Explain any three political causes of the Revolt of 1857.

(1) The SUBSIDIARY ALLIANCE of Lord Wellesley — a ruler who accepted it had to keep a British force in his territory at his own expense, accept a British Resident at his court, and surrender control of his foreign affairs. He kept his throne but lost his independence, and any failure to pay cost him territory. (2) The DOCTRINE OF LAPSE of Lord Dalhousie — a state whose ruler died without a natural heir was annexed, adoption being refused although Indian custom allowed it. Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur, Sambalpur and Udaipur were taken this way, and Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi became a leader of the Revolt in consequence. (3) The ANNEXATION OF AWADH in 1856 on the PRETEXT OF MISGOVERNANCE, which outraged the Bengal Army largely recruited from that province; together with the refusal of Nana Sahib’s pension and the decision that Bahadur Shah’s successors would lose the title of Emperor and the Red Fort.

One mark per cause. Name the policy, the Governor-General behind it, and one example — those three elements make each point complete. AWADH is the most important single item, because it connects the political grievance directly to the sepoys who rebelled. Note the distinction papers test repeatedly: Awadh was annexed on the pretext of MISRULE, not under the Doctrine of Lapse — its Nawab had heirs.