British Imperialism in India

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“Englishmen.. have given the people of India the greatest human blessing - peace.” (Dutt). Merely coming to India in the 1600s to trade, the British East India Company established trading outposts. After ridding of French influence in India during the Seven Years’ War and having Indians mutiny against British rule, Britain gained full control of India. India has been under the imperialist control of the British until their independence in 1947. British imperialism caused some negative effects on India through poverty and persecution, but retained more of a positive impact due to its massive improvements in the modernization of India and the overall improvement of Indian civilization. Despite impacting India very positively, imperialism still caused problems within the Indian society. An example of this negative effect is that poverty was very prevalent in India due to the dismantling of the old crafts such as metalwork, glass, paper, etc. The rationale for this huge spike impoverishment is because India was to be used as a supplier for raw materials, thus halting the growth of the economy (Doc 7). Not only did Britain disrupt the Indian’s industry, but they also caused unemployment through the superseding of Indian handspinners in the 19th century. (O.I) Another negative effect imperialism has made on India is through the persecution of Indians. "For a hundred years you have done everything for us. You have given us no responsibility in our own government," says Mohandas Gandhi in regards to the British rule. He also says that the British treat the Indians insultingly and without empathy (Doc 6,7,8). Imperialism also had an everlasting positive effect on India through its modernization. For instance, British colonizers develope... ... middle of paper ... ...he raise of impoverishment and the persecution of Indian citizens. Undeterred by these effects, British imperialism went on to tremendously increase the development of communication, transportation, agriculture and industry in India, effectively creating more wealth for the colony as a whole. India’s civilization was developed further as well by ridding of inhuman practices such as infanticide and slavery, efficaciously bringing India to be much more modern and civilized. A document that would have further guided me in my research would be a journal or diary from an Indian that is neutral on British rule. Overall, without British imperialism, India would not have developed as quickly in terms of modernization and civilization. The actions Britain took in ruling India were necessary for India to be in the top economies of the world with the second largest population.

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