5. When People Rebel

NCERT SOLUTION FOR CLASS 8 SOCIAL SCIENCE HISTORY CHAPTER-5. 



Question. 1. What was the demand of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi that was refused by the British?
Answer.: Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi wanted the Company to recognise her adopted son as the heir to the kingdom after the death of her husband. But the British refused her plea.
Question. 2. What did the British do to protect the interests of those who converted to Christianity?
Answer.: Those who converted to Christianity would inherit the property of his ancestors.
Question. 3. What objections did the sepoys have to the new cartridges that they were asked to use?
Answer.:  The sepoys objected that the new cartridges that they were asked to use were coated with the fat of cows and pigs.
Question. 4. How did the last Mughal emperor live the last years of his life?
Answer.:  The last Mughal emperor lived a very pathetic life during the last years of his life. He was tried in court and sentenced to life imprisonment. He and his wife were sent to prison in Rangoon. He died there after four years.
Question. 5. What could be the reasons for the confidence of the British rulers about their position in India before May 1857?
Answer.: The reasons are given below:
1.      Since the mid-18th century Nawabs and Rajas had gradually lost their authority and honour. Residents had been stationed in many courts, the freedom of the rulers reduced, their armed forces disbanded and their revenues and territories taken away by stages.
2.      The Company decided to end the Mughal dynasty. In 1849, Governor- General Dalhousie announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar the family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort. In 1856, Governor-General Canning decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal emperor and after his death his descendants would be recognised as princes.
Question. 6.  What impact did Bahadur Shah Zafar’s support to the rebellion have on the people and the ruling families?
Answer.:   Bahadur Shah Zafar’s support to the rebellion boosted the morale of the people and the ruling families. They became united to fight the British authority with double spirit.  People of the towns and villages rose up in rebellion and rallied around local leaders, zamindars and chiefs. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the late Peshwa Baji Rao, who lived near Kanpur, gathered Armey forces and expelled the British garrison from the city. He proclaimed himself Peshwa. He declared that he was a Governor under emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. In Lucknow, Birjis Qadr, the son of the deposed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was proclaimed the new Nawab. He too acknowledged the suzerainty of Bahadur Shah Zafar. In Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai joined the rebel sepoys and fought the British along with Tantia Tope, the general of Nana Saheb.


Question. 7. How did the British succeed in securing the submission of the rebel landowners of Awadh?
Answer.: The British succeeded in securing the submission of the rebel landowners of Awadh by providing them inheritance rights, i.e. they would enjoy the traditional rights over their land. The British also exempted them from taxes.
Question. 8. In what ways did the British change their policies as a result of the rebellion of 1857?
Answer.: As a result of the rebellion of 1857, the British changed their policies. Following are the important changes that the British made:
1.      The powers of the East India Company, was transferred to the British Crown in order to ensure a more responsible management of Indian affairs.
2.      The Governor-General of India was given the title of Viceroy, that is, a personal representative of the Crown.
3.      All ruling chiefs of the country were assured that their territory would never be annexed in future. They were allowed to pass on their kingdoms to their heirs, including adopted son. But they had to acknowledge the British queen as their Sovereign Paramount.
4.      The British decided to respect the customary religions and social practices of the people in India.
EXTRA QUESTIONS
Question. 1.What was the plea of Nana Saheb, the adopte d son of Peshwa Baji Rao-II?
Answer.: Nana Saheb pleaded that he be given his father’s pension when the latter died.
Question. 2.Why were the Indian sepoys unhappy with the British rule? Give any one reason.
Answer.: The Indian sepoys were underpaid.
Question. 3.Name any two smaller rulers who acknowledged the suzerainty of Bahadur Shah Zafar.
Answer.: Nana Saheb and Biijis Qadr.
Question. 4.Who was Tantia Tope?
Answer.: He was the General of Nana Saheb.