi, however, did not mean that the rebellion died down after that. People continued to resist and battle the British. The British had to fight for two years to suppress the massive forces of popular rebellion. Lucknow was taken in March 1858. Rani Lakshmibai was defeated and killed in June 1858. A similar fate awaited Rani Avantibai, who after initial victory in Kheri, chose to embrace death when surrounded by the British on all sides. Tantia Tope escaped to the jungles of central India and continued to fight a guerrilla war with the support of many tribal and peasant leaders. He was captured, tried and killed in April 1859. Just as victories against the British had earlier encouraged rebellion, the defeat of rebel forces encouraged desertions. The British also tried their best to win back the loyalty of the people. They announced rewards for loyal landholders would be allowed to continue to enjoy traditional rights over their lands. Those who had rebelled were told that if they submitted to the British, and if they had not killed any white people, they would remain safe and their rights and claims to land would not be denied. Nevertheless, hundreds of sepoys, rebels, nawabs and rajas were tried and hanged.

Question and Answer: 1 Mark

Q1: When Mangal Pandey was hanged to death?
Ans: On 8 April 1857, a young soldier, Mangal Pandey, was hanged to death.

Q2: What is the meaning of ‘Firangis’?
Ans: The meaning of ‘Firangis’ is Foreigners. The term reflects an attitude of contempt.

Question and Answer: 1 Mark

Q1: Who was the last Mughal emperor? And when did he die?
Ans: Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last Mughal emperor. Bahadur Shah Zafar died in the Rangoon jail in November 1862.

Q2: Where did Tantia Tope escape? And when was he captured?
Ans: Tantia Tope escaped to the jungles of central India and continued to fight a guerrilla war with the support of many tribal and peasant leaders. He was captured, tried and killed in April 1859.

Case Study 4

The way in which people are spread across the earth surface is known as the pattern of population distribution. More than 90 per cent of the world’s population lives in about 30 per cent of the land surface. The distribution of population in the world is extremely uneven. Some areas are very crowded and some are sparely populated. The crowded areas are south and south east Asia, Europe and north eastern North America. Very few people live in high latitude areas, tropical deserts, high mountains and areas of equatorial forests. Many more people live north of the Equator than south of the Equator. Almost three-quarters of the world’s people live in two continents Asia and Africa.

Q1: What does “population distribution” mean, and why is it viewed as being uneven globally?
Ans: Distribution of people across the Earth’s surface is commonly referred as “Population”. It is uneven because more than 90% of the world’s population occupies approximately 30% of its land surface, resulting in densely populated areas in some areas and sparsely populated areas in others.

Q2: Describe the most densely populated areas of the world and state some   factors which contribute to this density.`1      
Ans: South and Southeast Asia, Europe, and northeastern North America are among the continents with the densest populations. People are drawn to settle in these areas because of things like rich agricultural lands, easy access to resources, developed infrastructure, and urbanisation, which results in high population densities.

Q3: Why are some places with low population density, like high latitude areas and tropical deserts?
Ans: Due to harsh environmental conditions, restricted resource availability, and difficulties in agriculture and human habitation, high latitude regions and tropical deserts have low population densities. In these areas, large human settlements are discouraged by the harsh climates and inadequate infrastructure.

Q4: State the role of equator in determining the residence of people on earth.
Ans: The Equator influences population distribution because there are significantly more people living north of the Equator than south of it. This has occurred as a result of historical and geographic circumstances such as the existence of significant civilizations and favourable climatic conditions for settlement in the northern hemisphere.

Q5: How can addressing demographic issues and making plans for sustainable development be made easier with an understanding of the population distribution pattern?
Ans: Planning for sustainable development and addressing demographic issues require an understanding of the population distribution pattern. It aids in the efficient resource allocation, infrastructure design, and implementation of policies to control population growth, ensure equitable regional development, and address issues with overcrowding and underdevelopment.

Case Study 5

Topography: People always prefer to live on plains rather than mountains and plateaus because these areas are suitable for farming, manufacturing and service activities. The Ganga plains are the most densely populated areas of the world while mountains like Andes, Alps and Himalayas are sparsely populated. Climate: People usually avoid extreme climates that are very hot or very cold like Sahara desert, polar regions of Russia, Canada and Antarctica. Soil: Fertile soils provide suitable land for agriculture. Fertile plains such as Ganga and Brahmaputra in India, Hwang-He, Chang Jiang in China and the Nile in Egypt are densely populated.

Q1: Why do people favour plains over mountains and plateaus for settlement, and how does this preference affect population distribution?
Ans: Because they are good for farming, manufacturing, and service industries, people prefer to live on plains.Because of their fertile and ideal agricultural conditions, the Ganga plains are likely to have the world’s densest population. Mountains, on the other hand, have a low population density due to their difficult terrain and limited agricultural potential. These regions include the Andes, Alps, and Himalayas.

