Oxford Solutions for ICSE Class 8 History Civics Chapter 8 Expansion Of British Power In India

EXERCISES

A. Fill the in the blanks:

Question 1: The five centres of Maratha power were:
Answer: The five centres of Maratha power were:
The Sindhias of Gwalior
The Holkars of Indore
The Bhonsle family of Nagpur
The Gaekwad family of Baroda
The Peshwa of Poona (Pune)
These centers represented different powerful families that shared the leadership of the Maratha Empire. Although they were part of a confederacy, they often acted independently, which the British exploited to gain control.
Teacher's Tip: Think of these five centers as a "Maratha Star" with Poona at the heart.
Exam Tip: List all five centers correctly to ensure you get full marks for this multi-part blank.

Question 2: The Govemors-General during the First and Second Anglo- Maratha Wars were Warren Hastings and Lord Wellesley, respectively.
Answer: Warren Hastings and Lord Wellesley.
Warren Hastings led the British during the initial conflict, while Lord Wellesley used more aggressive expansionist policies later on. Both leaders played crucial roles in dismantling Maratha power through military and diplomatic means.
Teacher's Tip: Use the initials 'H' and 'W' - Hastings came first, Wellesley came second.
Exam Tip: Remember to use the word "respectively" if you are asked to pair leaders with specific wars.

Question 3: The Second Anglo-Maratha War was a severe blow to the Sindhia and Bhonsle of the Marathas.
Answer: Sindhia and Bhonsle.
This war forced these two powerful families to sign treaties that gave up vast amounts of territory to the British. It significantly weakened the Maratha Confederacy's ability to resist future British expansion.
Teacher's Tip: Associate 'S' and 'B' (Sindhia and Bhonsle) with the 'Second' war.
Exam Tip: Double-check the spelling of "Sindhia" and "Bhonsle" as they are specific historical names.

Question 4: Lord Dalhousie adopted three methods to make the British the paramount power in India.
Answer: three methods.
These methods were direct war, the controversial Doctrine of Lapse, and annexation on grounds of maladministration. These strategies allowed Dalhousie to bring almost the entire Indian subcontinent under British rule.
Teacher's Tip: Think of Dalhousie's "Triple Threat" to remember there were three methods.
Exam Tip: If asked to name them, list War, Doctrine of Lapse, and Maladministration.

Question 5: Jhansi was annexed by Dalhousie on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse.
Answer: Doctrine of Lapse.
This policy allowed the British to take over any kingdom where the ruler died without a natural male heir. The annexation of Jhansi became a primary cause for Rani Lakshmi Bai joining the Revolt of 1857.
Teacher's Tip: Connect "Jhansi" and "Lapse" because the Queen lost her land due to this specific rule.
Exam Tip: Always mention "male heir" when explaining the Doctrine of Lapse in short notes.

Question 6: Dalhousie annexed Awadh on the grounds of Maladministration or Misgovernment.
Answer: Maladministration or Misgovernment.
The British claimed that the Nawab was not ruling his people fairly or efficiently, so they took over the land themselves. This was one of the most hated annexations because the Nawab had actually been a loyal ally to the British.
Teacher's Tip: Remember 'M' for Misgovernment and 'A' for Awadh.
Exam Tip: Use the term "maladministration" as it is the formal administrative term used in historical documents.

B. Match the following:

A
1. Subsidiary Alliance
2. Hyder Ali
3. Ranjit Singh
4. Doctrine of Lapse
5. English East India Company
B
(a) Ruler of the Sikh kindom
(b) paramount power in India
(c) Ruler of Mysore
(d) Lord Wellesley
(e) Lord Dalhousie
Answer:
1. Subsidiary Alliance - (d) Lord Wellesley
2. Hyder Ali - (c) Ruler of Mysore
3. Ranjit Singh - (a) Ruler of the Sikh kingdom
4. Doctrine of Lapse - (e) Lord Dalhousie
5. English East India Company - (b) paramount power in India
These matches link key British policies with the Governors-General who created them and connect Indian rulers to their respective kingdoms. Understanding these relationships is vital to seeing how the British gradually replaced local authority.
Teacher's Tip: Match the rulers to their states first, then match the British leaders to their famous policies.
Exam Tip: Write the correct pairs side-by-side in your answer sheet rather than drawing messy lines.

C. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1: The First Anglo-Maratha War was fought during the Governor-Generalship of Lord Cornwallis/Lord Wellesley/ Warren Hastings.
Answer: The First Anglo-Maratha War was fought during the Governor- Generalship of Warren Hastings.
During this time, the British were still establishing their influence and faced a unified Maratha front. The war ended with the Treaty of Salbai, which brought peace for about twenty years.
Teacher's Tip: Associate "Hastings" with the "History" of the first major war.
Exam Tip: Don't confuse Warren Hastings (1st war) with the later Marquis of Hastings (3rd war).

Question 2: The Maratha chiefs were united under the leadership of Nana Phadnavis/Baji Rao ll/Madhav Rao II during the First Anglo-Maratha War.
Answer: The Maratha chiefs were united under the leadership of Nana Phadnavis during the First Anglo-Maratha War.
Nana Phadnavis was a brilliant statesman often called the "Maratha Machiavelli" for his political skills. His leadership kept the Maratha chiefs together, making it very difficult for the British to win.
Teacher's Tip: Nana Phadnavis was the "Glue" that held the Marathas together during the first war.
Exam Tip: Identify Nana Phadnavis as a minister/statesman rather than a king/Peshwa.

Question 3: After the Third Anglo-Maratha War the British placed a descendant of Shivaji on the throne of Nagpur/Satara/Jhansi.
Answer: After the Third Anglo-Maratha War the British placed a descendant of Shivaji on the throne of Satara.
By doing this, the British tried to win the respect of the Maratha people while still keeping the real power for themselves. Satara was made a small, protected state under British supervision.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "Shivaji at Satara" to remember this location.
Exam Tip: Mention that the Peshwaship was abolished after this war to show you know the full outcome.

Question 4: Punjab was annexed by Lord Minto/Lord Dalhousie/Lord Wellesley in 1849.
Answer: Punjab was annexed by Lord Dalhousie in 1849.
The annexation followed two fierce wars between the Sikhs and the British East India Company. Punjab was the last major independent state in India to fall under British control.
Teacher's Tip: 1849 is close to 1850; remember Dalhousie was the main annexer around this time.
Exam Tip: Always include the year 1849 when discussing the annexation of Punjab.

Question 5: The widespread resentment against annexations expressed itself in the Revolt of 1849/1861/1857.
Answer: The widespread resentment against annexations expressed itself in the Revolt of 1857.
Policies like the Doctrine of Lapse made Indian kings and people feel that their culture and land were being stolen. This anger eventually exploded into the first major national struggle for independence.
Teacher's Tip: 1857 is the most important date in 19th-century Indian history; remember it as the "Great Revolt."
Exam Tip: Use terms like "political cause" when linking annexations to the 1857 revolt.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

Question 1: After Hyder Ali’s death, his son Tipu Sultan continued the Anglo-Maratha Wars.
Answer: True.
Tipu Sultan was known as the "Tiger of Mysore" and was a fierce opponent of the British. He sought help from the French to try and drive the British out of India.
Teacher's Tip: Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan are the two names to always remember for Mysore resistance.
Exam Tip: If a statement links Tipu Sultan to resistance against the British, it is almost always true.

Question 2: The Subsidiary Alliance system was used by the British to bring Indian rulers under British control without any war.
Answer: True.
The system worked like a trap where Indian rulers agreed to British "protection" but lost their independence in exchange. It allowed the British to station their troops inside Indian kingdoms at the ruler's expense.
Teacher's Tip: The Subsidiary Alliance was a "Bloodless Conquest" policy.
Exam Tip: Note that "without any war" refers to the initial agreement, even if war sometimes followed later.

