Selina Concise Solutions for ICSE Class 8 History Civics Chapter 6 Traders to Rulers II

I. Fill in the blanks:

Question 1. The British had to face the challenge of the rulers of ________ and ________, ________ after the conquest of Bengal.
Answer: Hyderabad, Mysore, Marathas
In simple words: After taking Bengal, the British had to deal with the rulers of Hyderabad, Mysore, and the Marathas.

Exam Tip: Remember that these three powers were the main obstacles for the British after Bengal.

Question 2. The new Nizam of Hyderabad, ________ initially had cordial relations with the English.
Answer: Salabat Jung
In simple words: The new ruler of Hyderabad, Salabat Jung, was friendly with the British at first.

Exam Tip: Be sure to spell the name "Salabat Jung" correctly as it is a specific historical figure.

Question 3. ________ made the Nizam of Hyderabad enter the ________ Alliance system.
Answer: Lord Wellesley, Subsidiary
In simple words: Lord Wellesley forced Hyderabad's ruler to join a special treaty with the British.

Exam Tip: Remember that Lord Wellesley is closely linked to the Subsidiary Alliance system.

Question 4. The English fought ________ wars with rulers of Mysore, known as ________ wars.
Answer: four, Anglo-Mysore
In simple words: The British fought four different wars against the rulers of Mysore.

Exam Tip: The term "Anglo" refers to the British in these historical names.

Question 5. It took the British ________ years to defeat the Marathas in three ________ wars.
Answer: 43, Anglo-Maratha
In simple words: It took forty-three years and three wars for the British to beat the Marathas.

Exam Tip: Don't confuse the number of years (43) with the number of wars (3).

Question 6. Lord Dalhousie annexed ________ on basis of ________.
Answer: Awadh, misgovernance
In simple words: Lord Dalhousie took over Awadh by claiming it was not being ruled well.

Exam Tip: Awadh was taken over because of bad ruling, not because of the Doctrine of Lapse.

II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B:

Question. Match the contents of Column A and Column B:

Answer:

In simple words: This table connects each important historical year with the event that happened during that time.

Exam Tip: Matching years with events is a common exam question. Try to link key events to their specific centuries.

III. State whether the following statements are True or False:

Question 1. The Subsidiary Alliance system was started by Lord Cornwallis.
Answer: False
In simple words: This is false because Lord Wellesley started the system, not Lord Cornwallis.

Exam Tip: Remember Lord Wellesley as the creator of the Subsidiary Alliance to avoid making this common error.

Question 2. The capture of the port of Mahe by the British led to the Second Anglo-Mysore War in 1780.
Answer: True
In simple words: This statement is correct. Taking over Mahe port caused the second war with Mysore.

Exam Tip: Mahe was a French port in Hyder Ali's territory, which is why its capture triggered the conflict.

Question 3. Tipu won a great battle against his three enemies, the English, Nizam and the Marathas in 1792.
Answer: False
In simple words: This is incorrect. Tipu Sultan lost the war in 1792 to the combined forces.

Exam Tip: In 1792, Tipu was defeated in the Third Anglo-Mysore War and had to sign the Treaty of Seringapatam.

Question 4. The war of succession among the Marathas in 1772 gave a chance to the English to interfere in Maratha politics.
Answer: True
In simple words: This is true. The family fights among the Marathas let the British get involved.

Exam Tip: Internal division within Indian ruling families was always a key opportunity for British interference.

Question 5. The Second Anglo-Maratha war was fought when Lord Wellesley was the Governor General of India.
Answer: True
In simple words: This statement is true. Lord Wellesley was in charge of India during this war.

Exam Tip: Associate Lord Wellesley's tenure with both the Second Anglo-Maratha War and the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War.

Question 6. Jhansi and Nagpur were annexed under the pretext of misgovernance.
Answer: False
In simple words: This is false. They were taken because their rulers did not have natural sons.

Exam Tip: Remember that Jhansi and Nagpur were annexed via the Doctrine of Lapse, while Awadh was annexed due to misgovernance.

IV. Answer the following questions:

Question 1. What were the results of the First Anglo-Mysore War?
Answer: The British, Nizam, and Marathas teamed up and attacked Mysore. However, Hyder Ali successfully persuaded the Nizam and Marathas to join his side. This left the British standing alone. Despite a few early difficulties, Hyder Ali came out victorious. He made the British sign a peace agreement in 1769. Under this agreement, both sides promised to assist one another if any other power attacked them.
In simple words: Hyder Ali won the war and made the British sign a treaty. Both agreed to help each other if anyone else attacked them.

Exam Tip: Mention the year of the peace treaty (1769) and the mutual defense agreement to score full marks.

