How Did British Colonization Affect India

The rule of the British Empire in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947 greatly affected the net economic status of India. Trade was the sole reason for the British East India company arrival in India, for the Industrial Revolution in Britain led to the increase in demand for raw materials in factories and India served as an efficient platform. However, as their influence started expanding, they created new policies and began to colonize India not only economically, but also socially and politically. Historians continue to debate whether the long-term impact of British rule in India was accelerating the economy or declining it. That being said, my paper is going to be assessing the positive and negative impacts on the Indian economy

The acceleration of Imperialism during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that greatly impacted the world, is due to multiple economic, political, and social forces. Imperialism, a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force, was becoming drastically more and more important for European and Asian countries. Ultimately, the advancements during the Industrial Revolution made Imperialism easier, and on a very large scale for many European countries. Although there were many factors that contributed to Imperialism by ways of economic, political, and social forces, some proved to be more significant and influential than others.

In the late 17th century, the European nations set up several companies and trading posts along the coast of Africa and Asia. They work closely with local rulers in order to ensure the protection of European economic interests in those areas. Later in the late 18th century and early 19th century, the time period that was known as the Age of Imperialism, the trading posts started to influence the lands and established vast colonial empires in both Africa and Asia. The oblivion of cultural identity and value, the establishment of new laws, and the loss of economic benefits occurred in the colonized lands as the results of the imperialism.

This was due to the passing of the Indian Independence Act, which “ended British rule in India” (Wadley 203). In addition, the act allowed India to divide into two sections: India (for Hindus) and Pakistan (for Muslims). Jawaharlal Nehru became Prime Minister of India. Nehru discussed this at the Constituent Assembly. He talked about the future for India, and how they have more steps to take. In addition, Nehru explained that Muslims “are of us and will remain of us whatever happens” (Document 2). Not only did Gandhi help to achieve what each religion wanted, but did so while himself and Nehru encouraged Hindus and Muslims to remain

In the 1600s, the British people took interest in India. In 1707 when the Mongol Empire was collapsing, which meant the British had a chance to take over. By 1857 Britain took full, direct control of India. Although the British developed a very strong army, they restricted the freedom of Indians, created national parks, but abused natural resources, and killed almost 60 millions people but brought modern medicine.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi or as more know him Mahatma Gandhi fought and died for the independance of India, even through all the cruelty people say that the British ruling helped shape modern India, did the British really help shape modern India?

Building an Empire becomes problematic when the colonizers know nothing about the territory being colonized. Britain began colonizing India in the 1700s, completely ignorant about the people of India and their cultural and religious beliefs. Ignorance comes from a lack of knowledge. This lack of knowledge can be by choice, like in this situation. Despite their ignorance, Englishmen still came into India with an arrogant attitude. They believed they were superior to the people of India, therefore it did not matter what the people of India believed or how British actions made them feel. In “The Mark of the Beast”, Rudyard Kipling uses symbolism to portray ignorance and arrogance in India brought on during its colonization by Britain. The character of Fleete exemplifies that ignorance and insensitivity, and he ultimately pays a grave price.

After 90 years under imperial rule, India gained its independence from the British in 1947. How could they be under this rule for so long? In 1707, the Mughal Dynasty, the ruling power in India, started to collapse. The East India Company, a British company, took advantage of this opportunity and became the leading power in India. In 1875, the British government took full control after the Sepoy Rebellion. The British valued India for their raw materials and potential market for their products, calling them the “jewel of the crown.” The British rule was effective, setting up a framework for India’s government, building new infrastructure, and spreading the English Language. Although they did this, the British

The British empire had taken over many colonies, India refused to be one of them. Britain set up trading posts in three cities. One of those cities, the mughal empire collapsed and britain 's posts quickly took control. Britain found that India was very valuable with the resources that they could easily take and use to sell to the high population of India. Britain put the justice and military system into place for India which made an efficient profit for them and made them all in all knowledgeable. Most of the governmental systems didn’t help the indians in fact the things Britain put into place for india only made india profitable for britain.

Dr.Lalvani claims that under British rule, India was modernized, giving the foundation for a government that therefore gave law and order. While this system and others were built, they were built almost entirely for British benefit and even profit. In this new government, Indians had no say in the laws being decided by the British, that were impacting them. The laws were meant to further control Indians, while the British extracted India’s wealth and flood India’s markets with textiles with the help of railroads. Wanting more and more wealth, the British logged forests to create land to grow cash crops which in the end degraded the soil making it more difficult for them to grow. Muslims still felt less important than the Hindus fearing Muslim interests wouldn’t be protected by the mainly Hindu congress. In conclusion for Dr. Lalvani to say that the British over all helped and positively impacted India completely disregards the fact that Indians had to go through so much loss and pain through struggles and challenges that India has to go through

There have been many historical impacts in the British North American colonies. Between the time frame of 1607 and 1775 I believe the biggest changes were ethnic diversity and population growth amongst the colonies. Through the time span of 1700 to 1775 the colonies’ population grew by ten times. It escalated from 250,000 to 2,500,000. Also, the number of slaves rose tremendously over the time frame of 1700 to 1770. The slave count increased from 80,000 to 450,000 doing this time period. The world as we know it today would have been completely different without the British coming to the New World and learning and adapting as they did. With the growth of population came many important aspects from what we know today such as inventions and cultural diversity.

It took more than 200 years for India to shake the oppressive rule of the British. Britain seized control of Indian territory until they controlled the whole sub-continent. At first india was treasured by the British more for its potential rather than its actual profit. Its 300 million people were also a large potential market for British made products. Although Britain created sound law against killing, economic opportunities and health related advancements they caused more harm than good.

The strong influence of Puritans, Quakers, and Catholics can be seen in the development of the British Colonies. However, their survival was based on agriculture and the growing seasons of the colonies they occupied. Therefore, the resources available to the colonists was the largest factor in the development of the colonies. The different geography of the colonies effected the development of the colonies and their societies.

British imperialism had a negative effect on the politics of India because of the corrupt justice system, and the utter lack of respect that killed masses of innocent people. In the article Lalvani states that, the British “established the framework for India’s justice system, civil service, loyal army and efficient police force”. The British may have set up a government but the framework, however, did not include Indians. “ Of 960 civil offices...900 are occupied by Englishmen and only 60 by natives” (Doc 2). In no way are 60 voices of a race considered ‘savage’ going to overpower 900 white men, who could easily kill them for taking a stand, or trying to change the unjust laws that are

According to M.N.SRINIVAS westernisation in Indian terms refers to the effect of British culture in the Indian society. The westernisation effected many factors of Indian society including lifestyle, dressing, communication, religions, education, dressing , food and various habits. It is quite evident fact that India as a country has changed a lot after the colonisation era, some were beneficial changes like transportation which included trains, bringing an international language to the country. but in most of the cases the effects had a devastating effect on the countries economy, the country considered a golden bird before has turned out to an under developed nation at the end of colonisation. This paper of our aims at bringing in on how the colonisation has effected Indian society, by studying a few important factors effected.[1]