question_answer

Examine the repressive measures adopted by the British to subdue the rebels of 1857.

Answer:

Repressive Measures adopted by the British to subdue the rebels of 1857:

(1) Before sending out troops to reconquer North India the British passed a series of Laws to help them quell the insurgency.

(2) By a number of Acts, the whole of North India was put under Martial Law.

(3) Military officers and even ordinary Britons were given the power to try and punish Indians suspected of rebellion.

(4) Ordinary processes of Law and trial were suspended and it was put out that rebellion would have only one punishment-death.

(5) Reinforcements were brought in from Britain. British mounted a two-pronged attack. One force moved from Calcutta and another from Punjab to reconquer Delhi.

(6) In the Gangetic plains the forces had to reconquer the area, village by village.

(7) The British other than using military power, also tried to break up the unity between the landholders and peasants.

(8) Rebel Landholders were dispossessed and loyal rewarded. Many Landholders died fighting the British or they escaped into Nepal.