Question 2. How did the British force win the Third Anglo-Mysore War?
Answer: During the third war from 1790 to 1792, the British made alliances with the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad. Together, these three forces defeated Tipu Sultan. He was made to sign the Treaty of Seringapatam in 1792. By this treaty, Tipu had to give up half of his land. This land was divided among the three allies. He also had to pay a large fine of Rs. 3.3 crore. The British took two of his sons as prisoners to ensure he paid.
In simple words: The British teamed up with the Nizam and Marathas to beat Tipu Sultan. Tipu had to give up half his land, pay a huge fine, and let the British hold two of his sons.

Exam Tip: Be sure to state the key terms of the Treaty of Seringapatam: loss of half his territory, Rs. 3.3 crore fine, and his sons held as hostages.

Question 3. What were the causes of the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War? What were its results?
Answer: The peace from the earlier treaty did not last long. Lord Wellesley, who was the British Governor-General, pressured Tipu to join the Subsidiary Alliance. However, Tipu refused to agree. Instead, he reached out to the French for assistance. This made the British worry that French soldiers would arrive to help Mysore. Consequently, the British declared war in 1799. The Nizam of Hyderabad joined the British side, while the Marathas chose not to take part. The French never arrived to help, and Tipu died fighting in battle on May 4, 1799.
In simple words: Tipu refused to sign a treaty with the British and asked the French for help. The British got scared, attacked him in 1799, and Tipu was killed in battle.

Exam Tip: Highlight the direct causes: refusing the Subsidiary Alliance and seeking French aid. Note the key result: Tipu Sultan's death in 1799.

Question 4. Name the four different centres of Maratha power.
Answer: The four main locations of Maratha rule were Nagpur under the Bhonsles, Gwalior under the Scindias, Pune under the Peshwas, and Indore under the Holkars.
In simple words: The Maratha power was divided among four main cities: Nagpur, Gwalior, Pune, and Indore, each ruled by different chiefs.

Exam Tip: Memorize the matching pairs (Bhonsle-Nagpur, Scindia-Gwalior, Peshwa-Pune, Holkar-Indore) as they are frequently asked in exams.

Question 5. What were the causes and results of the First Anglo-Maratha War? When was it fought?
Answer: This conflict took place from 1775 to 1782. After Peshwa Madhav Rao I died in 1772, a family dispute broke out over who would become the next Peshwa. The two rivals were Raghoba and Madhav Rao II. The British decided to support Raghoba. On the other side, the Maratha chiefs, guided by Nana Phadnavis, stood behind Madhav Rao II. This led to a seven-year war where neither side could achieve a clear victory. The war finally closed in 1782 with the Treaty of Salbai. Under its terms, Madhav Rao II was accepted as the true Peshwa, but the Marathas had to give Salsette to the British. Following this, both sides enjoyed peace for twenty years.
In simple words: The war started because two people fought to be the next leader of the Marathas, and the British took sides. It ended in a draw, with a treaty that brought peace for twenty years.

Exam Tip: Be sure to name the "Treaty of Salbai" and the territory "Salsette" which was handed over to the British.

Question 6. Who was the Governor-General of India during the Second Anglo-Maratha War? What was the significance of this battle?
Answer: During this war, Lord Wellesley served as the British Governor-General of India. In 1803, Baji Rao II entered into a Subsidiary Alliance called the Treaty of Bassein with the British. Thanks to this treaty, the British helped Baji Rao II return to power in Pune and pushed the Holkars away. However, other Maratha leaders, namely Scindia and Bhonsle, rejected this alliance and declared war on the British. Despite their resistance, the British defeated their combined armies. As a result, they were also forced to sign the alliance. They had to surrender several areas, including Ahmednagar, Broach, Cuttack, and Balasore. This defeat greatly weakened the influence and pride of the Maratha Empire.
In simple words: Lord Wellesley was the Governor-General. The British beat the Maratha chiefs who refused to sign a treaty, taking away their land and hurting their pride.

Exam Tip: Mention the Treaty of Bassein (1803) and the specific territories ceded by the defeated Maratha chiefs to secure high marks.

