English Imperialism Of India

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India, often referred as “the jewel in the crown”, became one of England’s most valuable possessions in the 19th century. The British presence in India began with the East India Company, by gaining trading rights from the Mughal Empire in the 17th century. Eventually in the 18th century, the East India Company virtually ceased control of the entirety of India, and established government officials in the territories of Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta. The British Parliament increasingly began to grow weary of the power of the East India Company and the influence of Indian culture on the company and other British officials, soldiers, and traders leading to the passing of reforms which regulated these issues. In 1858, the Government of India Act was passed which striped direct control of India from the East India Company and gave it the British Crown. British involvement and influence within India greatly affected the lives of individuals within India, both nations of India and Britain, and even the entire world. Throughout the rule of the British in India, the effect of the colonial and economic imperialism impacted individuals within the sub-continent in the form of many economic and social changes. On the economic side, many Indian goods were sold overseas by the East India Company, but the government of England viewed India as a large base for British goods; as well as, a source of raw materials. British officials discouraged Indian industry leading to a production of cash crops rather than food crops. In this way cotton was produced in India, processed in England, and then sold back to the Indians. This change in food supplies killed millions of Indians from famine in the 1800's. One major social reform within India was the banning of the practice of Sati. The word Sati as described in the document Women in World History stated,” used to describe to designate the
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