British Imperialism India Dbq Analysis

What is pictured when someone thinks of India? Perhaps the manufactured goods, or diverse people. The truth is, however, that until India gained its independence in 1947, it was ruled entirely by British government. The British then proceeded to “improve” India, driving it into a deeper hole. Although British Imperialism in India had some positive effects, the overall political, economic, and social impacts were negative.
To begin, British Imperialism had many political effects on India’s people throughout the years. The forcefulness of Europe’s invasion brought plenty of fear and destruction among the government, which in the following years would become run completely by British officials. According to document two, “The Indians have no control whatsoever over their own taxation...The entire civil government is now carried on by men who live lives quite remote from the people they govern.” According to Dr. Lalvani in paragraph twelve, Imperialism brought Indians together. He states, “perhaps the most innovative of all was the bringing together of several different states into one unified India.” That may have been the result in sight, but the truth is, as shown in document one, when Gandhi states, “For a hundred years, you have done everything for us. You have given us no responsibility for our own

government;” many Indians were upset by Britain’s government.
The economic impacts on India were both good and bad. On the positive side, the British “modernized” India by laying 10,000 miles of railroad, and according to Lalvani, “the Indian mining company, which was built from nothing by the British.” Although the railroad system brought many pleasures to India, they had no control over what it was used for. The British also greatly depleted the Indian economy with cash crops and minimal pay. According to document three, the introduction of British cloth put many weavers out of business. It states that “Weavers became beggars, while the population of Dhaka, which was once the great center of cloth production, fell from several hundred thousand in 1760 to about 50,000 by the 1820’s.” Thus destroying India’s economy, and the production of one of their greatest materials. Document six claims that cash crops destroyed the soil in India. “Within a few years the soil had suffered degradation which was compounded by the intensive farming of cash crops.” This lead to famines and deaths due to starvation- denying Dr. Lalvani’s claim that “Health and life expectancy improved dramatically” over the years of British ruling.
Lastly, the Social impacts on India as a result of Imperialism have their high and low points. For example, Dr. Lalvani states that “some of the finest universities and museums were founded...there were great social reforms, such as the eradication of violent highway robbery.” He also states that health improved, as well as communications due to the spread of the English language. On the negative side, Europe took food out of India, making Indian people starve and health decrease. According to document seven, the rise of cash crops made starvation in India increase. Document five shows in the table that after India gained independence, literacy rates rose to 64.32% by 2011. That is a 60% gain from 1901, when India was still in British control. While Lalvani says that Imperialism lead to an “absence of conflict and killing” among Indian people, the issue of famine and death due to cash crops overrules that statement.
In conclusion, as a result of Imperialism, India’s political, economic, and social future was greatly impacted in both positive and negative ways.

The English government’s harsh ruling gave way to famine, death, and the overall unhappiness of Indian people for many long years. They have not let this impact them forever, though. As Gandhi stated, “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” This has been true for India: despite the hardships placed upon them by Europe, they continue to pick up the pieces of their destroyed economy and rise above their disastrous

past.