When People Rebel 1857 and After

JAC Board Class 8th Social Science Solutions History Chapter 5 When People Rebel 1857 and After

JAC Class 8th History When People Rebel 1857 and After InText Questions and Answers

Page 52

Question 1.
Imagine you are a sepoy in the Company army, advising your nephew not to take employment in the army. What reasons would you give? The reasons would be:
Answer:

1. The working conditions are very harsh and bitter.
2. The salary and other allowances are very low.
3. The person who will be recruited in the army might be posted overseas.
4. They do not have any respect for Indian religious beliefs and sentiments.

Page 55

Question 2.
What were the important concerns in the minds of the people according to Sitaram and according to Vishnubhatt?
Answer:
The important concerns in the minds of the people according to:
Sitaram

1. The main reason of sepoy’s revolt was the seizing of Oudh.
2. The cartridge of rifles were grease with the fat of cows and pigs and the sepoys would challenge the British.

Vishnubhatt

1. There were 84 new rules which would affect them unfavourably.
2. Kings and princes would protest the Company’s rule.
3. Major disturbance and turbulence would occur.

Question 3.
What role did they think the rulers were playing? What role did the sepoys seem to play?
Answer:
Role played by the rulers:
The rulers sent their forces to help and support the British. They never thought about the poor people and led a luxurious and comfortable life. Role played by the sepoys: They mutinied in many places of India. They killed several British officers and then sacrificed their life as well.

Question 4.
Why did the Mughal emperor agree to support the rebels?
Answer:
The Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, agreed to support the rebels because he wanted to rule the whole country as an independent ruler. The emperor was also against the policies of the British and in the mutiny, the emperor got the chance to do so.

Question 5.
Write a paragraph on the assessment he may have made before accepting the offer of the sepoys.
Answer:
As the Revolt of 1857 spread the sepoy regiments seized Delhi. Bahadur Shah Zafar had neutral views about religion. So some Indian kings and regiments accepted him as the Emperor of India. When the sepoys arrived at his court he asked them why they had come. He told them that he did not have the means to maintain them. Initially he was indecisive. He yielded to the demands of the sepoys when they told him that it was not possible for them to win against the East India Company without his support.

Page 59

Question 6.
Make a list of places where the uprising took place in May, June and July 1857.
Answer:
List of places where the uprising took place in May, June and July 1857 are: Meerut Delhi Faizabad Bareilly Lucknow Bulandshahar Kanpur Jhansi

Page 64

Question 7.
Imagine you are a British officer in Awadh during the rebellion. What would you do to keep your plans of fighting the rebels a top secret.
Student need to do it on their own. (Hint: I would take quick and sudden actions without revealing the plan of actions.)

JAC Class 8th History When People Rebel 1857 and AfterTextbook Questions and Answers

( Let’s Recall)

Question 1.
What was the demand of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi that was refused by the British?
Answer:
After the death of Rani Lakshmibai’s husband, she wanted her adopted son to be recognised as the heir to the kingdom. But this demand was refused by the British.

Question 2.
What did the British do to protect the interests of those who converted to Christianity?
Answer:
The British passed a law to protect the interests as allowing Indians to inherit the property of their ancestors those who converted to Christianity.

Question 3.
What objections did the sepoys have to the new cartridges that they were asked to use?
Answer:
The new cartridges that they were asked to use were coated with the fats of cows and pigs and the sepoys objected as it was related to the religious sentiments.

Question 4.
How did the last Mughal emperor live the last years of his life?
Answer:
The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar had a very miserable and vulnerable life. He was given life imprisonment for supporting the revolt against the British. He and his wife were sent to jail in Rangoon. He died there after 4 years.

(Let’s Discuss)

Question 5.
What could be the reasons for the confidence of the British rulers about their position in India before May 1857?
Answer:
The reasons for the confidence of the British rulers about their position in India before May 1857 were:
(i) Nawabs and rajas had lost their authority and honour. Residents had been stationed in many courts, the freedom of the rulers reduced, their armed forces disbanded and their revenues and territories taken away.

1. Awadh was one of the last territories to be annexe(d) In 1801, a subsidiary alliance was imposed on Awadh and in 1856 it was taken over.
2. Governor-General Canning decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal king in 1856 and after his death none of his descendants would be recognised as kings and they would just be called princes.

