Indirect British Rule

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

Sepoys

native Indians who served as British soldiers

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.

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