Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse

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.