Causes, course and failure of the War of Independence 1857

O Level Pakistan Studies History · Cultural and historical background to the Pakistan Movement: 1857, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and languages. A short explanation of the idea, the rules to remember, the mistake to avoid, a worked example and practice questions with answers.

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The idea

The War of 1857 had long-term causes that built up over years. Rulers lost their states under the Doctrine of Lapse, and Awadh was annexed in 1856. Many Indians feared that British reforms and missionaries threatened their religions. Heavy taxes and unfair treatment of sepoys added to the anger.

The immediate cause was the new rifle cartridge, said to be greased with cow and pig fat. Sepoys rose at Meerut on 10 May 1857 and marched to Delhi, where they made Bahadur Shah Zafar their leader.

Fighting spread across the north, but the war failed. The rebels had no united plan or single leader, many areas such as the Punjab did not join, and the British had better weapons and the telegraph.

Rules to remember

Common mistake

Do not reverse the cartridge fats: the cow is sacred to Hindus and the pig is forbidden to Muslims. Also, Awadh was annexed for alleged misgovernment, not under the Doctrine of Lapse.

Worked example

Is the greased cartridge a long-term cause or an immediate cause of the war? Explain.

  1. A long-term cause builds up over years, for example annexations, fear for religion and heavy taxes.
  2. An immediate cause is the event that sets off the fighting at a particular moment.
  3. The cartridges were issued in 1857, and the punishment of sepoys who refused them led straight to the rising at Meerut.

Answer: It is an immediate cause: the spark that turned years of resentment into open revolt in May 1857.

Practice questions

Try each one, then open the answer.

1. How did most of the Punjab respond during the War of 1857?

  1. A
    it became the main centre of the uprising in the north
  2. B
    it declared independence under a restored Sikh ruler
  3. C
    it stayed largely quiet, and its troops helped retake Delhi
  4. D
    it was occupied by Afghan forces for the rest of the war
Show answer

Answer: C. Recently annexed and firmly controlled, the Punjab did not rise; Sikh and Punjabi soldiers helped the British recapture Delhi.

2. Why did the annexation of Awadh in 1856 anger many sepoys of the Bengal Army?

  1. A
    Awadh was the home of the Mughal emperor and his court
  2. B
    Awadh had been promised to the Marathas by earlier treaties
  3. C
    many sepoys came from Awadh and their families lost out
  4. D
    Awadh was taken under the Doctrine of Lapse after its ruler died
Show answer

Answer: C. Awadh was annexed on grounds of misgovernment, not lapse. Large numbers of Bengal Army sepoys were recruited there, so the change hit them directly.

3. Why did the new greased cartridges offend both Hindu and Muslim sepoys?

  1. A
    pig fat offended Hindus and cow fat offended Muslims
  2. B
    cow fat offended Hindus and pig fat offended Muslims
  3. C
    they were blessed by Christian chaplains before issue
  4. D
    each packet carried an oath of loyalty to the Queen
Show answer

Answer: B. The Enfield cartridges had to be bitten open; rumours said they were greased with cow fat (sacred to Hindus) and pig fat (forbidden to Muslims).

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