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British Expansion

How the East India Company grew from a trading company into the paramount power in India — through alliances, wars with the Marathas, Mysore and the Sikhs, and annexation.

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What this chapter covers

  1. British Strategic Policies

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    • Overview and StrategyWars with every ruler too expensive.
    • Subsidiary AllianceWellesley's system to subjugate without war.

  2. Subjugation of the Marathas

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    • Third Battle of Panipat and AftermathAhmad Shah Abdali defeated Maratha forces.
    • First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–82)Succession dispute after Narayan Rao's murder.
    • Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–05)Weak Baji Rao II; British aggression.
    • Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–18)Peshwa's revolt; Kirkee Residency burnt.

  3. Military Conquests

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    • Subjugation of MysoreHyder Ali and Tipu Sultan defeated.
    • Annexation of the Sikh KingdomTwo Anglo-Sikh Wars after Ranjit Singh.

  4. Dalhousie's Policy of Expansion

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    • Doctrine of LapseNo natural male heir meant annexation.
    • Maladministration and Annexation of AwadhAnnexed on grounds of maladministration.
    • India in 1856British became the paramount power.

Try a sample question

Up to which river did Hyder Ali extend his kingdom of Mysore?

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