Question 14 of 20intermediate💡 UnderstandShort Answer3 marks

What steps did the British take to quell the uprising?

Correct Answer

The British took several steps to quell the uprising. First, they passed a series of laws and Acts in May and June 1857, putting the whole of North India under martial law. Military officers and even ordinary Britons were given the power to try and punish Indians suspected of rebellion. The ordinary processes of law and trial were suspended, and death was declared as the only punishment for rebellion.

Second, the British brought reinforcements from Britain and mounted a two-pronged attack to reconquer Delhi. One force moved from Calcutta into North India and another from Punjab. They used military power on a gigantic scale.

Third, to break the unity between big landholders and peasants, the British promised to return estates to loyal landholders. Rebel landholders were dispossessed while the loyal were rewarded.

Exercise: ANSWER IN 100-150 WORDS | Q: 5 | (Page 27)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The answer draws directly from the textbook context which describes three main strategies: legal measures (martial law, suspension of normal trials), military action (reinforcements, two-pronged attack on Delhi), and political manoeuvres (breaking the unity of rebels by rewarding loyal landholders). The 3-mark allocation requires covering these key points with specific details from the text.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Identify legal measures - Acts passed, martial law declared, death as sole punishment

  2. Step 2: Identify military measures - reinforcements brought, two-pronged attack mounted

  3. Step 3: Identify political measures - breaking unity by rewarding loyal landholders and dispossessing rebels

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