Revolt of 1857: Causes and Impact

The Revolt of 1857, often called the "First War of Independence," was the first major attempt by Indians to overthrow British colonial rule. It began on 10 May 1857 as a sepoy mutiny and later expanded into a larger uprising involving Indian rulers and peasants, with symbolic leadership from the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar.

• The revolt was widespread across northern India and represented a critical turning point for British policy, leading to more cautious governance and restructuring of the army and administration.

Political Causes

• The British introduced aggressive policies undermining Indian rulers, like the Doctrine of Lapse that annexed ....