Class 8 History Chapter 5 When People Rebel Questions and Answers

by | Jun 24, 2023 | General | 0 comments

 

Class 8 History Chapter 5 When People Rebel

 

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History Chapter 5 When People Rebel

When People Rebel – Given in this post is NCERT Solutions Class 8 History Chapter 5 When People Rebel Important Question Answers. The important questions we have compiled will help the students to brush up on their knowledge about the subject. Students can practice Class 8 History Chapter 5 important questions to understand the subject better and improve their performance in the exam. The NCERT Solutions Class 8 Social Science (History) provided here will also give students an idea about how to write the answers.

 

Source Based Questions 

Read the extract and answer the questions that follow-

 

A. Awadh was one of the last territories to be annexed. In 1801, a subsidiary alliance was imposed on Awadh, and in 1856 it was taken over. Governor-General Dalhousie declared that the territory was being misgoverned and British rule was needed to ensure proper administration. The Company even began to plan how to bring the Mughal dynasty to an end. The name of the Mughal king was removed from the coins minted by the Company. In 1849, Governor-General Dalhousie announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place in Delhi to reside in. In 1856, Governor-General Canning decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal king and after his death none of his descendants would be recognised as kings – they would just be called princes.

1 When was a subsidiary alliance imposed on Awadh and when was it taken over?

Ans. In 1801, a subsidiary alliance was imposed on Awadh, and in 1856 it was taken over.

2 What did Governor-General Dalhousie declare after the annexation of Awadh?

Ans. Governor-General Dalhousie declared that the territory was being misgoverned and British rule was needed to ensure proper administration.

3 The name of the Mughal king was added to the coins minted by the Company. True/False?

Ans. False, The name of the Mughal king was removed from the coins minted by the Company.

4 What did Dalhousie declare with respect to Bahadur Shah Zafar? 

Ans. In 1849, Governor-General Dalhousie announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place in Delhi to reside in.

5 Who decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal King?

Ans. Lord Canning decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal King.

 

B. The Indian sepoys in the employ of the Company also had reasons for discontent. They were unhappy about their pay, allowances and conditions of service. Some of the new rules, moreover, violated their religious sensibilities and beliefs. Did you know that in those days many people in the country believed that if they crossed the sea they would lose their religion and caste? So when in 1824, the sepoys were told to go to Burma by the sea route to fight for the Company, they refused to follow the order, though they agreed to go by the land route. They were severely punished, and since the issue did not die down, in 1856 the Company passed a new law which stated that every new person who took up employment in the Company’s army had to agree to serve overseas if required.  

1 What all were the Indian sepoys unhappy about?

Ans. The Indian sepoys all were unhappy about their pay, allowances, and conditions of service.

2 Why did the new rules make sepoys unhappy?

Ans. The new rules violated the religious sensibilities and rights of the sepoys and thus, they were unhappy with them.

3 How did the sepoys show their discontent in 1824?

Ans. In 1824, the sepoys were told to go to Burma by the sea route to fight for the Company, they refused to follow the order, though they agreed to go by the land route.

4 Were the sepoys punished for showing their discontent?

Ans. Yes, the sepoys were severely punished by the company officials.

5 How did the company retaliate?

Ans. They were severely punished, and since the issue did not die down, in 1856 the Company passed a new law which stated that every new person who took up employment in the Company’s army had to agree to serve overseas if required.

 

C. The response of the other Indian soldiers in Meerut was quite extraordinary. On 10 May, the soldiers marched to the jail in Meerut and released the imprisoned sepoys. They attacked and killed British officers. They captured guns and ammunition and set fire to the buildings and properties of the British and declared war on the firangis. The soldiers were determined to bring an end to their rule in the country. But who would rule the land instead? The soldiers had an answer to this question – the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. The sepoys of Meerut rode all night of 10 May to reach Delhi in the early hours next morning. As news of their arrival spread, the regiments stationed in Delhi also rose up in rebellion. Again british officers were killed, arms and ammunition seized, buildings set on fire. 

