📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Causes & Outbreak
- Political: Doctrine of Lapse, annexation of Awadh (1856), humiliation of the Mughal emperor.
- Economic: heavy land revenue, ruin of handicrafts, dispossession of landlords.
- Military: discrimination against sepoys; General Service Enlistment Act (1856) — service overseas.
- Immediate cause: greased cartridges of the Enfield rifle.
- 29 March 1857 — Mangal Pandey (34th Native Infantry) attacked officers at Barrackpore.
- 10 May 1857 — revolt began at Meerut; sepoys marched to Delhi and proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar emperor.
- Lord Canning was Governor-General at the time.
📌 2. Centres, Leaders & Suppressors
| Centre | Indian leader | British officer |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Bahadur Shah Zafar, Bakht Khan (military) | John Nicholson, Hodson |
| Kanpur | Nana Saheb, Tantia Tope | Colin Campbell |
| Lucknow | Begum Hazrat Mahal | Colin Campbell (Henry Lawrence killed) |
| Jhansi | Rani Lakshmibai | Hugh Rose |
| Bihar (Jagdishpur) | Kunwar Singh | William Taylor / Vincent Eyre |
| Faizabad | Maulvi Ahmadullah | — |
| Bareilly | Khan Bahadur Khan | — |
- Rani Lakshmibai died fighting near Gwalior (June 1858); Hugh Rose called her "the bravest of the rebels".
- Tantia Tope was hanged in 1859; Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Rangoon (died 1862).
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- The revolt began at Meerut on 10 May; Mangal Pandey's incident was at Barrackpore (29 March).
📌 3. Nature, Failure & Results
- Views: "Sepoy Mutiny" (Seeley), "First War of Indian Independence" (V.D. Savarkar), "neither first, nor national, nor a war of independence" (R.C. Majumdar).
- Failure: lack of unified leadership and plan, limited spread, most princes and the educated class stayed away, lack of modern arms.
- Government of India Act 1858 — Company rule ended, Crown rule began; Secretary of State for India + 15-member Council of India; Governor-General now also Viceroy (first — Canning).
- Queen Victoria's Proclamation — 1 November 1858, Allahabad durbar; Doctrine of Lapse abandoned; proportion of European troops increased.
💡 Memory Tip: "10 May, Meerut; Canning Viceroy; 1858 Crown".
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Where did the Revolt of 1857 begin (10 May)? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Sepoys at the Meerut cantonment rose on 10 May 1857.
Sepoys at the Meerut cantonment rose on 10 May 1857.
Q2. What was the immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Greased cartridges of the Enfield rifle were the immediate cause.
Greased cartridges of the Enfield rifle were the immediate cause.
Q3. Who led the revolt at Lucknow in 1857? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Begum Hazrat Mahal led at Lucknow.
Begum Hazrat Mahal led at Lucknow.
Q4. Who led the 1857 revolt in Bihar? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur, about 80, led in Bihar.
Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur, about 80, led in Bihar.
Q5. Who was Governor-General during the Revolt of 1857? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Lord Canning, who then became the first Viceroy.
Lord Canning, who then became the first Viceroy.
Q6. Who called 1857 the 'First War of Indian Independence'? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Savarkar called it so in his 1909 book.
Savarkar called it so in his 1909 book.
Q7. Who led the British campaign against Rani Lakshmibai at Jhansi? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Sir Hugh Rose captured Jhansi in his Central India campaign.
Sir Hugh Rose captured Jhansi in his Central India campaign.
Q8. Where did the Mangal Pandey incident (29 March 1857) occur? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Mangal Pandey of the 34th NI attacked officers at Barrackpore.
Mangal Pandey of the 34th NI attacked officers at Barrackpore.
Q9. Where was Bahadur Shah Zafar exiled after 1857? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
He was sent to Rangoon, where he died in 1862.
He was sent to Rangoon, where he died in 1862.
Q10. The main result of the Government of India Act 1858 was: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The 1858 Act placed India directly under the British Crown.
The 1858 Act placed India directly under the British Crown.
Q11. Where was Queen Victoria's Proclamation read (1 November 1858)? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Lord Canning read it at the Allahabad durbar.
Lord Canning read it at the Allahabad durbar.
Q12. Who led the revolt at Kanpur? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Nana Saheb, adopted son of Baji Rao II, led at Kanpur.
Nana Saheb, adopted son of Baji Rao II, led at Kanpur.
Q13. Who provided military leadership to the rebels at Delhi? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Bakht Khan from Bareilly took military command at Delhi.
Bakht Khan from Bareilly took military command at Delhi.
Q14. Which historian said 1857 was 'neither first, nor national, nor a war of independence'? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
R.C. Majumdar held this view.
R.C. Majumdar held this view.
Q15. Why were sepoys upset by the General Service Enlistment Act 1856? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
It obliged new recruits to serve overseas if ordered.
It obliged new recruits to serve overseas if ordered.
Q16. After 1858, the Governor-General got which additional title? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
As the Crown's representative, he was called Viceroy.
As the Crown's representative, he was called Viceroy.
Q17. When was Tantia Tope hanged? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Betrayed and captured, he was hanged in 1859.
Betrayed and captured, he was hanged in 1859.
Q18. Which is NOT a reason for the failure of 1857? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Most princes stayed aloof or helped the British; there was no united support.
Most princes stayed aloof or helped the British; there was no united support.
Q19. Which new post was created by the Government of India Act 1858? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
A British cabinet member became Secretary of State, aided by a 15-member council.
A British cabinet member became Secretary of State, aided by a 15-member council.
Q20. Near which place did Rani Lakshmibai die? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
She fell fighting near Gwalior (Kotah-ki-Serai) in June 1858.
She fell fighting near Gwalior (Kotah-ki-Serai) in June 1858.