1857 Revolt in India: Immediate & Economic Causes of the Revolt of 1857

The Revolt of 1857, also called the Sepoy Mutiny or First War of Independence 1857, was the first major uprising against British rule in India. It began on May 10, 1857, in Meerut, when Indian sepoys revolted against the British East India Company, fueled by anger over greased cartridges, discriminatory policies, and the annexation of Indian states. The revolt quickly spread to Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, and Gwalior, led by iconic figures like Bahadur Shah Zafar, Rani Lakshmibai, Nana Saheb, and Tatya Tope. Though ultimately suppressed, the 1857 revolt in India marked a turning point, leading to the end of Company rule and the beginning of direct British Crown rule, laying the foundation for India’s later freedom struggle.

The Revolt of 1857 UPSC is one of the most important topics for the UPSC IAS exam. It covers a significant part of the Modern History subject in the Mains General Studies Paper-1 syllabus and General Studies Paper-1 of the UPSC Prelims Syllabus.

In this article on the Revolt of 1857 UPSC, let us discuss in detail the various causes that led to the 1857 revolt, the prominent leaders of the revolt, nature of revolt, its suppression, and its significance. 

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What was the Revolt of 1857?

The 1857 Revolt is also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857. It was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the form of a mutiny of sepoys of the Company's army in the garrison town of Meerut. It then erupted into other mutinies and civilian rebellions, chiefly in the upper Gangetic plain and central India.

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The expansionist and exploitative policies of the British East India Company affected rulers, peasants, soldiers, and artisans alike. The revolt of 1857 was not caused by one single event but by a mix of political, economic, social, religious, and military grievances, along with an immediate trigger. Below are the major revolt of 1857 in points:

Read the article Political & Economic Causes of Revolt of 1857 here.

Political Causes of 1857 Revolt

• The Doctrine of Lapse by Lord Dalhousie led to the annexation of princely states like Jhansi, Satara, Nagpur, Jaitpur, Sambalpur, and Udaipur.
• Rani Lakshmi Bai’s adopted son was denied the right to the throne of Jhansi.
• Annexation of Awadh (1856) on grounds of maladministration displaced thousands of nobles, soldiers, and officials.
• Disrespect to the Mughal dynasty—the British announced that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal emperor.
• Indian rulers and nobles lost faith in British promises and feared losing their kingdoms.

Economic Causes of Revolt of 1857

• High land revenue and harsh collection methods ruined peasants and zamindars, leading to land loss.
• Indian artisans and weavers suffered due to cheap British factory-made goods, leading to decline of traditional industries.
• Deindustrialisation and import of machine-made textiles from Britain destroyed the Indian textile sector.
• Peasants and sepoys shared rural distress, as many sepoys came from peasant families.
• Economic exploitation and loss of livelihood created widespread discontent.

Socio-Religious Causes of 1857 Revolt

• British reforms, such as the abolition of Sati and the Widow Remarriage Act, were viewed as interference in Indian traditions.
• Missionary activities and the 1850 law allowing Hindu converts to inherit property sparked fear of mass conversion to Christianity.
• Caste and religious practices felt threatened; even railways and telegraphs were viewed with suspicion.
• Both Hindus and Muslims feared the loss of their religious and cultural identity.

Military Causes of Revolt of 1857

• Discrimination in pay and promotion between Indian sepoys and British soldiers created resentment.
• 87% of the army were Indian sepoys, but high ranks were reserved for Europeans.
• General Service Enlistment Act (1856) required sepoys to serve overseas, which hurt caste and religious sentiments.
• Greased Enfield cartridges with cow and pig fat deeply hurt Hindu and Muslim religious beliefs.
• Sepoys felt humiliated and exploited, which fueled the mutiny.

Immediate Cause of Revolt of 1857

• In March 1857, sepoy Mangal Pandey in Barrackpore revolted against the use of greased cartridges and attacked British officers; he was executed on 8 April 1857.
• On 9 May 1857, 85 sepoys in Meerut refused to use the new Enfield cartridges and were sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
• On 10 May 1857, the revolt broke out in Meerut, which soon spread across North India, marking the start of the First War of Independence.

