The Conquest of Bengal
(Longman Pearson)
I. Fill in the blanks.
1. The Battle of Plassey was fought between the forces of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah and the English East India Company.
2. The Company officers misused dastaks for their own private trade.
3. The British conspired against Siraj-ud-Daulah with the help of Mir Jafar who was made the next Nawab.
4. The Battle of Plassey was pivotal in establishing British Control over India.
5. The Company received the jagirs of Burdwan, Midnapur and Chittagong districts from the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Qasim.
6. The Company defeated the combined forces of Shuja-ud-Daulah, Shah Alam II and Mir Qasim in the Battle of Buxar fought in the year 1764.
7. The Treaty of Allahabad was signed between Clive, Siraj-ud-Daulah and Shah Alam II
8. Under the system Dual Government British had the powers of diwani.
9. The Treaty of Alinagar was signed between the Nawab of Bengal and Robert Clive.
10. After the Battle of Plassey, the English East India Company gained the zamindari rights of the 24 Parganas.
11. After the Treaty of Allahabad, Awadh became a buffer state for the British between its Bengal possessions and the Marathas.
12. Warren Hastings, the governor of Bengal, ended the Dual Government in 1772.
13. Mir Jafar was the Commander-in-chief of Siraj-ud-Daulah's army in the Battle of Plassey.
14. In the Battle of Buxar, the British forces were led by commander Hector Munro.
15. Mir Jafar was replaced by his son-in-law Mir Qasim as the Nawab of Bengal in 1760.
II. Choose the correct option.
1. The siege of Calcutta ended with the signing of the Treaty of _______ between Siraj-ud-Daulah and Robert Clive.
a. Allahabad. [ ]
b. Buxar. [ ]
c. Burdwan. [ ]
d. Alinagar. [✓]
2. The Mughal Emperor _______ helped Shuja-ud-Daulah in the Battle of Buxar.
a. Mir Qasim. [ ]
b. Mir Jafar. [ ]
c. Shah Alam II. [✓]
d. Siraj-ud-Daulah. [ ]
3. In the year ____, Mir Jafar replaced Mir Qasim as the Nawab of Bengal.
a. 1757. [ ]
b. 1763. [ ]
c. 1760. [✓]
d. 1759. [ ]
4. After the Battle of Buxar, the British returned the region of ________ to Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah.
a. Kora. [ ]
b. Allahabad. [ ]
c. Orissa. [ ]
d. Awadh. [✓]
5. ________ was promised the post of Nawab of Bengal by the British after the Battle of Plassey.
a. Mir Jafar. [✓]
b. Mir Qasim. [ ]
c. Shuja-ud-Daulah. [ ]
d. Shah Alam II. [ ]
III. Answer the questions.
1. How was dastaks misused by the British?
= The British officials who carried on private trade were supposed to pay taxes like the other merchants, but by using dastaks they evaded the payment of taxes. Sometimes the dastaks were even sold to private merchants for fee.
2. What privileges did the British acquire from the farman of 1717?
= In 1717, the company received a royal farman from the Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyar which granted them freedom to trade in Bengal without paying taxes. The company also got the right to issue passes or dastaks for the free movement of goods. This allowed the company to increase its profits and drive out competition.
3. What were the reasons of conflict between the British and the nawabs of Bengal?
= The British East India company established the most profitable and prosperous trading settlement in Calcutta. However, the Nawabs of Bengal lost out on taxes. The British Company also gained advantage over the other merchants who had to pay taxes and could no longer compete with the British on an equal footing. The Company's relations with the Nawabs of Bengal were not cordial and were prone to conflicts over the use of dastaks.
4. How did the British conspire to win against Siraj-ud-Daulah?
= Mir Jafar, the commander-in -chief of Siraj-ud-Daulah's army, was promised the post of the Nawab of Bengal. In return, he promised the British huge sums of money and important trading privileges and rights. A secret agreement was signed between the British, represented by Clive and Mir Jafar on 5th June 1757.
5. What is the significance of the Battle of Plassey?
= The significance of the Battle of Plassey are :
❐ The battle paved the way for British control over Bengal and eventually over the whole of India. It transformed the East India Company from a trading organization to a political power. The future Nawab of Bengal was a more instrument of the Company, which became the undisputed ruler of the province.