1 What did the Indian soldiers do on May 10?

Ans. On 10 May, the soldiers marched to the jail in Meerut and released the imprisoned sepoys. They attacked and killed British officers.

2 Who are referred to as firangis in the above paragraph?

Ans. The British officials are referred to as firangis in the above paragraph.

3 Did the soldiers opt for violence in the events of May 10?

Ans. Yes, They attacked and killed British officers. They captured guns and ammunition and set fire to the buildings and properties of the British and declared war on the firangis. The soldiers were determined to bring an end to their rule in the country.

4 Who did the sepoys hope would rule the land for them?

Ans. The sepoys hoped Bahadur Shah Zafar would rule the land for them.

5 What happened after the news of the arrival of the soldiers spread?

Ans. As news of their arrival spread, the regiments stationed in Delhi also rose up in rebellion. Again british officers were killed, arms and ammunition seized, buildings set on fire. 

 

D. Regiment after regiment mutinied and took off to join other troops at nodal points like Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow. After them, the people of the towns and villages also rose up in rebellion and rallied around local leaders, zamindars and chiefs who were prepared to establish their authority and fight the British. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the late Peshwa Baji Rao who lived near Kanpur, gathered armed forces and expelled the British garrison from the city. He proclaimed himself Peshwa. He declared that he was a governor under Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. In Lucknow, Birjis Qadr, the son of the deposed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was proclaimed the new Nawab. He too acknowledged the suzerainty of Bahadur Shah Zafar. His mother Begum Hazrat Mahal took an active part in organising the uprising against the British.

1 What were some nodal points for the sepoys?

Ans. Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow were some nodal points for the sepoys.

2 How did the locals rebel?

Ans. The people of the towns and villages also rose up in rebellion and rallied around local leaders, zamindars and chiefs who were prepared to establish their authority and fight the British.

3 Nana Saheb was the adopted nephew of the late Peshwa Baji Rao. True/False?

Ans. False, Nana Saheb was the adopted son of the late Peshwa Baji Rao.

4 Who gathered forces during the rebellion?

Ans. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the late Peshwa Baji Rao who lived near Kanpur, gathered armed forces and expelled the British garrison from the city. He proclaimed himself Peshwa. He declared that he was a governor under Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar.

5 Who was proclaimed as the new nawab in Lucknow?

Ans. In Lucknow, Birjis Qadr, the son of the deposed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was proclaimed the new Nawab. He too acknowledged the suzerainty of Bahadur Shah Zafar. His mother Begum Hazrat Mahal took an active part in organizing the uprising against the British.

 

E. The recapture of Delhi, however, did not mean that the rebellion died down after that. People continued to resist and battle the British. The British had to fight for two years to suppress the massive forces of popular rebellion. Lucknow was taken in March 1858. Rani Lakshmibai was defeated and killed in June 1858. A similar fate awaited Rani Avantibai, who after initial victory in Kheri, chose to embrace death when surrounded by the British on all sides. Tantia Tope escaped to the jungles of central India and continued to fight a guerrilla war with the support of many tribal and peasant leaders. He was captured, tried and killed in April 1859.

1 Did the rebellion die down after the recapture of Delhi?

Ans. No, the rebellion did not died down even after the recapture of Delhi.

2 How long did the British have to fight?

Ans. The British had to fight for two years to suppress the massive forces of popular rebellion.

3 When did Rani Lakshimbai die and when was Lucknow taken by the British?

Ans. Lucknow was taken in March 1858. Rani Lakshmibai was defeated and killed in June 1858.

4 A similar fate awaited ___________, who after initial victory in Kheri, chose to embrace death when surrounded by the British on all sides.

Ans. A similar fate awaited Rani Avantibai, who after initial victory in Kheri, chose to embrace death when surrounded by the British on all sides.

