by Overview of Chapter:
Causes of the First War of Independence
1) Political Causes
- Policy of Expansion and Annexation after Plassey (1757).
- Expansion by Outright Wars:
Battle of Buxar (1764), Anglo-Mysore Wars (1767–1799), Anglo-Maratha Wars (1775–1818), Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845–49) → annexation of Punjab (1849). - Subsidiary Alliance (Lord Wellesley): Indian rulers kept British troops, paid their expenses, lost independence, accepted Resident, gave up foreign relations.
- Doctrine of Lapse (Lord Dalhousie): annexation if no natural heir; states like Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur.
- Annexation of Awadh (1856) on the pretext of “misrule” → nobles, officials, soldiers, and common people affected.
- Disrespect to Bahadur Shah Zafar: reduced status; Mughal successors denied imperial privileges/titles.
- Nana Saheb grievance: British refused pension of Baji Rao II.
- Absentee Sovereignty: India ruled from England; wealth and decisions controlled by outsiders.
2) Socio-Religious Causes
- Interference with Social Customs: reforms created fear of religion being threatened.
- Modern Innovations: suspicion of railways and telegraph.
- Missionaries: fear of conversion to Christianity.
- Racial Discrimination: Europeans treated Indians as inferior, insulted them.
- Corruption in Administration: Company officials seen as corrupt, harming common people.
- Oppression of the Poor: harsh treatment, heavy burdens.
- Western Education fear: people felt it undermined traditional learning and promoted Christianity.
- Taxing Religious Places: hurt religious sentiments.
- Law of Property: fear that conversion could change inheritance/property rights.
3) Economic Causes
- Drain of Wealth: wealth moved from India to England.
- India forced to accept cheap machine-made British goods → fall of Indian handicrafts.
- Decay of Cottage Industries → artisans unemployed.
- Economic Decline of Peasantry: heavy land revenue, exploitation, loss of land.
- Inhuman Indigo Cultivation: peasants forced to grow indigo, punished brutally.
- Destruction of Landed Aristocracy: estates confiscated/sold; old elites weakened.
- Growing Unemployment: artisans + displaced groups lost livelihoods.
4) Military Causes
- General Service Enlistment Act (1856): fear of crossing seas (religion/caste taboo).
- Low Salaries: Indian soldiers paid far less than British soldiers.
- No Promotions: Indians blocked from higher posts.
- Reduction of Allowances: especially after annexations.
- Faulty Troop Distribution: strategic areas weak.
- British setbacks in wars encouraged belief that British could be defeated.
Immediate Cause
- Enfield Rifle (1856): cartridge had to be bitten open.
- Rumour: cartridge greased with cow and pig fat → hurt Hindu and Muslim sentiments.
- Result: refusal to use cartridges → uprising triggered.
Beginning and Spread (Key Events)
- Feb 26, 1857: unrest at Berhampur.
- March 29, 1857: Mangal Pandey at Barrackpore.
- May 9–10, 1857 (Meerut): sepoys punished; next day revolt; marched to Delhi.
- Delhi: Bahadur Shah Zafar declared Emperor; revolt spreads across regions.
- Major centres/leaders:
- Lucknow: Begum Hazrat Mahal
- Kanpur: Nana Saheb, Tantia Tope
- Jhansi/Gwalior: Rani Lakshmi Bai
- Bihar: Kunwar Singh
- Bareilly: Khan Bahadur Khan
- Faizabad: Maulvi Ahmadullah
Consequences (Results)
- Uprising shaken British rule → end of East India Company’s rule.
- Government of India Act, 1858: power transferred to British Crown.
- Post created: Secretary of State for India with Indian Council.
- Governor-General became Viceroy; Lord Canning first Viceroy under the Act.
- Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (Nov 1, 1858):
- Non-interference in religion
- Changes in princely relations and administration
Changes After 1857
- Policy of Divide and Rule strengthened; communal division encouraged.
- Racial Antagonism grew — social separation maintained.
- Army Reorganisation: more European troops, artillery under European control.
Why the Uprising Failed (Drawbacks)
- No central leadership, no uniform plan, poor coordination.
- Limited modern communication and resources.
- Many regions/princes remained loyal to British.
