Class 7 and 8 Resources Center

Tag: History

  • History Ch.3 – Ruling the Countryside

    A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

    1. b. Holt Mackenzie

    2. a. Cultivators

    3. b. Planters

    4. a. 1917

    5. d. Saleable

    B. Gap Filling:

    1. Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and the Benaras division of UP

    2. Ryotwari, 51

    3. United Provinces, Central Provinces and Punjab

    4. Bengal, 1770, 1943

    5. Digambar, Bishambhar Biswas, Nadia

    6. Mahatma Gandhi

    7. Ryot

    8. Java

    9. Opium, Indigo

    10. Dual, revenue

    C. True or False:

    1. T

    2. F

    3. F

    4. T

    5. T

    D. Match the Following:

    1. Permanent Settlement – d. Lord Cornwallis

    2. Mahalwari System – c. UP and Punjab

    3. Opium – b. Chinese Tea

    4. ‘Lathiyals’ – e. Armed goons

    5. Champaran – a. Bihar

    E. Short Answer Type Questions:

    1. 1. With what intention did the British introduce the Land Revenue Settlements in India?

    The British introduced the Land Revenue Settlements with the intention of timely collection of revenue in a predictable manner.

    • 2. Where did the French begin cultivating indigo?

    The French began cultivating indigo in the Caribbean islands.

    • 3. What did the Permanent Settlement actually mean?

    The Permanent Settlement, introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793, gave zamindars hereditary rights over land, making them revenue collectors for the British.

    • 4. How did the Bengal economy fall into a deep crisis?

    Artisans deserted villages as they were forced to sell their goods at low prices, and peasants failed to pay the high revenue demands, worsening the crisis.

    • 5. Discuss two problems that arose in the new Munro Settlement?

    i.) Revenue was collected directly from ryots, even if crops failed.

    ii) Cultivators faced high taxes and had no intermediary protection.

    Here is the complete text for Sections F, G, and H of the C

    F. Long Answer Type Questions:

    1. What was the Permanent Settlement? How was it advantageous for the British?
    The Permanent Settlement covered Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and the Banaras division of UP, accounting for 19% of British Indian territory. It gave zamindars hereditary rights over land and made them responsible for collecting revenue. The British benefited as they got a fixed, assured income without dealing directly with farmers. It also created a loyal class of landlords who supported British rule.

    2. What were the consequences of the economic crisis that gripped Bengal?
    The Bengal economy faced severe strain due to high revenue demands, low wages for artisans, and forced sales at low prices. Artisans began leaving villages, peasants couldn’t pay taxes, and many went into debt. This deepened poverty, reduced agricultural productivity, and created widespread dissatisfaction.

    3. Briefly discuss the history of indigo cultivation in India under the British and its effects on the lives of the farmers.
    Indigo was cultivated using two main systems: ‘nij’ and ‘ryot’. Under nij, planters grew indigo on their own land. Due to labor shortages and land scarcity, this failed. In the ryot system, planters forced farmers to grow indigo on part of their land in exchange for loans. Farmers were paid poorly and faced exploitation. This caused debt, land degradation, and eventually led to revolts like the Indigo Rebellion of 1859–60.

    4. How was the ‘nij’ system different from the ‘ryot’ method of indigo cultivation?

    • Nij System: Planters directly cultivated indigo on land they controlled. However, it was difficult to find enough labor, land, and tools because farmers were already busy growing rice.
    • Ryot System: Farmers (ryots) were forced to grow indigo under contract. They received loans and had to sell indigo at low, fixed prices. This method became widespread but led to exploitation and revolts due to poor compensation and soil exhaustion.

    5. The indigo cultivation under the ‘ryot’ method was ridden with problems. What were they?

    • Farmers were forced to accept unfair contracts.
    • They were paid very little for their produce.
    • Indigo’s deep roots ruined soil fertility.
    • Farmers couldn’t grow food crops afterward.
    • Inability to repay loans led to exploitation, beatings, and even violence by planters’ hired goons (‘lathiyals’). This ultimately sparked the Indigo Revolt.