5 What happened to Tantia Tope?

Ans. Tantia Tope escaped to the jungles of central India and continued to fight a guerrilla war with the support of many tribal and peasant leaders. He was captured, tried and killed in April 1859.

 

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) (1 Mark)

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) are a type of objective assessment in which a person is asked to choose one or more correct answers from a list of available options. An MCQ presents a question along with several possible answers.

Q1 During the mid 18th century, the British had placed _____ inside the Court of many Nawabs.
A) Residents
B) Spy
C) Advisors
D) Ministers
Ans. A) Residents

Q2. _____ was the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II.
A) Peshwa Baji Rao I
B) Nana Saheb
C) Rao Saheb
D) Mahadij Shinde
Ans. B) Nana Saheb

Q3 ______ was one of the last territories that the British had annexed in 1856.
A) Jhansi
B) Kanpur
C) Awadh
D) Lahore
Ans. C) Awadh

Q4 _______ had ordered the annexation of Jhansi.
A) Warren Hastings
B) Lord Dalhousie
C) Lord Canning
D) Lord Clive
Ans. B) Lord Dalhousie

Q5 Sepoys of British empire were severely punished in 1824 after they refused to go to
A) Burma
B) England
C) Africa
D) America
Ans. A) Burma

Q6 After 1830, Company allowed ______ to preach in India.
A) Christian missionaries
B) Buddhist missionaries
C) Hindu missionaries
D) Muslim missionaries
Ans. A) Christian missionaries

Q7 ____ is disobeying of soldier groups against officers of the Army.
A) Rebellion
B) Mutiny
C) Revolt
D) Resistance
Ans. B) Mutiny

Q8 The revolt of ____ was the biggest armed resistance to colonialism during the 19th century.
A) 1859
B) 1857
C) 1860
D) 1861
Ans. B) 1857

Q9 857 revolt began from the city of
A) Meerut
B) Delhi
C) Cawnpur
D) Calcutta
Ans. A) Meerut

Q10 ________ was the first soldier to be hanged for the 1857 revolt.
A) Mahadij Shinde
B) Shahuji
C) Mangal Pandey
D) Batukeshwar Dutt
Ans. C) Mangal Pandey

Q11 ________ was declared leader of the 1857 revolt.
A) Nana Saheb
B) Bahadur Shah Zafar
C) Rani Lakshmibai
D) Nawab Wajid Ali Shah
Ans. B) Bahadur Shah Zafar

Q12 _____ was the General of Nana Saheb.
A) Baji Rao II
B) Mangal Pandey
C) Tantia Tope
D) Begum Hazrat Mahal
Ans. C) Tantia Tope

Q13 _______ ruled Ramgadh in Madhya Pradesh during 1857 revolt
A) Rani Avantibai Lodhi
B) Rani Chennamma
C) Rani Lakshmibai
D) Raja Gangdhar Rao
Ans. A) Rani Avantibai Lodhi

Q14 Vir Kunwar Singh was an old Zamindar from
A) Bihar
B) Central Province
C) Lahore
D) Merrut
Ans. A) Bihar

Q15 ______ led a group of soldiers from Bareilly to Delhi.
A) Dara Shikoh
B) Bakht Khan
C) Tatia Tope
D) Kunwar Singh
Ans. B) Bakht Khan

Q16 ______ was the wife of Bahadur Shah Zafar.
A) Begum Hazrat Mahal
B) Begum Zinat Mahal
C) Begum Gazal Mahal
D) Begum Gazi Khatun
Ans. B) Begum Zinat Mahal

Q17 Bahadur Shah Zafar passed away in
A) 1862
B) 1859
C) 1858
D) 1865
Ans. A) 1862

Q18 The Company regime in India came to end in
A) 1858
B) 1845
C) 1850
D) 1859
Ans. A) 1858