Question 6.
What impact did Bahadur Shah Zafar’s support to the rebellion have on the people and the ruling families?
Answer:
Bahadur Shah Zafar’s support to the rebellion boosted the morale of the people and the ruling families:

1. The people of the towns and villages also rose up in rebellion and rallied around local leaders, zamindars and chiefs who were prepared to establish their authority and fight the British.
2. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the late Peshwa Baji Rao, gathered armed forces and expelled the British garrison from the city.
3. Birjis Question adr, the son of the deposed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was proclaimed the new Nawab in Lucknow. He too acknowledged the suzerainty of Bahadur Shah Zafar.
4. In Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai joined the rebel sepoys and fought the British along with Tantia Tope, the general of Nana Saheb.

Question 7.
How did the British succeed in securing the submission of the rebel landowners of Awadh?
Answer:
The British tried their best to win back the loyalty of the people. They announced rewards for loyal landholders as they would be allowed to continue to enjoy traditional rights over their lands. Those who had rebelled were told that if they submitted to the British and if they had not killed any white people, they would remain safe and their rights and claims to land would not be denied.

Question 8.
In what ways did the British change their policies as a result of the rebellion of 1857?
Answer:
The important changes that were introduced by the British are as follows:
(i) In 1858, the British Parliament passed a new Act and transferred the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown in order to ensure a more responsible management of Indian affairs.

(ii) All ruling chiefs of the country were assured that their territory would never be annexed in future. They were allowed to pass on their kingdoms to their heirs, including adopted sons. However, they were made to acknowledge the British Question ueen as their Sovereign Paramount.

(iii) It was decided that the proportion of Indian soldiers in the army would be reduced and the
number of European soldiers would be increased It was also decided that more soldiers would be recruited from among the Gurkhas, Sikhs and Pathans instead of recruiting soldiers from Awadh, Bihar, central India and south India.

(iv) The land and property of Muslims was confiscated on a large scale and they were treated with suspicion and hostility. The British believed that they were responsible for the rebellion in a big way.

(v) They decided to respect the religious and social practices of the people in India.

(vi) Policies were made to protect landlords and zamindars and give them security of rights over their lands.

(Let’s Do)

Question 9.
Find out stories and songs remembered by people in your area or your family about San Sattavan ki Ladaai. What memories do people cherish about the great uprising?
Answer:
Students need to do it on their own.

Question 10.
Find out more about Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. In what ways would she have been an unusual woman for her times?
Answer:
Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi (1835-1858), a leader of Indian mutiny of 1857. Bom in Varanasi in northern India, Lakshmi Bai was married to Gangadhar Rao, the ‘ ruler of Jhansi The raja died in 1853, leaving no direct male heir, but had adopted a son without a consent of the British East India Company. The adopted son’s claim to the throne was disregarded by James Dalhousie, governor-general of India. When Jhansi fell, Lakshmibai joined the rebel leader Tantiya Tope to fight at kalpi.

When kalpi, too, fell to the British, they escaped to the forest and captured Gwalior Fort in 1858. Here, supported by the Gwalior forces, she continued to fight the British until shot dead during a battle close to the fort. She was 23 years ol(d) Romanticized as a heroine and freedom fighter, and apparently gaining the respect of her enemies for her bravery, Lakshmibai was the one of the best leaders of the Jhansi. Rani Lakshmibai was the great queen of our Indian history she remembered in all time in every heart.

JAC Class 8th History When People Rebel 1857 and After Important Questions and Answers

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
Awadh was annexed in the year
(a) 1823
(b) 1843
(c) 1856
(d) 1866
Answer:
(c) 1856

Question 2.
The Sepoy’s mutiny of 1857 started from………
(a) Meerut
(b) Delhi
(c) Lucknow
(d) Kolkata
Answer:
(a) Meerut

Question 3.
The sepoys felt that should rule India instead of the British.
(a) Wajid Ali Shah, the nawab of Oudh
(b) The Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar
(c) Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore
(d) Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi
Answer:
(b) The Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar

Question 4.
Birjis Question adr’s mother took part in organizing the uprising against the British. Her name was
(a) Noor Jahan
(b) Razia Sultan
(c) Begum Hazrat Mahal
(d) Begum Zeenat Mahal
Answer:
(c) Begum Hazrat Mahal