Question 3: The Subsidiary Alliance proved very advantageous for the Indians.
Answer: False.
Correct : The Subsidiary Alliance proved very advantageous for the British.
Indian rulers lost their power to make their own foreign policy and were forced to pay huge sums of money to the British. This eventually led to the bankruptcy and annexation of many Indian states.
Teacher's Tip: In history, British policies were designed for British profit, not Indian benefit.
Exam Tip: When correcting a false statement, always explain "who" actually benefited.

Question 4: The adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II was denied the pension that his father used to get from the British.
Answer: True.
The adopted son was Nana Saheb, who became a key leader in the Revolt of 1857 because of this insult. The British refused to recognize adopted children as legal heirs to titles and pensions.
Teacher's Tip: Link "Nana Saheb" to "Pension" to remember why he was angry.
Exam Tip: This point is a specific example of why the Doctrine of Lapse caused so much anger.

Question 5: By 1856, the English East India Company had brought the whole of India under its control.
Answer: True.
Through a combination of wars and aggressive political policies, the Company became the supreme master of the country. 1856 was the peak of their power just before the 1857 uprising.
Teacher's Tip: 1856 is the year Awadh was annexed, completing the map of British India.
Exam Tip: "Whole of India" usually refers to the three Presidencies and the hundreds of protected Princely States.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1: What was the main objective of the Subsidiary Alliance system?
Answer: The subsidiary Alliance system was a method perfected by Lord Wellesley to subjugate Indian powers without the cost and bother/ trouble of war. Any Indian ruler whose security was threatened was encouraged to seek help from and enter into an alliance with the British, who promised to protect the ruler from external attacks and internal revolts. The Indian ruler had to accept certain terms and conditions.
The goal was to make Indian states dependent on the British for their survival. By controlling the ruler's military and foreign relations, the British effectively ruled the state from behind the scenes.
Teacher's Tip: The word "Subjugate" is key - it means to bring under complete control.
Exam Tip: Mention "Lord Wellesley" as the creator of this system for a better answer.

Question 2: What happened when the administration of a subsidiary state collapsed?
Answer: When the administration collapsed, the British used it as an excuse for annexing the kingdom on grounds of misgovernment.
The British would blame the local ruler for the chaos, even though the high cost of the alliance often caused the collapse. This allowed them to officially take over the land and its taxes.
Teacher's Tip: Think of this as the "Final Step" of the Subsidiary Alliance trap.
Exam Tip: Use the phrase "grounds of misgovernment" as it was the official British excuse.

Question 3: Why did Peshwa Baji Rao II sign the Subsidiary Alliance?
Answer: In 1802, Peshwa baji Rao II, supported by Sindhia, was defeated by Holkar. Baji Rao II fled to Bassein where he signed the Subsidiary Treaty as a price for British protection and support. He was escorted back to Poona by British soldiers.
Baji Rao II was more afraid of his rival Maratha chiefs than he was of the British. He sacrificed his kingdom's independence just to get his throne back with British help.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the "Treaty of Bassein" is the name of this specific alliance.
Exam Tip: Mention the rivalry with "Holkar" to explain why the Peshwa needed help.

Question 4: Why was Wellesley recalled from India during the Second Anglo-Maratha War?
Answer: Wellesley was recalled from India because the government in England was unhappy with the enormous expenditure involved in Wellesley’s policy of wars and expansion.
The directors of the Company in London were more interested in profit than in the glory of conquest. They felt Wellesley's constant fighting was making the company bankrupt.
Teacher's Tip: In history, money (expenditure) often dictates when a leader stays or goes.
Exam Tip: Use the word "expenditure" to refer to the high cost of the wars.