- British had superior money, weapons, trained army, and external support.
Nature of the War (Historians)
- Different views:
- Savarkar: War of Independence
- R.C. Majumdar: Planned national struggle
- S.N. Sen: began as Sepoy Mutiny, later widened
Multiple Choice Questions with Answers:
A. Basics + Background
1. The First War of Independence took place in:
A) 1757 B) 1857 C) 1885 D) 1905
Answer: B
2. The hundred years before 1857 mentioned in the chapter are from:
A) 1657–1757 B) 1757–1857 C) 1857–1957 D) 1764–1864
Answer: B
3. The British conquest of India began in the:
A) 16th century B) 17th century C) mid-18th century D) 20th century
Answer: C
4. The resentment against British rule culminated in 1857 with participation of:
A) Only kings B) Only soldiers C) peasants, artisans and soldiers D) only zamindars
Answer: C
B. Political Causes
5. The British policy of territorial expansion and gradual annexation started after:
A) Battle of Panipat B) Battle of Plassey (1757) C) Revolt of 1857 D) Partition of Bengal
Answer: B
6. One method used by the British for expansion was:
A) Cooperative federalism B) Outright wars C) Democracy D) Referendum
Answer: B
7. The Battle of Buxar was fought in:
A) 1757 B) 1764 C) 1856 D) 1849
Answer: B
8. The Anglo-Mysore Wars were fought during:
A) 1767–1799 B) 1845–49 C) 1775–1818 D) 1817–18
Answer: A
9. The Anglo-Maratha Wars were fought during:
A) 1767–1799 B) 1775–1818 C) 1845–49 D) 1817–18
Answer: B
10. The Anglo-Sikh Wars were fought during:
A) 1845–49 B) 1767–1799 C) 1775–1818 D) 1856–58
Answer: A
11. Punjab was annexed in:
A) 1856 B) 1849 C) 1818 D) 1764
Answer: B
12. Which of these regions are listed as acquired after the Third Anglo-Maratha War?
A) Assam and Bengal B) Deccan and Gujarat C) Nagpur and Jhansi D) Sindh and Punjab