Q2: How does climate influence where people live, and why do people avoid harsh climates?
Ans: People typically steer clear of extreme climates because of the difficulties they present for habitation and agricultural endeavours, such as the Sahara Desert, the polar regions of Russia, Canada, and Antarctica. Climates that are comfortable and moderate are better for settling and population growth.

Q3: Describe how fertile soil affects population distribution and give instances of densely populated regions with fertile plains.
Ans: Agriculture, which is essential for human settlements, is supported by fertile soils. Due to their rich agricultural potential and historical significance, regions like the Nile in Egypt, the Ganga and Brahmaputra plains in India, Hwang-He and Chang Jiang in China, and the Ganga and Brahmaputra plains in India are populated densely.

Q4: What effects do geographical elements like topography and climate have on the economic activity and development prospects of various regions?
Ans: The types of economic activities that can be pursued in various regions are influenced by geographic factors like topography and climate. Plains are ideal for farming, manufacturing, and services, which promotes economic growth and higher population densities. Economic opportunities and population density are restricted by harsh climates and challenging mountainous and plateau terrain.

Q5: What are the effects of population distribution patterns on resource management, infrastructure building, and urbanisation?

Ans: Population distribution patterns have significant implications for urbanisation, infrastructure development, and resource management. People’s concentration in densely populated areas necessitates well-planned cities and adequate infrastructure to meet the needs of the population. Sparsely populated areas, on the other hand, may face resource utilisation and development challenges due to limited demand and economic activity.

Case Study 6

In 1804, the world’s population reached one billion. A hundred and fifty five years later, in 1959, the world’s population reached 3 billion. This is often called population explosion. In 1999, 40 years later, the population doubled to 6 billion. The main reason for this growth was that with better food supplies and medicine, deaths were reducing, while the number of births still remained fairly high. Births are usually measured using the birth rate i.e. the number of live births per 1,000 people. Deaths are usually measured using the death rate i.e. the number of deaths per 1,000 people. Migrations is the movement of people in and out of an area.

Q1: State the concept of “population explosion” and what are some of the primary factors causing this rapid population growth?
Ans: The rapid and significant increase world’s population is often termed as “population explosion”. The primary reasons of this expansion were improvements in food supplies and medicine, which resulted in lower death rates while birth rates remained relatively high.

Q2: Describe the peak in population growth, such as when the world’s population reached one billion, three billion, and six billion.
Ans: In 1804, the world’s population was one billion, three billion in 1959, and six billion in 1999. These landmarks demonstrate the global population’s exponential growth over time.

Q3: Describe the factors which influence population change ,except natural growth?
Ans: Aside from natural growth (births minus deaths), migration, or the movement of people into and out of an area, is another factor influencing population changes.

Q4: How have medical advances and improved food supplies affected population growth, and what challenges do countries face as a result of population growth?
Ans: Population growth has been facilitated by improvements in food availability and medical technology. Population growth can, however, put a strain on infrastructure and resources and present difficulties in providing for a growing population’s needs, such as food, housing, and employment, which countries must address for long-term development.

Case Study 7

Migration is another way by which population size changes. People may move within a country or between countries. Emigrants are people who leave a country; Immigrants are those who arrive in a country. Countries like the United States of America and Australia have gained in-numbers by in-migration or immigration. Sudan is an example of a country that has experienced a loss in population numbers due to out-migration or emigration. The general trend of international migrations is from the less developed nations to the more developed nations in search of better employment opportunities. Within countries large number of people may move from the rural to urban areas in search of employment, education and health facilities.

Q1: Define migration and explain it’s affect on population size both within and between countries.
Ans: Migration is the act through which individuals move from one area to another, either within the boundaries of a nation (internal migration) or between countries (international migration). This relocation of people influences the size of populations which eventually causes population  growth in the countries of arrival (immigration) and therefore leading population decline in the countries of departure (emigration).

Q2: Give some examples of countries which experienced a rapid increase in  population due to immigration and countries which experienced population decline due to emigration.
Ans: Countries including the United States of America and Australia faced major growth in population through immigration, attracting people from all over the world. Whereas, a country like Sudan is an example of a  population decline as people emigrate to other countries in search of better opportunities.

Q3: State some of the difficulties and advantages of migration ?
Ans: Migration can pose difficulties for sending countries, such as labour shortages and the loss of skilled workers. At the same time, receiving countries may face issues with integration, cultural diversity, and social cohesion. However, migration has advantages such as a diverse workforce, cultural enrichment, and potential economic contributions to both sending and receiving countries.