Q19 After 1857 revolt, the British decided to recruit more ____ instead of those from North & Central India
A) Sikhs
B) Madrasis
C) Muslims
D) Awadhis
Ans. A) Sikhs

Q20 As revolt got over, Bahadur Shah Zafar was sent to jail in
A) Kathmandu
B) Rangoon
C) Lahore
D) Calcutta
Ans. B) Rangoon

Q21 When soldiers (as a group) disobey their officers in the army then it is called a __________
A) Cartridge
B) Sepoy
C) Mutiny
D) Barracks
Ans. C) Mutiny

Q22 What did Lord Dalhousie announce after the death of King Bahadur Shah Zafar?
A) The British set fire to the royal palace and killed all the family members.
B) The family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place to live in.
C) The family members were imprisoned and Company annexed the state of Delhi
D) The family can continue staying in Red Fort and his son would be crowned as the next king
Ans. B) The family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place to live in.

Q23 In 1856, which Governor General decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last Mughal King and none of his descendants would be recognized as Kings hereafter?
A) Lord Cornwallis
B) Lord Canning
C) Warren Hastings
D) William Bentick
Ans. B) Lord Canning

Q24 Who helped Colin Campbell to rescue the British holed up in the residency of Lucknow?
A) Kunwar Singh
B) Nana Saheb
C) Bahadur Shah Zafar
D) Gurkha regiment
Ans. D) Gurkha regiment

Q25 In 1824, when the sepoys were asked to go to Burma by sea route to fight for the Company, they refused to follow the order. Why?
A) It was widely believed that if they crossed the sea they would lose their religion and caste.
B) There was a belief that the sepoys will not be paid if they go to Burma.
C) It was believed that Burma was a non- friendly country and hence did not welcome foreigners.
D) It was widely believed that they were taken as prisoners and will be put in a jail there.
Ans. A) It was widely believed that if they crossed the sea they would lose their religion and caste.

 

 

Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark)

Q1. Under what pretext did Governor-General Dalhousie take over Awadh? 

Ans. Governor-General Dalhousie took over Awadh under the pretext of misgovernment.

Q2. What was the first step taken by the Company towards ending the Mughal dynasty? 

Ans. The first step taken by the Company towards ending the Mughal dynasty was that the name of the Mughal king was removed from the coins minted by the Company.

Q3. Who was the last Peshwa?

Ans. The last Peshwa was Peshwa Baji Rao II.

Q4. Who led the revolt in Kanpur?

Ans. The revolt in Kanpur was led by Nana Saheb.

Q5. Name the country where the Indian Sepoys were asked to go through the sea route.

Ans. The country where the Indian Sepoys were asked to go through the sea route was Burma. 

Q6.Under what pretext did the British annex Awadh?

Ans. In 1801, a subsidiary alliance was imposed on Awadh by the British, and in 1856 it was taken over under this pretext.

Q7. Who wrote the book Majha Pravas?

Ans. The book Majha Pravas was written by Vishnubhatt Godse, a Brahman from a village in Maharashtra.

Q8. When was Mangal Pandey hanged to death and why?

Ans. On 29 March 1857, a young soldier, Mangal Pandey, was hanged to death for attacking his officers in Barrackpore.

Q9. What was the first step taken by the company towards ending the Mughal dynasty?

Ans. The first step taken by the company towards ending the Mughal dynasty was that the name of the Mughal king was removed from the coins minted by the Company.

Q10. What rumor spread among the sepoys of the Meerut regiment about the new cartridges?

Ans. The rumor spread that the new cartridges were greased with the fat of cows and pigs.

 

Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)

Q1. What objections did the sepoys have to the new cartridges that they were asked to use?

Ans. The following were the sepoys’ objections to the new cartridges:

  1. Cow and pig fat was used to lubricate the cartridges.
  2. The sepoys had to use their mouths to remove the cartridge covers.
  3. They referred to the cartridges as a violation of religious feelings.

As a result, they revolted.

