CBSE Class 8 History Notes Chapter 5 - When People Rebel and After (2024)

Chapter 5 – When People Rebel teaches CBSE Class 8 students about policies and the people, peasants and sepoys, the conflict between the Company and nawabs and rajas, etc. By reading through the CBSE Class 8 History notes for Chapter 5, students can grasp the concepts covered in the chapter.

Students can use these notes to swiftly review the entire chapter right before the test. Students not only save significant time but also gain confidence in their ability to write well on tests.

Policies and the People

Nawabs lose their power

During the mid-eighteenth century, Nawabs and Rajas experienced a diminishing of their power and influence. To safeguard their interests, many ruling families attempted negotiations with the East India Company.

For instance, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi sought Company recognition of her adopted son as the rightful heir to the kingdom after her husband’s demise. However, the Company rejected such appeals.

The annexation of Awadh, one of the last territories to fall, illustrates this trend. In 1801, Awadh was subjected to a subsidiary alliance, culminating in its complete takeover in 1856. The Company aimed to bring an end to the Mughal dynasty.

In 1849, Governor-General Dalhousie announced plans to relocate Bahadur Shah Zafar’s family from the Red Fort after his death, denying recognition to his descendants as kings, merely referring to them as princes.

The peasants and the sepoys

Rural peasants and zamindars harbored resentment toward oppressive taxation and inflexible revenue collection methods. Many lost their lands due to inability to repay loans to moneylenders.

Indian sepoys, employed by the Company, were dissatisfied with their pay, allowances, and working conditions. When ordered to travel by sea to Burma to fight for the Company, they refused, insisting on a land route. In response, the Company enacted a law in 1856 requiring all new recruits to agree to overseas service if necessary.

Responses to reforms

The British initiated changes in Indian society through legislative measures aimed at abolishing the practice of Sati and promoting the remarriage of widows. Additionally, there was widespread promotion of English education.

From 1830 onwards, Christian missionaries were granted freedom to operate within British domains, owning land and property. A new law enacted in 1850 facilitated easier conversion to Christianity, enabling Indian Christians to inherit ancestral property.

A Mutiny Becomes a Popular Rebellion

A significant portion of the populace perceived a shared adversary and simultaneously revolted against this common foe. For such a scenario to unfold, individuals must organize, communicate effectively, take proactive steps, and demonstrate the confidence to challenge the status quo.

In May 1857, the English East India Company confronted a widespread rebellion. Sepoys mutinied in numerous locations, starting from Meerut, and a considerable number of individuals from diverse social strata joined the uprising.

This event is regarded as one of the largest armed resistances against colonial rule in the nineteenth century.

From Meerut to Delhi

On March 29, 1857, Mangal Pandey was executed by hanging for assaulting officers in Barrackpore. Some sepoys in the Meerut regiment refused to perform military drills using the newly introduced cartridges, which were suspected to be coated with the fat of cows and pigs.

On May 9, 1857, eighty-five sepoys were discharged from service and sentenced to ten years in prison for disobeying their superiors.

The soldiers liberated the imprisoned sepoys from Meerut jail on May 10. They were resolute in their determination to end British rule in the country. Riding throughout the night of May 10, they reached Delhi in the early hours of the next morning. Triumphant soldiers assembled at the Red Fort, demanding an audience with the Emperor.

Bahadur Shah Zafar acceded to their request and dispatched letters to all the chiefs and rulers of the nation, urging them to unite and form a coalition of Indian states to combat the British.

The Mughal dynasty had exercised control over a significant portion of the country. However, small rulers and chieftains governing various regions felt threatened by the expanding British dominion.

The British anticipated that the unrest stemming from the cartridge issue would subside. However, Bahadur Shah Zafar’s decision completely altered the situation.

The Rebellion Spreads

After routing the British from Delhi, there was a lull in the uprising for almost a week. However, regiments mutinied and troops converged at key points such as Delhi, Kanpur, and Lucknow.

Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the late Peshwa Baji Rao, declared himself Peshwa, marshaled armed forces, and ousted the British garrison from the city. In Lucknow, Birjis Qadr was proclaimed the new Nawab.

Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi joined the rebel sepoys and, alongside Tantia Tope, Nana Saheb’s general, fought against the British. Meanwhile, in the Mandla region of Madhya Pradesh, Rani Avantibai Lodhi of Ramgarh raised an army and led the charge against the British, who had assumed control of her state’s administration.

Several battles saw the British defeated, leading to a widespread popular rebellion, especially in the Awadh region. Numerous new leaders emerged during this period, including Ahmadullah Shah from Faizabad, Bakht Khan in Delhi, and Kunwar Singh in Bihar.

The Company Fights Back

To counter the rebellion, the Company brought reinforcements from England and enacted new laws to expedite the conviction of rebels. In September 1857, Delhi was recaptured, and the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was sentenced to life imprisonment.

By March 1858, Lucknow was seized, and Rani Lakshmibai was defeated and killed in June 1858. Rani Avantibai opted to embrace death when surrounded by the British on all sides. Tantia Tope was apprehended, tried, and executed in April 1859.

The defeat of rebel forces led to widespread desertions. To win the loyalty of the people, the British announced rewards for loyal landholders, assuring them that they would retain traditional rights over their lands. Additionally, those who surrendered and had not harmed any white individuals would be granted safety, with their land rights and claims preserved.

Aftermath

By the close of 1859, the British had reestablished authority over the country. Several significant changes were implemented by the British, outlined as follows:

• In 1858, a new Act was enacted, transferring the authority of the East India Company to the British Crown to ensure a more accountable administration of Indian affairs. A member of the British Cabinet was designated as Secretary of State for India, tasked with overseeing all matters concerning Indian governance. This official was supported by an advisory body known as the India Council. Furthermore, the Governor-General of India was granted the title of Viceroy. These measures signaled the British government’s acceptance of direct responsibility for governing India.
• Assurances were extended to all ruling chiefs that their territories would not be subject to annexation in the future. They were permitted to pass down their kingdoms to their successors, including adopted sons, while governing as subordinates of the British Crown.
• The composition of the army saw a reduction in the proportion of Indian soldiers, with an increase in the number of European soldiers.
• Muslims experienced widespread confiscation of land and property, along with suspicion and hostility from the British administration.
• The British opted to respect the customary religious and social practices prevalent among the Indian populace.
• Policies were formulated to safeguard the rights and security of landlords and zamindars, ensuring their tenure over their lands.

CBSE Class 8 Social Science History Notes Chapter 5 – When People Rebel- FAQs

Why did Nawabs and rajas lose their power in the mid-eighteenth century?

Nawabs and rajas experienced a decline in their authority due to negotiations with the East India Company to protect their interests. This trend was exemplified by Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, who sought recognition for her adopted son as heir to the kingdom, but was denied by the Company.

What was the significance of the annexation of Awadh?

Awadh, one of the last territories to be annexed, symbolized the diminishing power of indigenous rulers. It was subjected to a subsidiary alliance in 1801 and fully annexed in 1856, highlighting the Company’s aim to dismantle the Mughal dynasty and expand its control.

How did peasants and sepoys respond to British policies?

Peasants and zamindars resented oppressive taxation and strict revenue collection methods, often losing their lands to moneylenders. Sepoys, employed by the Company, were dissatisfied with pay and working conditions, leading to refusals to serve overseas and enactments of new laws by the Company.

What reforms did the British initiate in Indian society?

The British introduced reforms such as the abolition of Sati, promotion of widow remarriage, and the advancement of English education. Additionally, Christian missionaries were allowed to operate freely, and laws facilitating conversion to Christianity were enacted.

How did the mutiny in Meerut lead to widespread rebellion?

The mutiny in Meerut, sparked by concerns over cartridges suspected to be coated with animal fat, escalated into a nationwide rebellion. Triumphantly reaching Delhi, the rebel soldiers sought support from Bahadur Shah Zafar, triggering a series of uprisings across different regions against British colonial rule.