Answer: B
13. Under Subsidiary Alliance, an Indian ruler had to:
A) Rule independently without interference
B) Keep British troops and pay for them
C) Stop paying revenue to the British
D) Form alliances with other Indian rulers
Answer: B
14. Who is associated with Subsidiary Alliance in the chapter?
A) Lord Dalhousie B) Lord Wellesley C) Lord Canning D) Warren Hastings
Answer: B
15. Under Subsidiary Alliance, Indian rulers generally:
A) Increased their army B) Kept European residents without consent
C) Became completely independent D) Gained foreign relations freedom
Answer: B
16. Doctrine of Lapse is associated with:
A) Lord Canning B) Lord Dalhousie C) Lord Wellesley D) Lord Cornwallis
Answer: B
17. According to the Doctrine of Lapse, a state could be annexed if:
A) It had no railways
B) The ruler did not have a natural heir
C) The ruler was popular
D) It produced indigo
Answer: B
18. Which of these states are listed as annexed through the Doctrine of Lapse?
A) Mysore, Kashmir, Bengal
B) Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur
C) Punjab, Sindh, Assam
D) Awadh, Bengal, Bihar
Answer: B
19. Awadh was annexed in:
A) 1849 B) 1853 C) 1856 D) 1858
Answer: C
20. Awadh was annexed on the pretext of:
A) famine B) alleged misrule C) indigo revolt D) foreign invasion
Answer: B
21. When Awadh was annexed, people suffered because:
A) They got more jobs
B) Many lost food, houses, and farms
C) Taxes were abolished
D) Soldiers got promotions
Answer: B
22. The Mughal ruler mentioned in the chapter is:
A) Akbar B) Aurangzeb C) Bahadur Shah Zafar D) Shah Jahan
Answer: C
23. Lord Dalhousie announced in 1849 that:
A) Mughal successors would rule India
B) Mughal successors would not be permitted to use the Red Fort
C) Awadh would be protected
D) Doctrine of Lapse would end
Answer: B
24. In 1856, Lord Canning announced that after Bahadur Shah’s death:
A) Mughal dynasty would expand
B) Mughal successors could use imperial titles
C) Mughal successors would lose imperial titles
D) Delhi would become capital
Answer: C
25. Nana Saheb was the adopted son of:
A) Tipu Sultan B) Baji Rao II C) Ranjit Singh D) Scindia
Answer: B
26. Nana Saheb’s grievance was mainly about:
A) land tax B) refusal of pension C) railway policy D) salt tax
Answer: B
27. “Absentee sovereignty” means:
A) Indians ruled themselves
B) British were ruling India from England
C) Mughal emperor ruled from Delhi
D) Governors were elected
Answer: B
C. Socio-Religious Causes
28. One socio-religious cause was British interference in:
A) sports B) social customs C) foreign trade only D) elections
Answer: B
29. Abolition of Sati is given as (year):
A) 1829 B) 1856 C) 1850 D) 1764
Answer: A
30. Widow Remarriage Act is given as (year):
A) 1829 B) 1856 C) 1849 D) 1858
Answer: B
31. People feared modern innovations such as:
A) printing and poetry B) railways and telegraph C) television D) satellites
Answer: B
32. Policy of racial discrimination means:
A) Indians got more high posts
B) Indians were treated as equals
C) Europeans considered themselves superior and insulted Indians
D) Indians were not allowed to farm
Answer: C
33. Corruption in administration is stated as:
A) only Indians were corrupt
B) only Europeans were corrupt
C) Company officials were corrupt and common people suffered
D) corruption did not exist
Answer: C
34. “Oppression of the poor” included practices like:
A) free education B) torture/flogging and heavy taxes C) voting rights D) equal pay
Answer: B
35. Missionaries became a cause because:
A) they closed courts
B) people feared forced conversion to Christianity
C) they promoted Indian languages
D) they ended land revenue
Answer: B
36. “Fear regarding Western education” rose because:
A) it supported Sanskrit only
B) people thought it would destroy traditional Hindu/Islamic studies and promote Christianity
C) it banned English
D) it increased old customs
Answer: B
37. Taxing religious places hurt:
A) only soldiers B) only British C) Indians’ religious sentiments D) only merchants
Answer: C
38. The “Law of Property” mentioned suggests:
A) converts lost all property
B) converts could inherit property, causing fear among Hindus
C) property tax was removed
D) zamindari was ended in 1850
Answer: B
D. Economic Causes
39. “Drain of wealth” means:
A) wealth flowed from Britain to India
B) wealth flowed from India to Britain
