ICSE Class 10 Answered

Following are three important causes for the First War of Independence:

1. Doctrine of Lapse: Lord Dalhousie successfully annexed many Indian states to the English East India Company. This was done by using the provisions of the Doctrine of Lapse. This led to extreme resentment among the successors of those rulers who died without a natural heir.
2. Policy of Expansion - The British authorities annexed many independent Indian states on one pretext or the other. As a result the Company became the supreme ruling power in India and the rest of the ruling class became mere puppets in their hands.
3. Annexation of Awadh - On February 13, 1856, Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh to the Company’s territories. This was done under the pretext of alleged misrule by the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. However, this led to a lot of resentment among the ruling elite of Awadh and the Indian sepoys working under the East India Company.