Revolt of 1857: Causes & Effects of 1857 Revolt UPSC Notes

The Revolt of 1857 was a major uprising in India between 1857–58 against the unjust rule of the British East India Company. The revolt served as the British Crown's sovereign power. The revolt of 1857 started on May 10, 1857, at Meerut as a sepoy mutiny. Sepoys initiated it in the Bengal Presidency against British officers. The British East India Company's rule came to an end as a result of this Independence struggle. This revolt was, however, largely confined to parts of Northern and Central India. Despite the British granting amnesty to rebels not involved in murder on 1 November 1858, the formal declaration of the end of hostilities did not occur until 8 July 1859.

The Revolt of 1857 UPSC is one of the most important topics for the UPSC IAS exam. It covers a significant part of the Modern History subject in the Mains General Studies Paper-1 syllabus and General Studies Paper-1 of the UPSC Prelims Syllabus.

In this article on the Revolt of 1857 UPSC, let us discuss in detail the various causes that led to the revolt of 1857, the prominent leaders of the revolt of 1857, nature of 1857 revolt upsc, its suppression, and its significance. 

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What was the Revolt of 1857?

The Revolt of 1857 is also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857. It was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the form of a mutiny of sepoys of the Company's army in the garrison town of Meerut. It then erupted into other mutinies and civilian rebellions, chiefly in the upper Gangetic plain and central India.

The expansionist and imperialist policies of the British East India Company had negative impacts on all sections of society, including rulers, peasants, and traders. The revolt of 1857 was not solely triggered by one policy or event; instead, it arose from a combination of political, economic, administrative, and socio-religious factors. These causes are discussed briefly below: 

Read the article Political & Economic Causes of Revolt of 1857 here.

Immediate Causes of the Revolt of 1857

The immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857 was when the 'Enfield' rifle was introduced. Before this, soldiers had to carry gunpowder & bullets along with their rifles. There was a rumor that aroused that the cartridge was greased with pig & cow fat. As the pig is taboo in Muslims & the cow is sacred in the Hindu religion, soldiers refused to use the cartridge.

Company officers became aware of the rumors through reports of an altercation between a high-caste sepoy and a low-caste laborer. There were also rumors that the British sought to destroy the religions of the Indian people and force the soldiers to break their religious beliefs. However, this was not the only reason, as multiple other causes, i.e., Religious, Political, Economic, and Social Causes, contributed to the Revolt of 1857.

Economic Causes of the Revolt of 1857

The peasants suffered under the land revenue policies of the British East India Company. They faced heavy taxes and resorted to loans with high interest rates from moneylenders and traders. Non-payment resulted in the confiscation of their lands, leaving them without a means of livelihood. With the annexation of Indian states by the British, rulers could no longer support artisans and craftworkers, leading them to a state of misery.

The economic policies of the British East India Company had a devastating impact on Indian industries and handicrafts. They imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods, causing a decline in the export of cotton and silk, which eventually ceased by the mid-nineteenth century.

Read the article on Bal Gangadhar Tilak for UPSC here.

Administrative Causes of the Revolt of 1857

The administration of the British East India Company needed more efficiency and effectiveness. Even though Sir Thomas Munro proposed the employment of Indians, no action was taken by the British in that regard. Corruption was widespread within the company's administration.

Political Causes of the Revolt of 1857

In the late 1840s, Lord Dalhousie implemented the Doctrine of Lapse. The Doctrine of Lapse policy, introduced by the British East India Company, denied the adopted children of rulers their right to succession, causing resentment among rulers like Nana Sahib and Jhansi Rani Lakshmibai.

The British also enforced aggressive policies like Subsidiary alliance and effective control, intervening in the internal affairs of states, which further fueled discontent among rulers. Following the death of Mughal ruler Faqir-ud-Din, Lord Canning proclaimed that the succeeding prince must renounce regal titles and ancestral properties of the Mughal empire, which deeply affected the sentiments of Indian Muslims.

Read about the Subsidiary Alliance for UPSC from here.

Social Causes of the Revolt of 1857

The social and religious causes of the revolt were:

• the rapidly spreading Western Civilisation in India, 
• the introduction of the railways and telegraph, and 
• the abolition of practices like sati and female infanticide. 

These changes were seen as a threat to traditional Indian society and culture by many people.

Know more about the Social Causes of the Revolt of 1857!

Military Causes of the Revolt of 1857

The military causes of the revolt were:

• the low pay of Indian sepoys, 
• the need that they serve in areas far away from their homes, and 
• the introduction of the Enfield rifle. These used cartridges that were rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat. 

These factors led to widespread discontent among the sepoys, who were the backbone of the British army in India.