C) wealth stayed in villages
D) no trade happened
Answer: B
40. India was made to accept British goods that were:
A) costly and handmade
B) cheap and machine-made
C) banned in Britain
D) only agricultural
Answer: B
41. British policy led to decay of:
A) cottage industries and handicrafts
B) railways
C) modern banks
D) newspapers
Answer: A
42. Economic decline of peasantry happened mainly due to:
A) low taxes
B) heavy land revenue and exploitation
C) free loans
D) promotions in army
Answer: B
43. Inhuman treatment of Indigo cultivators involved:
A) growing wheat only
B) forcing peasants to grow indigo and punishing them
C) free fertilizer support
D) exemption from taxes
Answer: B
44. “Destruction of landed aristocracy” included:
A) giving them more estates
B) confiscation and sale of estates
C) banning trade
D) ending courts
Answer: B
45. Inam Commission (1852) is mentioned in relation to:
A) railways B) estates being confiscated C) army recruitment D) education policy
Answer: B
46. Growing unemployment increased because:
A) artisans got more work
B) cottage industries declined and artisans lost livelihoods
C) taxes were abolished
D) exports increased for Indians
Answer: B
E. Military Causes
47. General Service Enlistment Act was passed in:
A) 1829 B) 1856 C) 1850 D) 1849
Answer: B
48. This Act was resented because:
A) it banned promotions
B) it forced soldiers to cross the seas (against belief)
C) it increased salaries
D) it reduced British troops
Answer: B
49. A major military grievance was:
A) Indians got all high posts
B) Indians had no promotion to higher ranks
C) Indians got equal pay
D) Indians could become Viceroy
Answer: B
50. “Depression of allowances” refers to:
A) more foreign service allowance
B) reduced allowances after annexation of Awadh
C) free allowance to all
D) allowance only to British
Answer: B
51. “Faulty distribution of troops” meant:
A) Indian troops were placed away from strategic points
B) troops were concentrated at Meerut and Allahabad leaving key places weak
C) no troops existed
D) only British troops were in villages
Answer: B
52. “Poor performance of British troops” is linked to defeats in:
A) World War I
B) First Afghan War (1838–42), Punjab Wars (1845–49), Crimean War (1853–56)
C) Battle of Plassey
D) Battle of Buxar
Answer: B
53. Indian soldiers’ salaries were:
A) equal to British
B) more than British
C) inadequate to support families
D) always doubled
Answer: C
54. British soldiers received about:
A) twice B) four times C) eight times D) same salary
Answer: C
F. Immediate Cause + Beginning
55. The immediate cause was related to:
A) salt tax B) Enfield rifle cartridges C) railways D) partition
Answer: B
56. In 1856, the British decided to replace the old musket “Brown Bess” with:
A) AK-47 B) Enfield rifle C) Maxim gun D) cannon
Answer: B
57. The Enfield cartridge loading process required:
A) tearing cloth with hands
B) bringing the cartridge to mouth and biting off greased paper
C) using scissors
D) heating in fire
Answer: B
58. The rumour said the greased cartridge had fat of:
A) cow and pig B) sheep and goat C) buffalo only D) fish oil
Answer: A
59. The cow is sacred to:
A) Muslims B) Hindus C) Christians D) Sikhs
Answer: B
60. The pig is a taboo to:
A) Hindus B) Muslims C) Buddhists D) Jains
Answer: B
61. On Feb 26, 1857 unrest occurred among soldiers at:
A) Meerut B) Berhampur C) Delhi D) Lucknow
Answer: B
62. Mangal Pandey’s incident at Barrackpore is dated:
A) March 29, 1857 B) May 10, 1857 C) Feb 26, 1857 D) Sept 1857
Answer: A
G. Main Events / Centres
63. On May 9, 1857, 85 sepoys at Meerut:
A) attacked Delhi immediately
B) refused to touch cartridges
C) captured Jhansi
D) met Nana Saheb
Answer: B
64. The Meerut sepoys were sentenced to:
A) death B) 10 years rigorous imprisonment C) life exile D) fine only
Answer: B
65. On May 10, 1857, sepoys at Meerut:
A) surrendered B) broke openly and headed to Delhi C) went to Lucknow D) went to Nepal
Answer: B
66. In Delhi, the aged Mughal emperor proclaimed was:
A) Akbar II B) Bahadur Shah Zafar C) Shah Alam D) Aurangzeb
Answer: B
67. Delhi was recaptured after about:
A) 1 month B) 2 months C) 4 months D) 2 years
Answer: C
68. The British officer mentioned for surrounding Delhi is:
A) Robert Clive B) Sir John Nicholson C) Lord Wellesley D) Lord Ripon
Answer: B
69. Uprising at Lucknow was led by:
