Indirect British Rule

Battle of Plassey: what happened?

-Clive and Siraj-ud-Daula fought for control of Bengal in 1757 at the Battle of Plassey -Mir Jafar refused to fight for Siraj-ud-Daula, causing him to lose. -the British took Bengal, thanks in large part to Mir Jafar betraying his nephew Siraj-ud-Daula -Most of Siraj-ud-Daula's soldiers were bribed to throw away their weapons, surrender, or turn against their own army to support the British -500 Siraj-ud-Daula casualties, 22 British casualties -After Battle of Plassey, the British EIC instaled Mir Jafar as puppet ruler in Bengal.

Siraj-ud-Daula

-Indian ruler of Bengal, marched on Calcutta(which neighbored Bengal) and defeated the British who tried to expand there, imprisoning any survivors

Mir Jafar

-Siraj-ud-Daula's trusted general (his uncle)

Battle of Plassey: significance

-The Battle of Plassey marked the beginning of British supremacy in India, as the British East India Company began aggressively expanding its territories in India.

Robert Clive

-after Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula's defeat of the British in Calcutta, the British strike back, turning to COLONEL ROBERT CLIVE -marched from Madras with his men and retook Calcutta in 1757 -not content with just Calcutta, went after Bengal. Him and his men were severely outnumbered, no weaponry advantage -bribed Jafar and the two made a secret agreement: if Jafar agreed to betray his nephew, he would be rewarded by being named the new Nawab (ruler of Bengal)

The British East India Company

-joint-stock company -expanded its military influence in Bengal -after Battle of Plassey, installed Mir Jafar as a puppet ruler in Bengal -used the revenues it recieved from Bengal to gradually take over the rest of India. -the British ruled India indirectly via the EIC -didn't completely conquer territory but had huge economic interest through the prince (raja)

The Battle of Plassey: date

1757.. see following notecards

Sepoys

native Indians who served as British soldiers