Question 7. Why was the Third Anglo-Maratha War fought? What were its results?
Answer: Fought between 1817 and 1818, this war began because Maratha leaders felt deeply insulted by the Subsidiary Alliance. Peshwa Baji Rao II started plotting to bring the Marathas together to fight the British. This conflict occurred while Marquess Hastings was the Governor-General. When Lord Hastings discovered the Peshwa's plans, he forced him to sign the Treaty of Pune in 1817. Under this treaty, the Peshwa gave up the Konkan region and resigned from his role as the leader of the Marathas. Meanwhile, Scindia was forced to sign the Treaty of Gwalior, agreeing to help the British fight the Pindaris. Despite this, the Marathas made one final effort to win back their freedom and respect. They declared war and Peshwa Baji Rao II led a large army to attack the British Residency in Pune. This war went on for nearly two years. In the end, the British defeated the Marathas and took over most of their territory. The war resulted in the end of the Peshwa's hereditary post. It broke the Maratha hope of establishing a vast empire, making the British the supreme rulers of India.
In simple words: The Marathas tried one last time to fight the British to win back their freedom. They lost, the position of Peshwa was ended, and the British became the supreme power in India.

Exam Tip: Key points include the abolition of the Peshwa's office, the signing of the treaties of Pune and Gwalior, and the final establishment of British supremacy.

Question 8. State very briefly why the Marathas failed against the British.
Answer: The Marathas had fewer resources and weaker military organization compared to the British. Their system was divided, acting as a loose group of different chiefs like the Holkars, Bhonsles, and Scindias under the Peshwa. Additionally, they paid little attention to gathering military secrets, while the British had a highly effective spy network. The Maratha leaders lacked unity and a common national feeling. Instead, jealousy and betrayal among themselves often came before their common interests. Finally, they lacked capable leaders in their later years, leaving them unorganized in almost every way.
In simple words: The Marathas lost because they were divided, fought among themselves, had weaker armies, and did not have good spy systems like the British.

Exam Tip: Group the reasons into clear categories: lack of unity, poor military intelligence, and superior British organization.

Question 9. Explain the doctrine of Lapse. Name the other methods used by Lord Dalhousie to expand the British power in India.
Answer: Under this rule, if the ruler of a state under British control died without a natural son, the territory would automatically go to the British. This rule did not accept adopted children as legal heirs to the throne. Several places, such as Satara, Jaitpur, Sambhalpur, Jhansi, Nagpur, Udaipur, and Baghat, were taken over using this policy. To expand their control further, Lord Dalhousie also used other methods. For instance, he took Punjab through war and annexed Awadh by accusing its ruler of bad governance.
In simple words: The Doctrine of Lapse said that if an Indian ruler died without a real son, the British would take over his land. Dalhousie also used war and charges of bad rule to take more states.

Exam Tip: Be sure to distinguish between states annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse (like Jhansi) and those taken over for misgovernance (like Awadh).

V. Word Hunt

Question. Given below is a grid. Look for names of places which Dalhousie annexed. You have to look vertically, horizontally and diagonally. In total there are 8 places. After you have found out these places, write down why these were annexed.

Answer:
The eight places annexed by Lord Dalhousie found in the grid are:
1. Jhansi (Horizontal, Row 1) - Annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse because the ruler died without leaving a natural heir.
2. Satara (Horizontal, Row 2) - Annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse because the ruler had no natural successor.
3. Awadh (Horizontal, Row 6) - Annexed on the basis of misgovernance (or bad ruling) in 1856.
4. Sambhalpur (Horizontal, Row 7) - Annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse.
5. Nagpur (Vertical, Column 1) - Annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse in 1854.
6. Udaipur (Vertical, Column 10) - Annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse in 1852.
7. Jaitpur (Diagonal, starting from 'J' in Row 1 Col 2) - Annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse in 1849.
8. Baghat (Diagonal, starting from 'B' in Row 3 Col 2) - Annexed using the Doctrine of Lapse in 1850.
In simple words: This puzzle has the names of eight regions taken over by Lord Dalhousie. Most were taken because they had no direct heirs, while others were taken through war or claims of bad government.

Exam Tip: Be sure to know both the name of the place and the specific reason (like Doctrine of Lapse or misgovernance) why it was annexed.

VI. Picture Study –

This is a picture depicting the first Anglo-Sikh War.

Question 1. What was the political condition of Punjab after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh?
Answer: Following the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Punjab suffered from severe political confusion. For a period of six years, there were continuous fights and disputes among different people who wanted to claim the throne.
In simple words: After Maharaja Ranjit Singh died, Punjab became very unstable. Many people fought over who would be the next king for six years.

Exam Tip: Use terms like "political instability" or "political confusion" and mention the "six years" of conflict to get full marks.

Question 2. When was the first Anglo-Sikh war fought?
Answer: The First Anglo-Sikh War took place in December 1845.
In simple words: This war was fought in December 1845.

Exam Tip: Memorize the exact month and year (December 1845) of the first conflict with the Sikhs.