A) Rani Lakshmi Bai B) Begum Hazrat Mahal C) Kunwar Singh D) Khan Bahadur Khan
Answer: B
70. Lucknow was recaptured in:
A) Sept 1857 B) March 1858 C) April 1858 D) April 1859
Answer: B
71. Kanpur struggle was led by:
A) Nana Saheb B) Bahadur Shah C) Tipu Sultan D) Lord Canning
Answer: A
72. Nana Saheb’s general was:
A) Kunwar Singh B) Tantia Tope C) Maulvi Ahmadullah D) Man Singh
Answer: B
73. British defeated Nana Saheb in:
A) June 1857 B) Sept 1857 C) Dec 1857 D) April 1858
Answer: C
74. The battle began at Jhansi in:
A) May 1857 B) June 1857 C) March 1858 D) April 1859
Answer: B
75. Jhansi was captured by the British in:
A) March 1858 B) April 1858 C) June 1858 D) Sept 1857
Answer: A
76. Rani Lakshmi Bai died fighting at Gwalior on:
A) April 4, 1858 B) June 17, 1858 C) March 1858 D) April 18, 1859
Answer: B
77. Tantia Tope was betrayed by:
A) Nana Saheb B) Man Singh (Gwalior Chief) C) Begum Hazrat Mahal D) Sir John Nicholson
Answer: B
78. Tantia Tope was hanged in:
A) 1857 B) 1858 C) 1859 D) 1860
Answer: C
79. Bareilly’s leader mentioned is:
A) Khan Bahadur Khan B) Kunwar Singh C) Lala Lajpat Rai D) Dadabhai Naoroji
Answer: A
80. Bihar’s struggle was led by:
A) Maulvi Ahmadullah B) Kunwar Singh C) Tantia Tope D) Nana Saheb
Answer: B
81. Faizabad leadership was taken by:
A) Begum Hazrat Mahal B) Maulvi Ahmadullah C) Sir John Nicholson D) Lord Dalhousie
Answer: B
H. Chronology
82. “Outbreaks in Delhi, Ferozepur, Bombay, Bareilly, Aligarh, Etawah, Bulandshahr, Lucknow” are dated:
A) May 11–30, 1857 B) June 1857 C) Sept 1857 D) April 1858
Answer: A
83. Recapture of Delhi by the English is in:
A) June 1857 B) Aug 1857 C) Sept 1857 D) Dec 1857
Answer: C
84. Re-establishment of British authority in India is dated:
A) July–Dec 1858 B) May–Oct 1857 C) March 1858 D) April 1859
Answer: A
I. Consequences / Changes in Administration
85. The most significant result of 1857 was:
A) start of INC B) end of Company’s rule C) end of Mughal rule only D) abolition of railways
Answer: B
86. Power transfer from Company to Crown happened through:
A) Regulating Act 1773 B) Government of India Act 1858 C) Pitt’s India Act 1784 D) Charter Act 1833
Answer: B
87. The Act of 1858 transferred power to govern India:
A) from Crown to Company B) from Company to British Crown C) to Indian kings D) to Indian Parliament
Answer: B
88. Under the Act, Company’s Board of Control and Court of Directors were:
A) strengthened B) abolished C) renamed D) made Indian
Answer: B
89. A new post created was:
A) Prime Minister of India B) Secretary of State for India C) President of India D) Chief Justice of India
Answer: B
90. Secretary of State was advised by:
A) Lok Sabha B) Indian Council C) Supreme Court D) Cabinet Mission
Answer: B
91. Governor-General was given the title:
A) Emperor B) Viceroy C) Nawab D) Commander-in-Chief only
Answer: B
92. Lord Canning is mentioned as:
A) first Viceroy under the Act B) founder of INC C) leader of Kanpur D) leader of Jhansi
Answer: A
J. Queen’s Proclamation + British Policy After 1857
93. Queen’s Proclamation is dated:
A) Nov 1, 1858 B) Aug 15, 1857 C) May 10, 1857 D) March 1858
Answer: A
94. Queen’s Proclamation was made public at:
A) Delhi B) Allahabad C) Kanpur D) Jhansi
Answer: B
95. Queen’s Proclamation is associated with:
A) Lord Dalhousie B) Lord Canning C) Lord Wellesley D) Warren Hastings
Answer: B
96. The proclamation promised:
A) forced conversions
B) non-interference in religious matters
C) removal of all taxes
D) immediate independence
Answer: B
97. After 1857, the British policy of “Divide and Rule” aimed to:
A) unite Hindus and Muslims
B) create dissension between communities so they don’t unite
C) end communal differences permanently
D) abolish army
Answer: B
98. “Racial antagonism” indicates:
A) British promoted equality
B) British maintained social distance and reserved facilities for Europeans
C) Indians got entry everywhere
D) Europeans adopted Indian culture
Answer: B
K. Changes in the Army
99. After 1858, strength of European troops in India:
A) decreased B) increased C) remained same D) became zero
Answer: B
100. The new ratio mentioned is European : Indian =
A) 1 : 1 B) 1 : 2.5 C) 2.5 : 1 D) 1 : 5
Answer: B
101. The British kept artillery mainly under:
A) Indian control B) European control C) village panchayats D) princely states
Answer: B
L. Drawbacks of the Uprising (Why it failed)
