Discuss the reasons why the Great Revolt (Indian Mutiny) of 1857 was so violent.

Candidates are required to offer a considered and balanced review of the events that took place during the Great Revolt. Candidates may focus on the grievances of those who took part in the revolt, the British response—which may be deemed to have exacerbated the situation—and the impact on the revolt of local rulers, who intensified the situation by using it to advance their own
interests. Candidates may argue that the revolt had largely run its course before the British fully responded.

Indicative content

• Following the attempt by one sepoy to shoot a British officer, a whole division of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry was disbanded in disgrace. Resentment in other sepoy regiments increased.
• At Meerut 85 sepoys refused to accept the new cartridges and were punished with 10 years’ hard labour. This sentence led to violence between sepoys and Europeans.
• At Cawnpore, British hostages—including women and children—were killed. British attitudes hardened and when the British regained the city large numbers of sepoys were hung or blown from canons, despite the fact that many were not directly responsible for the killings.
• However, the advancement of the rebel sepoys and the stories of the murder of European women and children resulted in many British officials abandoning their posts, which encouraged further rebellions.
• Unsure of their loyalty many British officials disarmed their sepoys but they handled this process badly leading to many previously loyal sepoys joining the rebellion.
• The revolt also provided an opportunity for many local rulers to fight each other.
• Many Shi’ite Muslims called for a jihad against the British. However, Sunni Muslims supported the British as they did not want Shia rule.
• Sikhs resented the sepoys even more than they did the British so they supported the British in regaining Delhi to ensure Mughal dominance did not return.

The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.

Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.

[20 marks]