    G. Distinguish Between:

    1. Ryot and Mahal

    • Ryot: An individual peasant or cultivator who directly paid land revenue to the British.
    • Mahal: A village or group of villages treated as a single unit for revenue collection under the Mahalwari system.

    2. Permanent Settlement and Ryotwari Settlement

    • Permanent Settlement: Introduced by Lord Cornwallis; revenue collected through zamindars; fixed and hereditary.
    • Ryotwari Settlement: Revenue collected directly from ryots; no intermediary; revised periodically; cultivators had land ownership rights.

    H. Give Reasons:

    1. The opium and indigo trade were beneficial for the British.
    Opium and indigo were high-demand products. Opium was exported to China in exchange for tea, and indigo was sold in Europe. These trades earned huge profits for the British and financed their rule in India.

    2. The revenue was fixed in the Permanent Settlement.
    To ensure predictable and stable revenue from land, the British fixed land tax under the Permanent Settlement, which made it easier for them to budget and avoid yearly reassessments.

    3. Planters invested in commercial crops.
    Commercial crops like indigo, jute, cotton, and opium were in high demand in Europe due to the Industrial Revolution. British planters cultivated these for export, neglecting food crops and exploiting farmers for profit.

  • History Ch.2 – Establishment of Power by EEIC in India.

    A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

    1. Farman was a
      ✅ Correct answer: c. royal order
      🔍 Explanation: A Farman was a royal decree or order issued by a sovereign in Mughal India.
    1. _____ was not a trading company.
      ✅ Correct answer: c. Japanese
      🔍 Explanation: The Dutch, French, and Portuguese all had trading companies involved in India, but Japan did not establish any such trading company during the colonial period.
    1. The Nawab of Bengal after Alivardi Khan was
      ✅ Correct answer: c. Sirajuddaulah
      🔍 Explanation: After the death of Alivardi Khan in 1756, his grandson Sirajuddaulah became the Nawab of Bengal.
    1. The Governor-General who introduced the policy of ‘paramountcy’
      ✅ Correct answer: c. Lord Hastings
      🔍 Explanation: The policy of paramountcy, which asserted British authority as supreme over Indian princely states, was introduced by Lord Hastings in the early 19th century.
    1. The Governor-General who was impeached
      ✅ Correct answer: d. Warren Hastings
      🔍 Explanation: Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of India, was impeached by the British Parliament in 1787 on charges of corruption and misconduct. Though the trial lasted seven years, he was ultimately acquitted.

    B. Gap Filling:

    1. Mercantilism

    2. Vasco da Gama, Cape of Good Hope

    3. Pondicherry, Chandernagore,

    Karikal

    4. Siraj-ud-daulah

    5. Doctrine of Lapse

    6. Dowry, Charles II

    7. Battle of Buxar, defeated

    8. Subsidiary Alliance

    9. Marquess Wellesley

    10. William Hawkins, Jahangir

    C. Match the Following:

    1. Regulating Act, 1773 – b. Supreme Court at Calcutta

    2. Sepoy – a. Subedar

    3. Lord Wellesley – e. Subsidiary Alliance

    4. Lord Cornwallis – c. Father of Indian Civil Administration

    5. Charles Napier – d. Annexation of Sind

    D. True or False:

    1. The Maratha power was crushed in the third Anglo-Maratha war. – True

    2. The British established a new system of justice by establishing High Courts in Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. – True

    3. Robert Clive introduced the dual system of government in Bengal. – True

    4. After the defeat of Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah in the Battle of Plassey, Mir Qasim was put on the throne. – False

    5. Lord Dalhousie’s ‘Doctrine of Lapse’ proved to be a total failure. – False

    E. Short Answer Type Questions:

    •    1. How was the Battle of Buxar concluded?

    The Battle of Buxar concluded with the Treaty of Allahabad. It granted the Diwani Rights to the East India Company, allowing them to collect revenue from Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. This boosted British political and financial power in India.

    • 2. Define mercantilism. How was it beneficial for the European trading companies?

