British Expansion in India: A Journey from Trade to Dominion

Growth of the English East India Company

Trade Routes and European Entry:

Ancient Trade Routes: Trading relations existed between India and the West through ancient land routes.
Ottoman Turks' Capture (1453): Capture of Constantinople by Ottoman Turks disrupted regular trade routes, prompting Europeans to seek new routes, particularly by sea.
Columbus and Vasco Da Gama: Columbus discovered America in 1492, while Vasco Da Gama reached India via a sea route in 1498, establishing new trade routes.

Portuguese Presence:

Portuguese Colonies: First to establish colonies in India due to naval supremacy.
Concentration in South India: Focused mainly on south India, avoiding direct confrontation with the Mughal Empire.

Dutch Entry:

Dutch East India Company (1602): Formed in 1602, empowered by the Dutch government for wars, treaties, territories, and fortresses.

East India Company begins to trade in Bengal

English in India:

Formation of English Company (1599): English merchants formed the Merchant Adventurers in 1599 for trade with the East.
Royal Permission (1600): Queen Elizabeth I granted the company exclusive rights to trade in the East.

Expansion in Bengal:

Jahangir's Farman: Mughal Emperor Jahangir granted farman to establish factories on the western coast.
Shift to South: English established Fort St. George in Madras, and built Fort William in Calcutta.

French Competition:

French Intervention: French, led by Dupleix, interfered in local affairs, creating tensions.

Battles and Dominance:

Wars with French: Anglo-French conflicts in India, including the Battle of Wandiwash (1760), establishing British dominance.

How did the British who came to India for trade become the rulers of territories?

Trade Challenges:

Conflict in Bengal: Revenue loss due to misuse of trade privileges led to tensions with Bengal Nawabs.

Battle of Plassey (1757):

Siraj-ud-Daulah's Grievances: Demands for equal trade rights and fortification restrictions.
Plassey Outcome: Treacherous defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah by Mir Jaffar and Rai Durlabh, enhancing British prestige.

Expansion and Conflict:

War with Mir Qasim (1764): Conflicts over revenue and internal trade duties.
Doctrine of Lapse: Annexations under Lord Dalhousie, using the Doctrine of Lapse policy.

Setting up a New Administration

Governor Generals and Expansion:

Warren Hastings (1773-1785): Significant role in expansion, introduction of administrative reforms.
Paramountcy Policy: Claiming supreme authority, leading to annexations.

Robert Clive (1765-1772):

Dual Administration: Introduction of the dual administration system in Bengal.
Taxation Policies: Taxation reforms favoring British investments in Indian goods.

Lord Wellesley (1798-1805):

Subsidiary Alliances: Policy of subsidiary alliances, wars, and territorial acquisitions.
Maratha Conflicts: Defeat in Third Anglo-Maratha War, leading to British control south of Vindhyas.

Lord Dalhousie (1848-1856):

Doctrine of Lapse: Annexations using the Doctrine of Lapse, causing unrest and contributing to the 1857 revolt.
Complete Control: British control over the subcontinent by 1858, except Punjab and Sind.

Governor Generals and British Dominance:

Consolidation Strategies: Shifting from trade to territorial expansion under various Governor Generals.
Strategic Wars: Wars with Mysore, Marathas, and annexations under different policies.
Rivalries and Fears: Anglo-Russian rivalry influencing shifts in control in the northwest.

Conclusion:

The British expansion in India evolved from trade challenges to territorial dominance. Through battles, annexations, and strategic policies, the East India Company transformed from a trading entity to the rulers of vast territories in India. The journey, marked by conflicts, alliances, and administrative reforms, laid the foundation for British colonial rule.