- The Subsidiary Alliance was introduced by Lord Wellesley in 1798 as a strategic tool to expand British influence in India.
- Under the alliance, Indian rulers were required to maintain British troops in their territories and pay for their upkeep.
- In return, the British promised protection from external threats and internal rebellions.
- The system effectively made the allied state a vassal of the British East India Company.
- The ruler had to accept a British Resident in their court, limiting their sovereignty.
- States under the alliance were prohibited from forming alliances with other powers or waging war without British approval.
- Failure to pay for the subsidiary force often led to annexation by the British.
- Key states that signed the Subsidiary Alliance included Hyderabad, Mysore, Awadh, and the Maratha Confederacy.
- The system was instrumental in extending British control over vast regions of India.
- The Doctrine of Lapse was a policy implemented by Lord Dalhousie during his tenure as Governor-General (1848–1856).
- Under this policy, any princely state without a male heir was annexed by the British upon the death of the ruler.
- The Doctrine of Lapse aimed to expand British territories by exploiting succession issues in Indian states.
- Prominent states annexed under this policy included Satara (1848), Jhansi (1853), and Nagpur (1854).
- The policy was seen as unjust and caused widespread resentment among Indian rulers and the general population.
- The annexation of Jhansi, ruled by Rani Lakshmibai, became a focal point of resistance during the 1857 Revolt.
- The policies of Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse undermined the sovereignty of Indian states.
- They contributed significantly to the decline of traditional Indian political structures.
- Indian rulers were forced to cede control over their territories, leading to economic exploitation by the British.
- The British used these policies to establish a monopoly over Indian resources and markets.
- The Subsidiary Alliance ensured that Indian states remained dependent on British military support.
- The Doctrine of Lapse disrupted the traditional system of succession and inheritance in princely states.
- The policies created widespread dissatisfaction, which fueled resistance against British rule.
- These measures highlighted the expansionist policies of the British East India Company.
- States under the Subsidiary Alliance were often subject to heavy financial burdens.
- The policies contributed to the consolidation of British power, paving the way for direct control by the Crown in 1858.
- Many Indian rulers saw these policies as a direct attack on their authority and sovereignty.
- The annexation of key states under the Doctrine of Lapse brought large territories under British administration.
- The economic drain caused by these policies weakened the financial stability of Indian states.
- The loss of independence led to the erosion of Indian cultural and administrative systems.
- The policies were instrumental in creating a centralized colonial administration in India.
- The resistance to these policies manifested in various forms, including armed uprisings and diplomatic protests.
- The Doctrine of Lapse was heavily criticized for being opportunistic and unjust.
- Both policies were key factors leading to the First War of Indian Independence in 1857.
- These measures demonstrated the imperialist ambitions of the British in India.
- The policies allowed the British to gain control over strategically important regions in India.
- They also facilitated the spread of British legal and administrative systems across India.
- The Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse are often regarded as classic examples of British expansionism.
- The resentment against these policies united diverse sections of Indian society against British rule.
- The legacy of these policies can be seen in the rise of nationalist movements in the late 19th century.
Questions
- Who introduced the Subsidiary Alliance system?
- In which year was the Subsidiary Alliance introduced?
- Under the Subsidiary Alliance, what were Indian states required to do?
- The first state to accept the Subsidiary Alliance was:
- What was a major consequence of the Subsidiary Alliance?
- Which Governor-General is associated with the Doctrine of Lapse?
- In which year was the Doctrine of Lapse introduced?
- What was the primary condition under the Doctrine of Lapse?
- Under the Doctrine of Lapse, what happened to princely states without a natural heir?
- The first state annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse was:
- Which queen resisted the annexation of her state under the Doctrine of Lapse?
- The state of Jhansi was annexed by the British under which policy?
- The Doctrine of Lapse was most strongly opposed during which event?
- Which state was annexed by Lord Dalhousie on the grounds of misgovernance?
- What was the primary objective of the Doctrine of Lapse?
- The Doctrine of Lapse was part of which larger British strategy?
- Which princely state resisted annexation but eventually succumbed to the Subsidiary Alliance?
- Which Indian leader famously defied British annexation under the Doctrine of Lapse?
- What did Indian rulers lose under the Subsidiary Alliance?
- How did the Subsidiary Alliance benefit the British?
- The Doctrine of Lapse was primarily applied in:
- What was a significant outcome of the Doctrine of Lapse?
- Which Indian princely state was annexed after its ruler, Raja Raghunathrao, died without an heir?
- The policy of Subsidiary Alliance prohibited Indian rulers from:
- Which princely state was annexed last under the Doctrine of Lapse?
- The annexation of Awadh in 1856 was justified under:
- Which Governor-General called the Doctrine of Lapse a "just and benevolent policy"?
- Which princely state joined the Subsidiary Alliance to gain protection against the Marathas?
- The Doctrine of Lapse was one of the causes leading to:
- What was the status of Indian rulers under the Subsidiary Alliance?
- How did the British justify annexations under the Doctrine of Lapse?
- The annexation of Jhansi under the Doctrine of Lapse led to which event?
- Which ruler negotiated with the British for the restoration of his adopted son’s inheritance?
- The Subsidiary Alliance was used by the British to: