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Rebels and the Raj – Class 12 History notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 12 History, chapter 10. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

The revolt of 1857 began with a mutiny of sepoys at Meerut on 10 May 1857 and spread across north India, involving soldiers, peasants, zamindars and rulers. Rebels marched to Delhi and proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar as their leader. Causes included the annexation of states such as Awadh, changes in land revenue, grievances of sepoys and fears about religion. The British suppressed the revolt by 1858, and the Crown took over the government of India.

Causes and spread

The policy of subsidiary alliance and the doctrine of lapse led to the annexation of states such as Satara, Jhansi and Nagpur; Awadh was annexed in 1856 on grounds of misgovernance.
Sepoys had grievances over pay, service conditions and religious matters; the greased cartridges of the Enfield rifle, rumoured to be coated with cow and pig fat, angered both Hindus and Muslims.
After Meerut, rebels reached Delhi; the revolt spread to Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, Bareilly and Arrah, with leaders such as Nana Sahib, Rani Lakshmibai, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Kunwar Singh and Tantia Tope.

Awadh and popular participation

In Awadh, the removal of the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and the summary settlement of 1856, which dispossessed taluqdars, caused widespread anger.
Sepoys, many of whom came from Awadh villages, were connected to the grievances of peasants and taluqdars.
Rebel proclamations appealed to Hindus and Muslims together and promised to restore the old order; rumours and prophecies spread the revolt.

Suppression and representations

The British passed laws giving officers powers to try and punish rebels and recaptured Delhi in September 1857; Lucknow and other centres fell in 1858.
The Government of India Act of 1858 transferred power from the East India Company to the Crown.
British paintings presented the British as heroic rescuers and demanded revenge, while Indian nationalist imagination later celebrated rebels such as Rani Lakshmibai as heroes.

Key terms

Subsidiary alliance: a system in which Indian rulers kept British troops and could not have independent armies
Doctrine of lapse: the policy of annexing states whose rulers died without a natural heir
Taluqdar: a landholder in Awadh with control over villages and armed retainers
Summary settlement: the 1856 revenue settlement in Awadh that removed many taluqdars
Greased cartridges: cartridges of the Enfield rifle rumoured to be greased with animal fat

Important questions with answers

What was the doctrine of lapse?2 marks

The doctrine of lapse, applied by Lord Dalhousie, was the policy that if a ruler of a dependent state died without a natural male heir, the state would 'lapse' to the British and be annexed, rather than pass to an adopted son. Satara, Jhansi and Nagpur were annexed under it.

Why were sepoys dissatisfied before 1857?3 marks

Sepoys were unhappy with low pay, difficulty in getting leave and the requirement to serve overseas, which some saw as a threat to caste. They were also linked to the grievances of peasants in their villages. The introduction of greased cartridges rumoured to contain cow and pig fat convinced many that the British wanted to destroy their religion.

Explain the causes and spread of the revolt of 1857 with special reference to Awadh.5 marks

The revolt of 1857 had political, economic, military and religious causes. British expansion through the subsidiary alliance and the doctrine of lapse led to the annexation of many states, and Awadh was annexed in 1856 on the grounds of misgovernance, deposing Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. In Awadh, the summary settlement of 1856 removed many taluqdars from their lands and disarmed them, while peasants faced high revenue demands; the nawab's dependants, courtiers, musicians and soldiers lost their livelihoods. Sepoys, many of whom were from Awadh villages, had grievances over pay, overseas service and the greased cartridges, which seemed to threaten their religion, and they shared the anger of their families. On 10 May 1857 sepoys at Meerut mutinied and marched to Delhi, proclaiming Bahadur Shah Zafar as their leader, which gave the revolt legitimacy. The revolt spread quickly to Kanpur under Nana Sahib, Lucknow under Begum Hazrat Mahal, Jhansi under Rani Lakshmibai, Arrah under Kunwar Singh, and other areas, with peasants, zamindars, taluqdars and local leaders joining. In Awadh the revolt became a popular rebellion, as taluqdars and peasants fought together. The British used force and new laws to suppress it, recapturing Delhi in September 1857 and Lucknow in 1858, and then ended Company rule through the Government of India Act of 1858.

Quick revision

Annexations; Awadh 1856.
Sepoy grievances; greased cartridges.
Leaders: Bahadur Shah Zafar, Nana Sahib, Lakshmibai, Kunwar Singh.
Suppression by 1858; Crown rule; representations.

Exam tips

Map the centres of the revolt with their leaders.
Remember: 10 May 1857 Meerut; 1856 Awadh annexation; 1858 Crown rule.

Practice MCQs

The revolt of 1857 began at
1. Delhi
2. Meerut
3. Kanpur
4. Lucknow
Show answer
Answer: (b) Meerut. It began on 10 May 1857.
The rebels proclaimed as their leader
1. Nana Sahib
2. Tantia Tope
3. Bahadur Shah Zafar
4. Kunwar Singh
Show answer
Answer: (c) Bahadur Shah Zafar. He was the Mughal emperor.
Rani Lakshmibai led the revolt at
1. Jhansi
2. Lucknow
3. Arrah
4. Bareilly
Show answer
Answer: (a) Jhansi. She fought bravely against the British.
Awadh was annexed in
1. 1801
2. 1848
3. 1856
4. 1858
Show answer
Answer: (c) 1856. The Nawab was removed.
Begum Hazrat Mahal led the revolt in
1. Delhi
2. Lucknow
3. Kanpur
4. Jhansi
Show answer
Answer: (b) Lucknow. Lucknow was the capital of Awadh.
The leader of the revolt at Arrah in Bihar was
1. Kunwar Singh
2. Nana Sahib
3. Shah Mal
4. Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah
Show answer
Answer: (a) Kunwar Singh. He was an elderly zamindar.
Why was the revolt particularly widespread in Awadh
1. Awadh had no sepoys
2. revenue was abolished there
3. the British had not entered Awadh
4. annexation and the summary settlement angered the nawab's supporters, taluqdars and peasants
Show answer
Answer: (d) annexation and the summary settlement angered the nawab's supporters, taluqdars and peasants. Grievances combined across classes.
The Government of India Act of 1858
1. gave more power to the Company
2. transferred power from the Company to the British Crown
3. made India independent
4. abolished the army
Show answer
Answer: (b) transferred power from the Company to the British Crown. The Company's rule ended.

All chapters of Class 12 History

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.