Question 3. What were the causes and results of the First Anglo-Sikh War?
Answer: The war was started because Maharani Jindan Kaur, the mother of Ranjit Singh's young son, encouraged the Sikh army (the Khalsa) to fight the British. This action led to the outbreak of the First Anglo-Sikh War. As a result of their defeat, the Sikhs had to sign the Treaty of Lahore in 1846. Consequently, they lost a large amount of land and were forced to accept a British Resident at their court.
In simple words: Ranjit Singh's widow made the Sikh army fight the British. The Sikhs lost, had to give up some of their land, and had to let a British officer stay in their court.

Exam Tip: Mention both the cause (Maharani Jindan Kaur inciting the Khalsa) and the key terms of the Treaty of Lahore (1846) for a complete answer.

Rise of British Power in Bengal

A. Fill in the blanks:

Question 1. ________, ________ and ________ became the headquarters of the British settlements in the southern, western and eastern regions, respectively.
Answer: Madras, Bombay, Calcutta
In simple words: Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta were the three main centers of British power in India.

Exam Tip: Ensure you write these three cities in the correct order corresponding to southern, western, and eastern regions.

Question 2. In 1717, the Mughal emperor granted the United East India Company the right to carry on duty-free trade in ________, ________ and ________.
Answer: Bengal, Bihar, Orissa
In simple words: In 1717, the Mughal ruler allowed the British to trade without paying taxes in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.

Exam Tip: Note that "Orissa" is the historical spelling used in this text.

Question 3. The French East India Company was established in ________.
Answer: 1664 C.E.
In simple words: The French trading company was started in the year 1664 C.E.

Exam Tip: Do not confuse the founding year of the French company (1664) with the English East India Company (1600).

Question 4. The British and the French fought the ________ Wars in India to establish their monopoly in trade.
Answer: Carnatic
In simple words: The British and French fought the Carnatic Wars to decide who would control trade in India.

Exam Tip: Remember that "Carnatic" refers to the region in southern India where these wars took place.

Question 5. Bengal in the 18th century was the ________ and the most ________ province in India.
Answer: richest, fertile
In simple words: During the 1700s, Bengal was the wealthiest area with the best soil for farming in India.

Exam Tip: These qualities of Bengal made it the primary target for British conquest.

Question 6. In ________ Robert Clive recovered Calcutta which had been captured by Siraj-ud-Daulah in ________.
Answer: 1757, 1756
In simple words: Robert Clive took Calcutta back in 1757 after the Nawab had captured it in 1756.

Exam Tip: 1757 is also the crucial year of the Battle of Plassey, which took place shortly after Calcutta was recovered.

Question 7. Mir Jafar was deposed because he was unable to meet the demands of the ________.
Answer: British
In simple words: Mir Jafar was removed from the throne because he could not give the British everything they wanted.

Exam Tip: "Deposed" means being removed from a position of power, in this case, the Nawab's throne.

Question 8. In 1765, Awadh was returned to ________ but ________ and ________ were taken away and given to ________.
Answer: Shuja-ud-Daulah, Kora, Allahabad, Shah Alam II
In simple words: Awadh was given back to Shuja-ud-Daulah, but Kora and Allahabad were handed over to the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II.

Exam Tip: This arrangement was part of the Treaty of Allahabad signed after the Battle of Buxar.

Question 9. Shah Alam II granted the Company the ________ of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa in 1765.
Answer: Diwani
In simple words: In 1765, the Mughal Emperor gave the British the right to collect taxes (Diwani) in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.

Exam Tip: "Diwani" refers to the right to collect land revenue, which gave the British massive financial power.

Question 10. Warren Hastings deposed and pensioned off the Nawab of Bengal and brought Bengal under the direct, and ________ of the Company.
Answer: complete control
In simple words: Warren Hastings removed the Nawab and put Bengal completely under the rule of the British East India Company.

Exam Tip: This step ended the system of Dual Government in Bengal.

B. Match the following:

Question. Match the contents of Column A and Column B:

Answer:

In simple words: This table matches important historic events, documents, and people with their correct descriptions.

Exam Tip: Linking "Farman" with "duty-free trade" is very important, as the abuse of the Farman was a primary cause of conflict in Bengal.

C. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1. The English East India Company was established in the year:
(a) 1600 CE
(b) 1700 CE
(c) 1800 CE
Answer: (a) 1600 CE
In simple words: The British trading company was formed in the year 1600 CE.

Exam Tip: The Queen of England granted a royal charter to the company in the year 1600 CE.

Question 2. The English East India Company set up its first factory in:
(a) Surat
(b) Agra
(c) Broach
Answer: (a) Surat
In simple words: The very first British trading post in India was built in Surat.

Exam Tip: Surat was a major port on the western coast of India, making it an ideal place for trading ships.