The simmering discontent among the Indian sepoys against the British East India Company was further fuelled by the order to use those greased cartridges. Sepoys refused to use the greased cartridges. This was considered insubordination by the British officials, who began to impose harsh punishments for sepoys. Thus began the revolt of 1857.

Let us discuss the course of the revolt of 1857 briefly.

To know about Robert Clive, check the linked article.

In the following table, the storm centres of the revolt of 1857, the leaders who led the revolt at those centres and the British generals who suppressed the revolt are listed.

To know about the Military causes of the revolt of 1857, check the linked article.

Reasons for the Failure of the Revolt of 1857

The causes for the failure of the revolt of 1857 are listed below.

• Lack of coordination and unified leadership among the rebel forces.
• Superior military strength and resources of the British East India Company.
• Divide among different groups involved in the revolt, including regional, religious, and social divisions.
• Inadequate communication and slow dissemination of information among rebel forces.
• Lack of widespread support from Indian rulers and nobility.
• Strategic mistakes made by rebel leaders, such as poor planning and execution of military campaigns.
• Limited access to modern weaponry and military training for the rebel forces.
• British ability to exploit internal conflicts and rivalries within the rebel groups.
• British success in winning over or neutralizing key sections of Indian society, including some princely states.
• Reinstatement of British control and reinforcement of colonial rule after the suppression of the revolt.

Read the Second Anglo-Maratha War for UPSC here.

Impact of the 1857 Revolt

The effects of the 1857 Revolt have been listed below.

• End of the East India Company's rule: The East India Company had ruled India for over a century. The Revolt of 1857 showed that it was no longer able to maintain control of the colony. The British government decided to abolish the company and take direct control of India.
• Establishment of direct British rule: After the revolt, India was ruled directly by the British Crown. This meant that the British government had more control over the administration of India. They could make decisions without having to consult the East India Company.
• Creation of the Indian Civil Service: The Indian Civil Service was created in 1858. This was to provide a cadre of British officials to administer India. The ICS was recruited through a competitive examination. It was trained in British law and administration.
• Rise in nationalism among Indians: The Revolt of 1857 showed Indians that they could unite against the British and fight for their independence. This led to a rise in nationalism among Indians. It also led to the formation of new political organizations, such as the Indian National Congress.
• Renewed interest in Indian culture and heritage: Many Indians began to look back to their past and take pride in their traditions. This led to a revival of Indian art, literature, and music.
• Reorganization of the Army: The British army was reorganized to reduce the risk of another mutiny. The proportion of British soldiers in the Indian army was increased. Indian soldiers were no longer allowed to serve in groups from the same region.

To know about the Santhal Revolt, check the linked article.

Historians Views on 1857 Revolt The 1857 uprising, or the First War of Indian Independence, has been understood differently by historians: British Perspective: The British historians initially understood it as just a mutiny, and they attributed it to the uprising of Indian soldiers (sepoys) against problems such as the greased cartridge issue. It was regarded as a local happening and not a national movement. Nationalist Historians: Indian nationalist historians, such as V.D. Savarkar and R.C. Majumdar, subsequently reinterpreted the rebellion as a national freedom struggle. They highlighted peasants' participation, workers', and rulers', depicting it as a unitary reaction against British colonial rule. Marxist Historians: Marxist historians, such as A.R. Desai saw the rebellion as a feudal revolt prompted by the weakening grip of the traditional aristocracy, with no concept of national freedom. Modern Scholars: Most modern scholars contend that it was a multifaceted occurrence with socioeconomic and political motives, a sign of long-standing disillusionment against British occupation.

The Revolt of 1857, an anti-colonial movement that fought against the imperialist policies of the British East India Company, is an important event that took place in Indian history. Though the revolt was suppressed later, it shook the foundation of British rule in India. With the end of the revolt of 1857, the era of territorial aggrandizement also ended. However, it paved the way for India's economic exploitation era.

Aspirants can know about the UPSC Prelims Strategy from here.

Key Takeaways on the Revolt of 1857 for UPSC Aspirants Origin of the Revolt: The revolt broke out as a mutiny among sepoys (Indian soldiers) in the army of the East India Company because of the greasing of cartridges and other grievances, but ultimately developed into a wider uprising among diverse sections of society. Political Reasons: British annexations of Indian provinces like Awadh and Punjab, and policies like the Doctrine of Lapse provoked Indian princes and nobles into discontent. Social and Religious Reasons: Policies that interfered in indigenous usages, including Christian missionary work and reform like the abolition of Sati, estranged a large segment of people, especially the Hindus and Muslims. Economic Exploitation: The British economic policies, including heavy taxation, land revenue systems, and the destruction of traditional industries, led to widespread poverty and discontent among peasants and artisans.

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