The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, also known as India's First War of Independence, is an interesting event in both Indian and British history. The Indian soldiers, employed by the enormous British exporting business, known as the East India Company, were called 'sepoys'. Although the company started as a trading enterprise, it expanded hugely, and needed local men to protect the exchange areas and prevent any trouble breaking out. British Officers gave these natives their orders.
The East India Company being in charge of so many areas was not welcomed, especially when the local people felt that the British were trying to impose their way of life on them. Laws preventing certain cultural practices were badly received, as was the large amount of missionaries arriving who attempted to convert Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims to Christianity. High taxes were introduced, rents for land were expensive and there were even tolls to pay on many roads.
Resentments against the East India Company led to soldiers feeling like their commanding British officers were on another side to them. They believed that those in command were out of touch with their concerns. These problems inevitably led to a lack of respect. When a new type of cartridge was introduced, many natives were very upset. These were coated in animal fat from cows and pigs and the men were required to bite off the top of them in order to load their rifles. This was a huge problem for Hindus and Muslims who are not allowed to consume these animals.
The uprising is commonly believed to have started with the actions of a man called Mangal Pandey, regarded by Indians as a hero. He was disgusted when his fellow soldiers, refusing to use the new cartridges for religious reasons, were punished. This man shot the commanding sergeant major and lieutenant. The event lead to more and more revolts across the north of India.
In Meerut, some soldiers in a unit revolted when some of their colleagues were stripped of their uniforms and put in chains because they would not put the offensive cartridges in their mouths. The men attacked many British people, including women and children. This very violent uprising spread to Delhi where many more people were killed.
In some areas, the British were forced to surrender, and unsurprisingly, many tried to flee. In Kanpur (then known as Cawnpore), people leaving were attacked. Men were killed on the spot, and a couple of hundred women and children prisoners were butchered and their bodies chucked into a well.
The British eventually managed to control the uprising and dealt extremely brutally with the men they captured. Some were killed as soon as they were caught. However, as an example to the soldiers who had not joined in the uprising, others were tied up and fired out of cannons. Reinforcements were sent over from Britain and officers also had the support of the largely Sikh population in the south.
The British ruled India for many years after the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The government disbanded the trading company and then controlled India directly. However, many see this event as the start of Indian independence.
The East India Company being in charge of so many areas was not welcomed, especially when the local people felt that the British were trying to impose their way of life on them. Laws preventing certain cultural practices were badly received, as was the large amount of missionaries arriving who attempted to convert Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims to Christianity. High taxes were introduced, rents for land were expensive and there were even tolls to pay on many roads.
Resentments against the East India Company led to soldiers feeling like their commanding British officers were on another side to them. They believed that those in command were out of touch with their concerns. These problems inevitably led to a lack of respect. When a new type of cartridge was introduced, many natives were very upset. These were coated in animal fat from cows and pigs and the men were required to bite off the top of them in order to load their rifles. This was a huge problem for Hindus and Muslims who are not allowed to consume these animals.
The uprising is commonly believed to have started with the actions of a man called Mangal Pandey, regarded by Indians as a hero. He was disgusted when his fellow soldiers, refusing to use the new cartridges for religious reasons, were punished. This man shot the commanding sergeant major and lieutenant. The event lead to more and more revolts across the north of India.
In Meerut, some soldiers in a unit revolted when some of their colleagues were stripped of their uniforms and put in chains because they would not put the offensive cartridges in their mouths. The men attacked many British people, including women and children. This very violent uprising spread to Delhi where many more people were killed.
In some areas, the British were forced to surrender, and unsurprisingly, many tried to flee. In Kanpur (then known as Cawnpore), people leaving were attacked. Men were killed on the spot, and a couple of hundred women and children prisoners were butchered and their bodies chucked into a well.
The British eventually managed to control the uprising and dealt extremely brutally with the men they captured. Some were killed as soon as they were caught. However, as an example to the soldiers who had not joined in the uprising, others were tied up and fired out of cannons. Reinforcements were sent over from Britain and officers also had the support of the largely Sikh population in the south.
The British ruled India for many years after the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The government disbanded the trading company and then controlled India directly. However, many see this event as the start of Indian independence.
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