The Indian Nationalists described the Great Uprising of 1857 as the First War of Independence. With reference to this, answer the following questions:
The Revolt of 1857 is also known as the Sepoy Mutiny. Mention any three military causes which led to the uprising.
Topic: Military causes of the Revolt
Answer
(1) DISCRIMINATION in pay and promotion — an Indian sepoy was paid far less than a British soldier doing the same duties, and however able he was he could rise no higher than the rank of Subedar. (2) The GENERAL SERVICE ENLISTMENT ACT of 1856 required every new recruit to serve wherever ordered, including overseas; crossing the sea meant loss of caste for a Hindu. (3) The loss of prestige of the British after their defeat in the First Afghan War (1838-42) and the Crimean War convinced the sepoys that the British were not invincible; the withdrawal of the foreign service allowance (batta) and the annexation of Awadh added to their resentment.
One mark per cause. The three strongest are discrimination in pay and promotion, the 1856 Act, and the loss of British prestige. Keep the GREASED CARTRIDGES for a question that asks for the immediate cause — it is the spark rather than an underlying grievance, though it is acceptable here if you label it as the immediate cause. The Afghan War point is the one candidates most often omit and is psychologically the most interesting: the myth of British invincibility had been broken.