Question 5: How did the Subsidiary Alliance impact the (a) economy (b) administration in Awadh?
Answer: (a) Awadh had signed a Subsidiary Alliance with Wellesley. He had to protect the Nawab from external invasions and internal rebellions. It made the Nawab’s complacent and unconcerned about the affairs of the state. The payment of annual subsidies to the Company exhausted the state treasury. (b) When the administration was on the verge of collapse, Dalhousie struck. He brought charges of misgovernment or maladministration against the nawab. On those grounds he deposed the nawab and annexed Awadh in 1856.
The Nawab lost his motivation to rule well because the British army was doing all the fighting for him. This led to a broken government and an empty bank account, giving the British the perfect excuse to take over.
Teacher's Tip: Complacent means getting lazy because you feel too safe.
Exam Tip: Mention 1856 specifically for the annexation of Awadh.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1: With reference to the Subsidiary Alliance System perfected by Lord Wellesley, answer the following:
(a) Why did Indian rulers sign the Subsidiary Alliance? State two important military terms and conditions imposed on the Indian rulers by this treaty.
(b) The Subsidiary Alliance proved very beneficial for the British. Explain.
(c) Discuss the disastrous effects of the Subsidiary Alliance on the Indian states.
Answer: (a) Indian ruler whose security was threatened was encouraged to seek help from and enter into an alliance with the British, who promised to protect the ruler from external attacks and internal revolts. The Indian rulers had to accept certain terms and condition in return for British protection under the Subsidiary Alliance like:
1. British troops would be permanently placed in the territory of the Subsidiary state.
2. The ruler would have to pay for the maintenance of the troops.
3. He could not employ any Europeans in his service or dismiss those who were already there.
4. He could not form an alliance with any other power or declare war against any power without the permission of the British.
5. He would acknowledge the British Company as the paramount power.
(b) The Subsidiary Alliance proved very advantageous for the British like.
1. The British maintained large armies at the expense of the Indian rulers.
2. The British acquired valuable territories as subsidiary payment. This led to the expansion of the British Empire in India and an increase in its resources.
3. The influence of European rivals, especially the French, was excluded from the courts of the Indian rulers.
4. The British controlled the foreign policy of the Subsidiary states.
(c) The Subsidiary Alliance System had great effect on the subsidiary state like:
1. British troops would be permanently placed in the territory of the Subsidiary state.
2. The ruler would have to pay for the maintenance of the troops.
3. He could not employ any Europeans in his service or dismiss those who were already there.
4. He could not form an alliance with any other power or declare war against any power without the permission of the British.
5. He would acknowledge the British Company as the paramount power. ses or dastaks for the free movement of their goods.
The alliance was basically a "golden cage" for Indian kings. They felt safe inside it, but they had no real freedom left and were slowly drained of all their wealth until they were no longer needed.
Teacher's Tip: The Subsidiary Alliance = Protected but Powerless.
Exam Tip: List at least three specific terms (like paying for troops or no foreign allies) to score high.

Question 2: Dalhousie was a great expansionist and adopted a number of methods to build an all-India empire. In this context, answer the following questions:
(a) Mention the various methods adopted by Dalhousie and the territories annexed on the basis of these methods.
(b) Under what circumstances did a subordinate state automatically ‘lapse’ and pass into the hands of the British? How did the rulers react to this policy?
(c) Why did Nana Sahib become one of the leaders of the Revolt of 1857?
Answer: (a) Dalhousie adopted a number of methods to give the final touches to the work of empire-building in India. The methods he adopted were:
1. War-Punjab.
2. Doctrine of Lapse-Satara, Jhansi and Nagpur.
3. Annexation on grounds of maladministration-Awadh.
(b) Lord Dalhousie brought several subordinate states under the direct rule of the Company by annexing them on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse. According to the Doctrine of Lapse, all subordinate states (subsidiary states and states created by the British) where the rulers died without a natural male heir would automatically ‘lapse’, i.e., pass into the hands of the British. Rulers without heirs could not adopt sons, according to the age-old Hindu and Islamic traditions, without the permission of the Company.
(c) Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, inherited his father’s personal property but was not given the pension that had been paid to his father. Nana Saheb became one of the important leaders of the Revolt of 1857.
Dalhousie used every trick in the book to expand British borders, from fighting wars to creating new laws about heirs. These aggressive actions made the Indian leadership very angry, turning figures like Nana Saheb into rebels against the British crown.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the three 'W's of Dalhousie: War, Woe (Doctrine of Lapse), and Wrong-ruling (Maladministration).
Exam Tip: Be sure to match the specific annexation method with the correct state (e.g., Jhansi with Doctrine of Lapse).