❐ The battle also marked the beginning of economic exploitation of Bengal. The Company utilised the revenue to increase their military might and push the other European colonial powers - the Dutch and the French out of India. The resources from Bengal funded the Third Carnatic War against the French.
6. The victory of the British in the Battle of Plassey allowed them to fund their activities in other parts of India. Explain.
= The British had enormous influence over the Nawab and received huge concessions for previous loss in revenue from trade. The treaty also provided for compensation of 22,000,000 rupees (£ 2,750,000) to the British for their losses.
Robert Clive was given a cash gift of a huge sum by Mir Jafar. Other important members of the English East India company to a received concessions from the Nawab and a large sum of money was paid to the British army and navy officers.
The East India Company was given the undisputed rights to trade freely in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. The British also gained the zamindari rights of the 24 Parganas.
7. Examine Mir Qasim's relations with the British.
= Mir Qasim gave the jagirs of Burdwan, Midnapur and Chittagong to the Company as a reward for making him Nawab. However, British demands led to conflicts with the New Nawab as well, ultimately Culminating in the Battle of Buxar.
8. Explain the causes of the Battle of Buxar.
= There were various causes that led to the battle of Buxar:
❐ Conflict with the Company: Mir Qasim proved himself a capable ruler. He attempted to improve the finances of his region. He raised him army on modern lines, trained by the Europeans. This made the British hostile towards the Nawab.
❐ Abolition of custom duties: The Company misused the trading rights in their own favour. They also sold dastaks to the Indian merchants, who used them to carry out duty-free trade. This meant huge revenue loss for the Nawab. As a result, he abolished all duties so that the Indian traders could trade on the same terms as the British merchants. This act for the Nawab greatly angered the British.
❐ War in 1763: Mir Qasim was defeated in a war by the British in 1763. He was removed from the Nawab. Mir Jafar again became the Nawab of Bengal.
9. What is the significance of the Battle of Buxar?
= The battle had important consequences:
❐ The Battle of Buxar led to the establishment of British Sovereignty over Bengal. They got control over Awadh and the Mughal Empire.
❐ The British also gained control over Bihar and Orissa.
❐ The Treaty of Allahabad (1765) was signed between Robert Clive, Shuja-ud-Daulah and Shah Alam II.
10. How did the Dual Government function in Bengal? Who established it? When did it end?
= Under this Dual Government the rights of the Nawab and the Company were demarcated as follows:
❐ The Nawab had the responsibility of general administration, maintenance of law and order and justice.
❐ The Company enjoyed military powers and the right to collect and use the revenue of Bengal.
Robert Clive established it. It ended in 1772.
11. Do you agree that the system of Dual Government gave the British power without responsibility? Give reasons for your answer.
= The Dual Government enabled the English East India Company to enjoy power and finances without responsibility.
❐ The Dual Government came into being after the death of Mir Jafar. His son became the Nawab of Bengal and he had to disband most of his army. A Deputy Nawab was appointed by the British who had the nizamat. The Nawab of Bengal could not dismiss the Deputy Nawab. He was given an allowance by the British which was subsequently reduce.
❐ The Company collected revenue without caring for the welfare of the people. The condition of the people was further affected by a terrible famine. In this famine, almost one-third of the population died. This led to the total collapse of the dual system of government, which only believed the exploitation without welfare.
12. How did the conquest of Bengal led to plunder of the province's wealth?
= The Battle of Plassey marked the beginning of economic exploitation of Bengal. The Company utilized the revenue to increase their military might and push the other European colonial powers - the Dutch and the French - out of India. The resources from Bengal funded the Third Carnatic War against the French. The British had drained the resources of Bengal .
13. What were the terms of the Treaty of Allahabad?
= The main terms of the Treaty of Allahabad are:
❐ The British returned Awadh to Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah. However, they looked the two districts of Kora and Allahabad.
❐ The Nawab paid a sum of fifty lakh rupees to the Company as war indemnity.
❐ The British agreed to defend the territory of the Nawab. For this purpose, an army was to be stationed of Awadh and the Nawab was to bear its expenses. As a result, Awadh became a buffer state for the British between its Bengal possessions and the Marathas.
