question_answer

What were the political reasons for the outbreak of the revolt?

Answer:

The political reasons for the outbreak of the revolt were: · The British did not recognize adopted sons as heirs and the disposed rulers were refused pension. Many rulers tried to negotiate with the British but in vain. Rani of Jhansi had adopted a son and wanted the British to accept him as the heir to the throne. The last Peshwa, Baji Rao's adopted son Nana Sahib was deprived of the pension his father was receiving. · The British abolished titles. In 1849, Governor General Dalhousie announced that Bahadur Shah Zafar's successors would not be allowed to stay in the Red Fort or use the title of 'king'. The Company also stopped inscribing the Mughal king's name on the coins minted by it. · The promises made with the princes were ignored by the British as the Company became confident of its military and political powers. ·  Awadh had accepted the Subsidiary Alliance- and there were British residents to advice the Nawabs. Yet in 1856, the Company annexed it on the pretext of misgovernance. There was huge resentment because the Nawab of Awadh had been loyal to the British · The British were defeated in the first Afghan War. This shattered the myth about their superiority. · Many zamindars and landlords who were deprived of their land and the patronage of the kings and Nawabs resented the British rule.