Question 5.
The Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar died in…….. .
(a) The Audience Hall
(b) The Royal palace
(c) The Mosque
(d) The Rangoon jail
Answer:
(d) The Rangoon jail

Question 6.
Nana Saheb was living in/near ……..when the mutiny started.
(a) Jhansi
(b) Kanpur
(c) Gwalior
(d) Meerut
Answer:
(b) Kanpur

Question 7.
Lucknow was recaptured by the British army in……..
(a) March 1858
(b) Jume 1859
(c) October 1858
(d) None of these
Answer:
(a) Jhansi

Question 8.
Rani Lakshmibai was defeated and killed in…… .
(a) June 1858
(b) July 1859
(c) June 1859
(d) May 1858
Answer:
(a) June 1858

Question 9.
In the Mandia region of Madhya Pradesh, of Ramgarh raised and led an army of four thousand against the British who had taken over the administration of the state.
(a) Rani Lakshmibai
(b) Nana Saheb
(c) Tantia Tope
(d) Rani Avantibai Lodhi
Answer:
(d) Rani Avantibai Lodhi

Question 10.
………. escaped to the jungles of central India and continued to fight a guerrilla war with the support of many tribal and peasant leaders.
(a) Mangal Pandey
(b) Tantia Tope
(c) Wajid Ali
(d) Birjis Question adr
Answer:
(b) Tantia Tope

Very Short Answer Type Question

Question 1.
Name the person who translated the memoirs of Sitaram Pande into English.
Answer:
Norgate translated the memoirs of Sitaram Pande into English.

Question 2
Who was the son of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah?
Answer:
Birjis Question adr was the son of the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.

Question 3
When was Mangal Pandey hanged to death and why?
Answer:
On 29 March 1857, Mangal Pandey, a young soldier was hanged to death for attacking his officers in Barrackpore.

Question 4.
Who was Tantia Tope?
Answer:
Tantia Tope was the General of Nana Saheb.

Question 5.
What was the first step taken by the Company towards ending the Mughal dynasty?
Answer:
The first step taken by the Company towards ending the Mughal dynasty was to remove the name of the Mughal Emperor from the coins minted by the Company.

Question 6.
Name the person who took charge of a large force of fighters who came to Delhi.
Answer:
A soldier from Bareilly, Bakht Khan took charge of a large force of fighters who came to Delhi.

Question 7.
What do you mean by mutiny?
Answer:
When soldiers as a group disobey their officers in the army then it is called mutiny.

Question 8.
Name any two smaller rulers who acknowledged the authority of Bahadur Shah Zafar.
Answer:
Two smaller rulers who acknowledged the authority of Bahadur Shah Zafar were Nana Saheb and Birjis Question adr.

Question 9.
Who were ‘Viceroy’?
Answer:
The Governor General of India was given the title of ‘Viceroy’ which means a personal representative of the Crown.

Question 10.
For what reason did the British treat Muslims with suspicion and hostility?
Answer:
The British believed that Muslims were responsible for the rebellion in a big way, hence they treated Muslims with suspicion and hostility.

Question 11.
Why were the powers of the East India Company transferred to the British Crown?
Answer:
The powers of the East India Company were transferred to the British Crown in order to ensure a more responsible management of Indian affairs.

Short Answer Type Question

Question 1.
What was the condition for the ruling chiefs who could pass on their kingdoms to their heirs?
Answer:
All ruling chiefs of the country were assured that their territory would never be annexed in future. They were allowed to pass on their kingdoms to their heirs which includes adopted sons. But, they were made to acknowledge the British ueen as their Sovereign Paramount.

Question 2.
What do you understand by Taiping Rebellion?
Answer:
Taiping Rebellion had started in 1850 and could be suppressed only by the middle of 1860s. Thousands of labouring, poor people were led by Hong Xiuquan to fight for the establishment of the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace. This was known as the Taiping Rebellion.

Question 3.
What were the social causes of the revolt?
Answer:
The British believed that Indian society had to be reforme(d) Many laws were passed to stop the practice of sati and to encourage the remarriage of widows. They did promotion of English- language education. Many Indians believed that the British were meddling and interfering in their social customs and their traditional way of life. Hence, revolted against the British rule.

