1. Have you ever heard of the phrase:?
“Jewel in the Crown.”
2.
3. Since the 1500’s, Great Britain (England)
worked to expand their empire.
The more lands under Britain’s control
meant more materials it had and more
products it could sell.
4.
5. Great Britain had lands all over the world. A
popular phrase that British people would say
was, “The sun never sets on the British
Empire.”
But the crown jewel of the empire, the place
that brought the most profit and wealth, was
India.
With its raw materials and 300 million
people to sell to it was not surprising
6. In the 1600’s, the British East India
Company set up trading posts in a few major
Indian cities.
By the 1700’s the East India Company
basically took over India with its own private
army, staffed by Indian soldiers called
Sepoys.
7. In the 1800’s, the British government got
more involved in security, government and
regulating trade in India.
8. India provided huge amounts of raw
materials that could be sent to Britain.
Britain’s factories could then manufacture
goods from it.
India’s 300 million people were also a large
market for British goods.
9. Unfortunately, there were less benefits for the native
Indians.
Britain did not allow Indians to manufacture for themselves.
They had to buy British goods only.
The British did set up a railroad network, but it only
transported British goods.
Grown in India Refined in England
10.
11. In 1857, Sepoys, which were Indian soldiers
in the British army, rebelled.
already resented the British for their control
and their poor treatment of the natives.
The rebellion broke out over the lubricant on
a rifle.
13. Rumors spread that the cartridges for the
Enfield rifle were lubricated with beef and
pork fat.
Soldiers had to bite the seal off of the
cartridges before loading.
Hindu Indians were offended because cows
are sacred to their faith.
Muslim Indians were offended because pork
was considered a pollutant.
14.
15.
16. Sepoys that refused to use the cartridges
were jailed.
The next day, the Sepoys rebelled.
Fighting lasted for over a year. Finally, the
East India Company regained control.
After that, the British government was much
more involved in controlling India.
18. The British now felt more disgust with the
Indians.
Their racist attitudes dominated Indian
social life.
19. “It is the consciousness of the inherent
superiority of the European
which has won for us India. However
well-educated and clever a native may
be, and however brave he may prove
himself, I believe that no rank we can
bestow on him would cause him to be
considered an equal of the British
officer.”
- LORD KITCHENER, British Commander of
the army in India
20. Not until 1947 would
India find independence
and equality.
21.
22.
23. China had become an increasingly important
member of the global community
Western economic pressure forced China to
open to foreign trade and influence
Out of pride in their culture, the Chinese looked
down on all foreigners