What are the name of the leader of the Revolt of 185? Who was the Governor-General at the time of the Revolt? What were fie political and military factors responsible for the Revolt of 1857? – Answered

a. Leader of the Revolt:

Tantia Tope was one of the important leaders of the Revolt of 1857.

b. The Governor-General at the time of the Revolt:

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Lord Canning was the Governor-General of British India at the time of the Revolt

c. Political:

The annexationist policy of Lord Dalhousie created an atmosphere of rebellion in the native states of India. After the battle of Plassey the English had been continuously annexing the native states one after another.

Particularly the annexations of Lord Dalhousie made many of the native ruling houses sullen and discontented. Jhansi, Jaitpur, Sambalpur, Satara, etc. were annexed by Dalhousie by the application of the principle of the Doctrine of Lapse.

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But the annexation of Oudh on the ground of maladministration particularly agitated the sepoys of the East India Company, as many of them came from Oudh Moreover, with the end of the rule of the native princes; many people serving under them were thrown out of employment.

Moreover, the native rulers and the princes who were insulted and thrown into distress by the British were waiting for an opportunity of revenge.

Many of these native rulers and princes rallied against the British when the Revolt broke out in 1857.

Military:

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When the sentiments of the Indians were thus aroused against the British because of the reasons mentioned above, the discontents of the Indian sepoys led to a military uprising.

The English East India Company had built up the vast Indian Empire with the help of the Indian sepoys. These sepoys were discontented against the British for a variety of causes.

There was a great disparity between the salaries of the Indian and the European soldiers. Moreover, the Indian sepoys were treated with contempt by their European officers.

They were also required to go to distant places for fighting battles, for which they were not given any extra allowance.