Q2. How did the last Mughal emperor live the last years of his life?

Ans. During his final years, the last Mughal emperor led a pitiful existence. He was sentenced to life in jail after being tried in court. He and his wife were imprisoned in Rangoon. He died there four years later.

Q3. What reforms did the British introduce in Indian society? How did the people of India respond to them?

Ans. The British instituted various reforms. They created laws against sati and encouraging widow remarriage. They advocated for English language instruction. In 1850, the Company passed a new law that made it simpler to convert to Christianity. Many Indians came to believe that the British were undermining their religion, social practises, and way of life. At the same time, there were other Indians who willingly embraced the British-imposed reforms. They actually desired to alter established social practises.

Q4. Why were the powers of the East India Company transferred to the British crown? 

Ans. In order to assure more responsible management of Indian affairs, the British Parliament approved a new Act in 1858 that transferred the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown.

Q5. How did the Company plan to bring an end to the Mughal dynasty?

Ans. The Company planned to bring an end to the Mughal dynasty through a variety of steps. Firstly, the name of the Mughal king was erased from the Company’s currency. In 1849, Governor-General Dalhousie announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the king’s family would be relocated from the Red Fort to another location in Delhi. Then, in 1856, Governor-General “Canning decreed that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal emperor, and his descendants would be known as princes following his death.

Q6. How did the British try to win back the loyalty of the people after they recaptured Delhi?

Ans. The British tried to win back the loyalty of the people after they recaptured Delhi by the following ways- 

Firstly, they announced that faithful landholders would be rewarded by retaining traditional rights over their lands.

Secondly, those who had rebelled were persuaded that if they surrendered to the British and did not kill any white people, their rights and claims to land would not be denied.

Q7. How did the revolt of 1857 affect the position of the East India Company?

Ans. The revolt of 1857 greatly affected the position of the East India Company. In order to assure more responsible management of Indian affairs, the British Parliament approved a new Act in 1858 that transferred the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown.

Q8.What did the British do to protect the interests of those who converted to Christianity?

Ans. In order to protect the interests of those who converted to Christianity the British, passed a new law in 1850 to facilitate conversion to Christianity. This legislation allowed an Indian who converted to Christianity to inherit his forefathers’ property.

Q9. Name the governor general who announced to shift Bahadur Shah Zafar’s family from Red Fort.

Ans. In 1849, Governor-General Dalhousie announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place in Delhi to reside in.

Q10. On what condition the ruling chiefs could pass on their kingdoms to their heirs?

Ans. The ruling chiefs could pass on their kingdoms to their heirs on a certain condition. All of the country’s ruling chiefs were assured that their land would never be annexed again. Their heirs, even adopted sons, were permitted to inherit their kingdoms. They were, nevertheless, forced to recognise the British Queen as their Sovereign Paramount.

Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)

Q1. Why did the Indian soldiers get angry at the British?

Ans. The Indian soldiers were unhappy with the British. They were dissatisfied with their wages, benefits, and working conditions. Some of the new rules were incompatible with their religious beliefs and sensibility. Many people in the country used to believe that if they crossed the sea, they would lose their religion and caste. So, when the sepoys were commanded to go to Burma by water to fight for the Company in 1824, they refused, even though they consented to go by land. They were harshly punished, and because the issue did not resolve, the Company approved a new ordinance in 1856 requiring every new individual who joined the Company’s army to pledge to serve overseas if necessary. 

Q2. What could be the reasons for the confidence of the British rulers about their position in India before May 1857?

Ans. Before May 1857, the British rulers were confident in their position in India for the following reasons:

Nawabs and rajas had lost their power and prestige. Residents had been stationed in several courts, rulers’ independence had been limited, their military forces had been abolished, and their revenues and territory had been gradually eroded.

One of the last territories to be acquired was Awadh. A subsidiary alliance was forced on Awadh in 1801, and it was taken over in 1856.