Question 4.
The British made efforts to win back the loyalty of the people. What were they?
Answer:
The British tried their best to win back the loyalty of the people in the following ways:

1. The British announced rewards for the loyal landlords who would be allowed to continue to enjoy traditional rights over their lands.
2. Those who had rebelled were told that if they submit to the British and if they had not killed any white people then they would remain safe and their rights and claims to land would not be denied.

Question 5.
When the British established political power in India. What happened to the Nawabs and Rajas?
Answer:
When British established political power in India then:

1. The Nawabs and Rajas lost their authority and honour.
2. The freedom of the rulers reduced and British Residents were stationed in all the courts, their armed forces disbanded and territories taken away by stages.

Question 6.
Brief about on Subedar Sitaram Pande.
Answer:
Sitaram Pande was employed in 1812 as a sepoy in the Bengal Native Army. He served the English for 48 years and retired in 1860. He helped the British to suppress the rebellion though his own son was a rebel and was killed by the British in front of his eyes. On retirement, he was persuaded by Norgate his Commanding Officer to write his memoirs. He completed the writing in 1861 in Awadhi and Norgate translated it into English and published it under the title ‘From Sepoy to Subedar’.

Question 7.
Write the main provisions of the Act of 1858.
Answer:
The main provisions of the Act of 1858 were as follows:

1. In order to ensure more responsible management of Indian affairs, powers of the East India Company were transferred to the British Crown.
2. One of the British Cabinet member was appointed Secretary of State for India and was made responsible for all matters related to the governance of India.
3. The title of Viceroy was given to the Governor-General of India which means a personal representative of the Crown.

Question 8.
Why do you think the Indian soldiers get angry at the British?
Answer:
The Indian soldiers got angry at the British because they were unhappy • about their salary, allowances and conditions of service. Some of the new rules violated their religious emotions and beliefs. Those were the days when many people in the country believed that if they crossed the sea they would lose their religion and caste. So, when in 1824 the sepoys were told to go to Burma by the sea route to fight for the Company, they refused to follow the order, though they agreed to go by the land route. They were severely punished In 1856, the Company passed a new law which stated that every new person who took up employment in the Company’s army had to agree to serve overseas if required.

Long Answer Type Question 

Question 1.
The British introduced reforms in the Indian society. What were they? How did people of India respond to them?
Answer:
British introduced the following reforms in the Indian society:
(i) Laws were passed to stop the practice of sati and to encourage the remarriage of widows.
(ii) Promotion of English-language education was done actively.
(iii) After 1830, the Company allowed Christian missionaries to function freely in its domain and even own land and property.
(iv) A new law was passed to make conversion to Christianity easier in 1850.
(v) Many Indians began to feel that the British were destroying and suppressing their religion, social customs and their traditional way of leading the life. They were not happy with some of the changes which the British brought.

Question 2.
How did the rebellion spread to other regions of the country?
Answer:
Due to the war with sepoys the position of the British became very weak in Delhi and they were almost defeated by the rebel force. Hence, there was no uprising for almost a week. After sometime a spurt of mutinies began in several parts of India. Regiment after regiment mutinied and took to join other troops at Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow. The people of the towns and villages also rose up in rebellion. They rallied around local leaders, zamindars and chiefs who were prepared to establish their authority and fight the British.

Nana Saheb who lived near Kanpur gathered armed forces and expelled the British Garrison from the city. He proclaimed himself Peshwa and declared that he was a Governor under emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. In Lucknow, Birjis Question adr was proclaimed the new Nawab. He too acknowledged the suzerainty of Bahadur Shah Zafar. In Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai joined the rebel sepoys and fought the British along with Tantia Tope, the General of Nana Saheb.

A similar situation of rebel also developed in the region of Awadh. Many new leaders also came up and joined the revolt. Ahmadullah Shah, a maulvi from Faizabad, raised a large force of supporters. He came to Lucknow to fight the British. In Delhi, a large number of religious warriors came together to wipe out the British. A soldier from Bareilly, Bakht Khan took charge of a large force of fighters who came to Delhi. An old zamindar, Kunwar Singh in Bihar, joined the rebel sepoys and fought with the British for several months.

JAC Class 8 Social Science Solutions