Know more about the Social Causes of the Revolt of 1857!

Course of the Great Revolt of 1857

The simmering discontent among the Indian sepoys against the British East India Company was further fuelled by the order to use those greased cartridges. Sepoys refused to use the greased cartridges. This was considered insubordination by the British officials, who began to impose harsh punishments for sepoys. Thus began the revolt of 1857.

Let us discuss the course of the revolt of 1857 briefly.

To know about Robert Clive, check the linked article.

The 1857 Revolt, also known as the First War of Indian Independence, had several key centres where Indian leaders rose against British rule.

Suppression of the 1857 Revolt

The suppression of the 1857 Revolt was led by various British officers through military campaigns across North India. Key actions included:

• Delhi: Retaken by British forces under John Nicholson and Archdale Wilson after intense street fighting.
• Kanpur: Revolt suppressed by General Havelock and Sir Colin Campbell after multiple battles.
• Lucknow (Awadh): Liberated in two stages by Sir Colin Campbell during the famous Relief and Recapture of Lucknow.
• Jhansi and Gwalior: Stormed by General Hugh Rose; Rani Lakshmibai was killed in battle at Kotah-ki-Serai.
• Bareilly / Rohilkhand: General Colin Campbell and General Jones defeated Khan Bahadur Khan.
• Bihar (Arrah & Jagdishpur): Suppressed by Vincent Eyre and William Taylor after local sieges.
• Faizabad: General Outram led the operations to crush Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah’s forces.
• Farrukhabad: Local British forces dispersed Tatya Tope’s troops in brief skirmishes.

To know about the Military causes of the revolt of 1857, check the linked article.

The causes for the failure of the 1857 revolution are listed below.

• Lack of coordination and unified leadership among the rebel forces.
• Superior military strength and resources of the British East India Company.
• Divide among different groups involved in the revolt, including regional, religious, and social divisions.
• Inadequate communication and slow dissemination of information among rebel forces.
• Lack of widespread support from Indian rulers and nobility.
• Strategic mistakes made by rebel leaders, such as poor planning and execution of military campaigns.
• Limited access to modern weaponry and military training for the rebel forces.
• British ability to exploit internal conflicts and rivalries within the rebel groups.
• British success in winning over or neutralizing key sections of Indian society, including some princely states.
• Reinstatement of British control and reinforcement of colonial rule after the suppression of the revolt.

Read the Second Anglo-Maratha War for UPSC here.

Impact of the 1857 Revolt in India

The effects of the 1857 Revolt have been listed below.

• End of the East India Company's rule: The East India Company had ruled India for over a century. The Revolt of 1857 showed that it was no longer able to maintain control of the colony. The British government decided to abolish the company and take direct control of India.
• Establishment of direct British rule: After the revolt, India was ruled directly by the British Crown. This meant that the British government had more control over the administration of India. They could make decisions without having to consult the East India Company.
• Creation of the Indian Civil Service: The Indian Civil Service was created in 1858. This was to provide a cadre of British officials to administer India. The ICS was recruited through a competitive examination. It was trained in British law and administration.
• Rise in nationalism among Indians: The Revolt of 1857 showed Indians that they could unite against the British and fight for their independence. This led to a rise in nationalism among Indians. It also led to the formation of new political organizations, such as the Indian National Congress.
• Renewed interest in Indian culture and heritage: Many Indians began to look back to their past and take pride in their traditions. This led to a revival of Indian art, literature, and music.
• Reorganization of the Army: The British army was reorganized to reduce the risk of another mutiny. The proportion of British soldiers in the Indian army was increased. Indian soldiers were no longer allowed to serve in groups from the same region.

To know about the Santhal Revolt, check the linked article.

The Revolt of 1857, an anti-colonial movement that fought against the imperialist policies of the British East India Company, is an important event that took place in Indian history. Though the revolt was suppressed later, it shook the foundation of British rule in India. With the end of the 1857 revolt, the era of territorial aggrandizement also ended. However, it paved the way for India's economic exploitation era.

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