Question 3: With reference to the annexation of Awadh discuss:
(a) The effects of the Subsidiary Alliance on the administration in Awadh
(b) The political scenario in India by 1856
(c) Any three factors responsible for the success of the British over their Indian rivals
Answer: (a) Awadh had signed Subsidiary Alliance with Wellesley. He had to protect the Nawab from external invasions and internal rebellions. It made the Nawab’s complacent and unconcerned about the affairs of the state. The payment of annual subsidies to the Company exhausted the state treasury. When the administration was on the verge of collapse, Dalhousie struck. He brought charges of misgovernment or maladministration against the Nawab. On these grounds he deposed the Nawab and annexed Awadh in 1856.
(b) By 1856 the English East India Company had brought the whole of India under its control of the British. The British had eliminated all their rivals and established themselves as the paramount power in India.
(c) The factors responsible for the success of the British are:
1. Lack of unity among Indian rulers.
2. Lack of organized and efficient administration in Indian states.
3. Superior military resources of the company.
4. Superior economic resources of the company.
5. Naval supremacy of the British.
The British won because they were more organized, had better technology, and faced Indian kings who spent more time fighting each other than fighting the British. By 1856, they had successfully pushed all rivals aside to become the bosses of India.
Teacher's Tip: "Divide and Rule" was the most effective factor mentioned in point 1.
Exam Tip: List "Naval supremacy" as a key factor since India had no strong navy to stop British ships.

G Picture study:

Question 1: Name the Governor Genera!.
Answer: Lord Dalhousie.
He was the Governor General from 1848 to 1856 and is famous for his rapid expansion of British territory. His portrait shows a stern-looking man who was one of the most powerful British officials in Indian history.
Teacher's Tip: He is the "Expansion Man" of Indian history.
Exam Tip: Correctly spelling "Dalhousie" is essential for full marks.

Question 2: What was the method adopted by him to subjugate the Indian territories ?
Answer: Governor General Dalhousie was a great imperialist who annexed several states on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse.
He used a legal rule to take over lands that weren't protected by a biological son of the king. This method was much cheaper and easier for the British than fighting a full-scale war.
Teacher's Tip: "Subjugate" means to bring under control.
Exam Tip: Identify the Doctrine of Lapse as his most famous and controversial method.

Question 3: Mention the terms and conditions under this method.
Answer: According to the Doctrine of Lapse, all subordinate states (subsidiary states and states created by the British) where the rulers died without a natural male heir would automatically ‘lapse’, i.e. pass into the hands of the British. Rulers without heirs could not adopt sons, according to the age-old Hindu and Islamic traditions, without the permission of the Company.
The British refused to acknowledge the traditional right of Indian kings to adopt an heir. This meant that any family line that ended naturally would result in the British taking the whole kingdom.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "Lapse" as a kingdom "falling" into British hands because it had no owner.
Exam Tip: Use the term "natural male heir" to be precise about the condition.

Question 4: Did this method have any advantage for the Indian rulers? Why ?
Answer: The annexation of these states caused widespread resentment among the Indian rulers and became a potent factor responsible for the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857.
There was absolutely no advantage for the Indian rulers; they lost their status, their land, and their wealth. This unfair treatment united many different kings and queens in a shared hatred of British rule.
Teacher's Tip: Resentment is a strong word for "deep anger."
Exam Tip: Explain that the "disadvantage" for the rulers was the "advantage" for the 1857 rebels.