❐ The Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II was granted an annual pension of 26 lakh rupees. Shah Alam II was also got the districts of Kora and Allahabad. In return, the British got the diwani rights over Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Thus, the British control over Bengal was legalised and the most prosperous Indian province was placed at its command.
14. What is a buffer state? How did Awadh become a buffer state?
= A smaller country or state that lies between two larger countries or states and makes war between these countries or states less likely is known as buffer state.
The British agreed to defend the territory of the Nawab. For this purpose, an army was to be stationed at Awadh and the Nawab was to bear its expenses. As a result, Awadh became a buffer state for the British between its Bengal possessions and the Marathas.
15. What were the consequences of the Dual Government?
= The consequences of the Dual Government are as follows:
❐ The Dual government came into being after the death of Mir Jafar. His son became the Nawab of Bengal and he had to disband most of his army. A Deputy Nawab was appointed by the British who had the Nizamat. The Nawab of Bengal could not dismiss the Deputy Nawab. He was given an allowance by the British which was subsequently reduced.
❐ The Company collected revenue without caring for the welfare of the people. The condition of the people were further affected by the terrible famine. In this famine, almost one-third of the population died. This led to the total collapse of the dual system of government, which only believed in exploitation without welfare.
IV. Write short notes.
1. Causes of the Battle of Buxar.
= There were various causes that led to the battle of Buxar:
❐ Conflict with the Company: Mir Qasim proved himself a capable ruler. He attempted to improve the finances of his region. He raised him army on modern lines, trained by the Europeans. This made the British hostile towards the Nawab.
❐ Abolition of custom duties: The Company misused the trading rights in their own favour. They also sold dastaks to the Indian merchants, who used them to carry out duty-free trade. This meant huge revenue loss for the Nawab. As a result, he abolished all duties so that the Indian traders could trade on the same terms as the British merchants. This act for the Nawab greatly angered the British.
❐ War in 1763: Mir Qasim was defeated in a war by the British in 1763. He was removed from the Nawab. Mir Jafar again became the Nawab of Bengal.
2. Treaty of Allahabad.
= The main terms of the Treaty of Allahabad are:
❐ The British returned Awadh to Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah. However, they looked the two districts of Kora and Allahabad.
❐ The Nawab paid a sum of fifty lakh rupees to the Company as war indemnity.
❐ The British agreed to defend the territory of the Nawab. For this purpose, an army was to be stationed of Awadh and the Nawab was to bear its expenses. As a result, Awadh became a buffer state for the British between its Bengal possessions and the Marathas.
❐ The Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II was granted an annual pension of 26 lakh rupees. Shah Alam II was also got the districts of Kora and Allahabad. In return, the British got the diwani rights over Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Thus, the British control over Bengal was legalised and the most prosperous Indian province was placed at its command.
3. Significance of the Battle of Plassey.
= The significance of the Battle of Plassey are :
❐ The battle paved the way for British control over Bengal and eventually over the whole of India. It transformed the East India Company from a trading organization to a political power. The future Nawab of Bengal was a more instrument of the Company, which became the undisputed ruler of the province.
❐ The battle also marked the beginning of economic exploitation of Bengal. The Company utilised the revenue to increase their military might and push the other European colonial powers - the Dutch and the French out of India. The resources from Bengal funded the Third Carnatic War against the French.
V. Match the columns.
=
|
1. Awadh |
a. conspired with the British.
[5] |
|
2. Mir Qasim |
b. buffer state. [1] |
|
3. Shah Alam II |
c. become the Nawab of Bengal in 1760. [2] |
|
4. nizamat |
d. Mughal Emperor. [3] |
|
5. Mir Jafar |
e. administrative rights. [4] |
VI. State whether true or false.
1. Mir Jafar was the commander-in-chief of Shah Alam's army. [F]
2. Mir Qasim became the Nawab of Bengal after the Battle of Plassey. [F]
3. The Treaty of Allahabad was signed after the Battle of Plassey. [F]
4. Major Munro led the British forces in the Battle of Buxar. [T]
5. The system of Dual Government was introduced in the Maratha kingdom. [F]