How did british enter india? MCQs with solution at the end of MCQs
Title: The Entry of British in India: A Tale of Trade and Dominance
The entry of the British into India marked a significant turn of events in the history of the subcontinent that eventually led to its colonization and significant sociopolitical changes. British presence in India started not as a military invasion but rather through a commercial endeavor by the East India Company. Gradually, it grew to have political implications, leading to almost 200 years of British rule.
The East India Company established trade relations with Indian rulers as they sought to capitalize on the lucrative spice trade. The company, chartered by Queen Elizabeth I in 1600, had a monopoly on English trade with the East. However, it was only in 1608, under the leadership of Captain William Hawkins, that the company made its first attempt to establish a factory in Surat, which was in the Mughal Empire.
Despite initial resistance, Captain Hawkins managed to impress Emperor Jahangir, the Mughal Emperor, to grant them the permission to build a factory in Surat. This achievement marked the beginning of the British’s commercial presence in India.
In 1612, the East India Company triumphed over the Portuguese in a naval battle, which further strengthened their position. Subsequently, they managed to procure a royal charter from Emperor Jahangir granting them the right to establish a factory in the city of Madras.
Over time, as the Mughal Empire’s grip over India weakened, the British started extending their control. They engaged in battles with other European powers who had similar Eastern interests, particularly the French, marking the beginning of the Carnatic Wars.
The Battle of Plassey (1757) marked a significant turn of events in favor of British domination, where the East India Company defeated Nawab Siraj Ud Daulah of Bengal. Post this victory; they gained enormous power, marking the beginning of the British Empire in India.
By 1858, following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the rule was transferred from the East India Company to the British Crown, marking the beginning of the British Raj, which lasted until 1947 when India gained its independence.
The journey that started in the form of an innocent trade expedition gradually evolved into one of the most significant colonial invasions in world history, deeply impacting the socioeconomic and cultural fabric of the Indian subcontinent.
MCQs:
1) Who was the leader of the East India Company’s first attempt to establish a factory in Surat?
a) Queen Elizabeth I
b) Captain William Hawkins
c) Emperor Jahangir
d) Nawab Siraj Ud Daulah
Answer: b) Captain William Hawkins
2) Which battle marked a significant turn of events in favor of British domination in India?
a) Battle of Plassey
b) First Carnatic War
c) Battle of Surat
d) Battle of Chinsurah
Answer: a) Battle of Plassey
3) Who was the rule in India transferred to after the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
a) Mughal Empire
b) Nawabs of Bengal
c) Portuguese
d) British Crown
Answer: d) British Crown
4) When did India gain its independence?
a) 1857
b) 1600
c) 1947
d) 1612
Answer: c) 1947
5) Who granted the East India Company a royal charter to establish a factory in the city of Madras?
a) Queen Elizabeth I
b) Captain William Hawkins
c) Emperor Jahangir
d) Nawab Siraj Ud Daulah
Answer: c) Emperor Jahangir