102. A major drawback was lack of:
A) weapons in Britain B) central leadership/coordination C) Indian soldiers D) British support
Answer: B
103. Another drawback: the movement had:
A) one common goal everywhere
B) no common goal before the capture of Delhi
C) modern air force
D) international support
Answer: B
104. The British had advantage because:
A) Indians had more money
B) British Empire had superior resources and received help from abroad
C) British had fewer troops
D) Indians had better communication
Answer: B
105. Some educated Indians did not support uprising because they:
A) hated reforms
B) thought British would modernise India
C) wanted Mughal rule back
D) wanted no schools
Answer: B
M. Nature of the War
106. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar called it:
A) Sepoy Mutiny B) a war of independence C) a planned revolt only D) tribal uprising
Answer: B
107. R.C. Majumdar described it as:
A) purely accidental
B) planned war of national independence
C) only a peasant revolt
D) only a religious movement
Answer: B
108. S.N. Sen believed it began as:
A) a peasant movement
B) a sepoy mutiny and became wider
C) a modern political party movement
D) a movement led by merchants
Answer: B
Full 10-mark “Board Style” Questions (3 + 3 + 4)
- (i) Explain Doctrine of Lapse + name the Governor-General. (3)
(ii) Mention any three socio-religious causes. (3)
(iii) Mention any four military causes. (4) - (i) Explain Subsidiary Alliance + name the Governor-General linked to it. (3)
(ii) Mention any three political causes (other than Subsidiary Alliance). (3)
(iii) Mention any four economic causes. (4) - (i) Explain “Absentee Sovereignty”. (3)
(ii) Mention any three political causes. (3)
(iii) Mention any four socio-religious causes. (4) - (i) Explain annexation of Awadh (1856) and why it was resented. (3)
(ii) Mention any three effects of British expansion on Indian rulers/nobles. (3)
(iii) Mention any four economic hardships faced by peasants/artisans. (4) - (i) Describe the “Drain of Wealth” (meaning + idea). (3)
(ii) Mention any three causes for the decay of cottage industries/handicrafts. (3)
(iii) Mention any four results of economic exploitation on Indian society. (4) - (i) Explain the immediate cause: Enfield rifle and greased cartridges. (3)
(ii) Mention any three religious/social fears connected to it. (3)
(iii) Mention any four military grievances that made the army ready to revolt. (4)
Set B: Events/Leaders-based
- (i) Describe the events at Meerut that triggered the revolt. (3)
(ii) Mention any three events at Delhi after the Meerut outbreak. (3)
(iii) Mention any four main centres/leaders of the revolt. (4) - (i) Describe the role/status of Bahadur Shah Zafar in 1857. (3)
(ii) Mention any three leaders and their centres. (3)
(iii) Mention any four major events of the revolt. (4) - (i) Describe the uprising in Lucknow / Kanpur / Jhansi (any one) in three points. (3)
(ii) Mention any three leaders associated with the revolt. (3)
(iii) Mention any four reasons for the failure of the revolt. (4)
Set C: Consequences
- (i) Explain Government of India Act 1858 (what changed). (3)
(ii) Mention any three changes in administration after 1857. (3)
(iii) Mention any four changes in army/British policy after 1857. (4) - (i) Explain Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (1858). (3)
(ii) Mention any three promises made to Indians/princely states. (3)
(iii) Mention any four ways British policy changed after 1857. (4) - (i) Explain “Divide and Rule” policy after 1857. (3)
(ii) Mention any three results of this policy on Indian society. (3)
(iii) Mention any four administrative/military changes introduced by the British. (4)
Set D: Failure + Nature of Revolt
- (i) Explain why the revolt lacked central leadership/coordination. (3)
(ii) Mention any three drawbacks of the revolt. (3)
(iii) Mention any four reasons for British success. (4) - (i) Explain why some sections did not support the revolt. (3)
(ii) Mention any three limitations of the revolt’s spread/unity. (3)
(iii) Mention any four consequences of the revolt (administrative + policy). (4) - (i) What is meant by “nature of the war”? (3)
(ii) Mention any three historians’ views named in the chapter. (3)
(iii) Mention any four reasons supporting the view that 1857 was more than a mutiny. (4)
