Indian Mutiny, also called Sepoy Mutiny or First War of Independence, widespread but unsuccessful rebellion against British rule in India in 1857–59. Begun in Meerut by Indian troops (sepoys) in the service of the British East India Company, it spread to Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, and Lucknow.
Why did the Indian mutiny happen?
Indian Mutiny summary
The rebellion began when sepoys refused to use new rifle cartridges, which were thought to be lubricated with grease containing a mixture of pigs’ and cows’ lard and thus religiously impure for Muslims and Hindus.
What was the Indian mutiny and what were the effects?
It led to the dissolution of the East India Company, and forced the British to reorganize the army, the financial system, and the administration in India, through passage of the Government of India Act 1858. India was thereafter administered directly by the British government in the new British Raj.
Why did the Indian Mutiny fail?
Q: Why did the Sepoy Rebellion fail? The Sepoy Rebellion failed due to a couple of key elements. One of the major reasons was that the two Indian groups, the Muslims and the Hindus, were not friendly. Even though they had a common enemy, their basic grudge against each other led them to fight instead of merge.
What atrocities happened in Indian mutiny?
The mutiny began with the destruction of government buildings in Meerut on May 10. It began with violence in the late afternoon of May 10 in Meerut with the sepoys destroying government buildings — the jail, record room, kachehri, telegraph office — and going on to destroy the bungalows in which the firangi lived.
What is the purpose of mutiny?
Mutiny is a revolt among a group of people (typically of a military, of a crew or of a crew of pirates) to oppose, change, or overthrow an organization to which they were previously loyal.
What happened to India after the Indian Mutiny?
The civil war was a major turning point in the history of modern India. In May 1858, the British exiled Emperor Bahadur Shah II (r. 1837-57) to Burma, thus formally liquidating the Mughal Empire.
What was the main result of the mutiny?
The immediate result of the mutiny was a general housecleaning of the Indian administration. The East India Company was abolished in favour of the direct rule of India by the British government.
What were the results of the 1857 mutiny?
Impact of Revolt of 1857
The major impact was the introduction of the Government of India Act, 1858 which abolished the rule of British East India Company and marked the beginning of British raj that bestowed powers in the hands of the British government to rule India directly through representatives.
How did the British punish the Indians?
In April 1857, during the Great Rebellion, 85 sepoys refused to use the new cartridges which they felt were unclean. The 85 sepoys were court-martialled and imprisoned. At the sentencing, the British humiliated the sepoys by stripping their uniforms and shackling their ankles in front of 4000 other sepoys.
How many died in the Indian Mutiny?
The Indian Mutiny was a rebellion against the rule of the British East India Company that ran from May 1857 to July 1859. The revolt, which led to more than 100,000 Indians being killed, was not the result of one single factor, but rather a build-up of grievances over many years.
What do you think was the main cause of the Vellore mutiny?
The immediate causes of the mutiny revolved mainly around resentment felt towards changes in the sepoy dress code, introduced in November 1805. Hindus were prohibited from wearing religious marks on their foreheads while on duty, and Muslims were required to shave their beards and trim their moustaches.
What was the incident that triggered the mutiny?
The main cause of the Sepoy Mutiny was the introduction of new rifle cartridges that were thought to be lubricated with grease containing cows and pig fat. Since the new cartridge needed to be bitten before beng loaded into the rifle, this hurt religious sentiments of both Hindu and Muslim soldiers.
Why is it called mutiny?
Mutiny comes from an old verb, mutine, which means “revolt,” and a mutiny is still like a revolt. It can be a group of people, like in the famous Mutiny on the Bounty in 1789 when the crew of a British Royal Navy ship kicked the captain out so they could stay in Tahiti.
Who started the mutiny?
Mangal Pandey
Mangal Pandey, a Sepoy in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry, is credited with starting the Sepoy Mutiny on 29th March 1857 when he refused to use the new cartridges greased with animal fat. In the end, he shot a few British officers who were sent to arrest him for his disobedience.