    Mercantilism was an economic theory where a nation’s strength depended on its wealth. It promoted large-scale production, export, and accumulation of precious metals. For European trading companies, it meant buying raw materials cheap from colonies like India and selling them in Europe at high prices.

    • 3. Why did the European trading companies want to establish trading alliances with India?

    India was famous for its wealth, spices, textiles, and raw materials. During mercantilism, European powers sought trading alliances with India to obtain goods at low prices for profitable resale in Europe.

    • 4. Why did the Battle of Plassey become famous?

    The Battle of Plassey (1757) became famous as it marked the beginning of British political rule in India. Robert Clive led the British to victory against Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah, aided by betrayal from Mir Jafar.

    • 5. Why did the tension between the Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-daulah and the English East India Company escalate?

    Tensions escalated as Siraj-ud-daulah opposed the Company’s unauthorized fortifications in Calcutta and suspected them of conspiring with rivals. He also refused to grant further trade privileges, which provoked conflict.

    F. Long Answer Type Questions:

    1. With what objective did Lord Dalhousie design the Doctrine of Lapse? What was the outcome of such a policy?
    Lord Dalhousie designed the Doctrine of Lapse to expand British territories by annexing Indian princely states that did not have a natural heir. Under this policy, such states were denied the right to adopt an heir. As a result, several states including Satara, Jhansi, and Nagpur were annexed, which created widespread resentment among Indian rulers and people.

    2. ‘The system of Subsidiary Alliance was meant to create dependable and dependent Indian rulers.’ Explain.
    The Subsidiary Alliance was introduced by Lord Wellesley to bring Indian states under British control without direct conquest. States that accepted the alliance had to maintain British troops at their own expense and could not make any alliances without British approval. Though rulers retained their titles, they lost real power, making them dependent on British authority.

    3. Discuss the three Anglo-Maratha wars as well as their consequences in detail.
    • First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782): Fought over succession disputes in the Maratha Empire. Ended with the Treaty of Salbai, which restored status quo.
    • Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1805): Triggered when Scindias and Bhonsles opposed the Subsidiary Alliance. British victory led to the loss of major territories by Marathas.
    • Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818): Peshwa Baji Rao II attacked the British Residency. Resulted in decisive British victory and the end of Maratha Confederacy, with Peshwa dethroned.

    4. Write a note on Tipu Sultan ‘The Tiger of Mysore’.
    Tipu Sultan ruled Mysore from 1782 and was a fierce opponent of British expansion. He modernized his army and allied with the French. Tipu fought four Anglo-Mysore wars and died defending his capital in 1799. He was known for his bravery—once fighting and killing a tiger with his bare hands—earning the title “Tiger of Mysore”.

    5. Give an account of the Battle of Plassey.
    The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757 between the East India Company led by Robert Clive and the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-daulah. The British conspired with Mir Jafar, who betrayed the Nawab. The British won the battle, marking the beginning of British political dominance in India.

    G. Distinguish Between:

    1. Collector and District Superintendent
    • Collector: Chief revenue officer of a district responsible for land revenue collection and administration.
    • District Superintendent: Head of the district police responsible for law and order and criminal investigations.

    2. Doctrine of Lapse and Subsidiary Alliance
    • Doctrine of Lapse: Introduced by Lord Dalhousie, allowed the British to annex states without a natural heir.
    • Subsidiary Alliance: Introduced by Lord Wellesley, required Indian rulers to maintain British troops and follow British foreign policy.

    H. Give Reasons:

    1. The British needed a large Army.
    The British needed a large army to control vast Indian territories, suppress revolts, protect trade interests, and defend against rival European powers.

    2. The Subsidiary Alliance was initiated by Lord Wellesley.
    Lord Wellesley introduced the Subsidiary Alliance to expand British influence without warfare. Indian rulers accepted British troops and control in return for protection.

    3. The English East India Company and the French East India Company were always at war with each other.
    Both companies competed for commercial and territorial dominance in India. This led to multiple conflicts including the Carnatic Wars between 1744 and 1763.