NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 5 When People Rebel contain solutions to the exercises given in the History book Our Pasts -III. These answers have been explained in a manner that you will easily understand all the concepts and get your doubts cleared without even seeking anyone’s assistance.
Class 8 History Chapter 5 When People Rebel Questions and Answers
Question 1: What was the demand of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi that was refused by the British?
Answer: Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi demanded the company recognize her adopted son as the heir to the kingdom after the death of her husband. However, the British refused to accept her demand based on the ‘Doctrine of Lapse. This policy was introduced by Lord Dalhousie. It stated that if an Indian ruler died without a male heir his kingdom would be annexed by the British Empire.
Question 2: What did the British do to protect the interests of those who converted to Christianity?
Answer: After 1830, the Company allowed Christian missionaries to function freely in its domain and even own land and property. In 1850, a new law was passed to make conversion to Christianity easier. This law allowed an Indian who had converted to Christianity to 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 to the new cartridges because of a rumour that they were coated with cow and pig fat. This was deeply offensive to both Hindu and Muslim soldiers. For Hindus, the cow is sacred, and for Muslims, the pig is considered unclean. The requirement to bite off the cartridge’s end to use it directly violated their religious beliefs and dietary restrictions. Therefore, the sepoys refused to use these new cartridges. They felt that the British were trying to insult their religions.
Question 4: How did the last Mughal emperor live the last years of his life?
Answer: The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, spent the final years of his life in exile. After the British suppressed the Revolt of 1857, they captured Bahadur Shah Zafar, tried him, and then exiled him to Rangoon (now Yangon, Myanmar). He lived there in captivity until his death in November 1862. During his exile, Bahadur Shah Zafar was separated from his kingdom and lived under British surveillance, marking the end of the Mughal dynasty’s rule in India.
Question 5: What could be the reasons for the confidence of the British rulers about their position in India before May 1857?
Answer: The British became confident about their position in India because of the following reasons:
- The Mughal rulers, after the death of Aurangzeb, were not powerful. Hence, it was easier for the British to annex states.
- The disunity between Nawabs and the Mughal rulers helped the British have a firm stronghold over Indian society, starting from Bengal.
- The policies, like Subsidiary Alliance, helped the British annex territories one after another, without the use of any military power.
- The revolt of 1857 was crushed by the British leading to their supremacy over Indian society.
Question 6: What impact did Bahadur Shah Zafar’s support to the rebellion have on the people and the ruling families?
Answer: Aurangzeb was considered the last powerful Mughal ruler of India. After his death, the Mughal rulers only had a symbolic presence. But Mughal rulers still had their influence over small chiefs and rulers across the country. The revolt of 1857 started only when Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last ruler of the Mughals, gave his permission. Bahadur Shah Zafar’s support for the 1857 fight made it more than just a soldiers’ rebellion. It became a big fight for freedom. His support for the revolt made leaders from various places confident about opposing the British. Zafar asked all the leaders to form a confederacy to fight against the British. This made more people, including rulers and common folks, join the fight against the British. Hence, his support for the rebellion had a widespread effect on the people and the ruling families.
Question 7: How did the British succeed in securing the submission of the rebel landowners of Awadh?
Answer: The British succeed in securing the submission of the rebel landowners of Awadh by adopting various methods such as:
- The British assured all ruling chiefs that their territories would never be annexed in the future.
- They allowed rulers to pass on their kingdoms to their heirs, including adopted sons, reversing previous policies like the Doctrine of Lapse.
- The British offered rewards to loyal landholders and assured them that they could continue to enjoy traditional rights over their lands.
- Those who had rebelled were told that if they submitted to the British, and if they had not killed any white people, they would remain safe and their rights and claims to land would not be denied.
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 made several significant policy changes to prevent such uprisings in the future and to strengthen their control over India:
- Governance Shift: Administration transferred from the East India Company to the British Crown to improve oversight.
- New Official Roles: Creation of the Secretary of State for India position, with a council, for more accountable governance.
- Military Recruitment Changes: The proportion of Indian soldiers in the army was reduced, and the number of European soldiers was increased.
- Assurances to Princes: The British assured all ruling chiefs that their territories would not be annexed in the future.
- Cultural Sensitivity: The British decided to respect the customary religious and social practices of the Indian people.
- Land Policy Adjustments: Policies were made to protect the rights of loyal landlords and zamindars, securing their support.