Governor-General Canning declared in 1856 that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal king, and that after his death, none of his descendants would be recognised as kings; instead, they would be known as princes.

Q3. What impact did Bahadur Shah Zafar’s support to the rebellion have on the people and the ruling families?

Ans. Support provided for the uprising by Bahadur Shah Zafar strengthened the spirit of the people and the ruling families. People in towns and villages also rose up in revolt, rallying around local leaders, zamindars, and chiefs who were willing to establish their authority and oppose the British.

Nana Saheb, the late Peshwa Baji Rao’s adoptive son, collected armed men and drove out the British garrison from the city. Birjis Qadr, the son of ousted Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was proclaimed the new Nawab at Lucknow. He, too, recognised Bahadur Shah Zafar’s suzerainty.

Rani Lakshmibai joined the rebel sepoys in Jhansi and fought alongside Tantia Tope, Nana Saheb’s general, against the British.

Q4. How did the British plan to bring the Mughal dynasty to an end?

Ans. The British did a few things in order to bring the Mughal Dynasty to an end. The Company began to plot ways to topple the Mughal dynasty. The name of the Mughal ruler was erased from the Company’s coinage. Governor-General Dalhousie said in 1849 that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the king’s family would be relocated from the Red Fort to another location in Delhi.

Governor-General Canning declared in 1856 that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal king, and that after his death, none of his descendants would be recognised as kings; instead, they would be known as princes.

Q5. What were the consequences of the Revolt of 1857?

Ans. Following the end of the popular insurrection of 1857, the British made some significant policy adjustments. In order to ensure a more responsible management of Indian affairs, the British Parliament passed a new Act in 1858 that transferred the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown. The Governor-General of India was given the title of viceroy, that is, personal representative of the crown. All of the country’s reigning chiefs were assured that their land would never be annexed again. Their heirs, even adopted sons, were permitted to inherit their kingdoms.

It was determined to minimise the proportion of Indian soldiers in the army while increasing the number of European soldiers.

Muslims’ land was taken on a significant scale since the British believed them culpable for the uprising. The people of India’s traditional religions and social practises were respected. Policies were enacted to safeguard landlords and zamindars’ rights over their estates.

Q6. In what ways did the British change their policies as a result of the rebellion of 1857? 

Ans. The British implemented a series of significant adjustments. In order to assure more responsible management of Indian affairs, the British Parliament approved a new Act in 1858 that transferred the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown.

All of the country’s ruling chiefs were assured that their land would never be annexed again. Their heirs, even adopted sons, were permitted to inherit their kingdoms. They were, nevertheless, forced to recognise the British Queen as their Sovereign Paramount.

It was determined to minimise the proportion of Indian soldiers in the army while increasing the number of European soldiers. It was also determined that rather than recruiting men from Awadh, Bihar, Central India, and South India, more soldiers would be recruited from the Gurkhas, Sikhs, and Pathans.

Muslims’ land and possessions were often taken, and they were viewed with mistrust and contempt. The British believed that they were a major cause of the insurrection.

The British opted to respect the people of India’s traditional religious and social practises. Policies were enacted to safeguard landlords and zamindars’ rights over their estates.

Q7. What reforms did the British introduced in the Indian society? How did people of India respond to them?

Ans. The British introduced a number of social improvements in Indian society.

  • Laws were enacted to prohibit the practise of sati and to encourage widow remarriage.
  • The study of English was actively promoted.
  • After 1830, the Company permitted Christian missionaries to operate freely throughout its realm, even owning land and property.
  • A new law was passed in 1850 to facilitate conversion to Christianity.
  • Many Indians came to believe that the British were undermining their religion, social practises, and way of life.

Q8. How did the British succeed in securing the submission of the rebel landowners of Awadh?

Ans. During their insurrection, the British were defeated in multiple conflicts. This sparked a series of revolutions against the British in various Indian states. Awadh was the site of one such insurrection. The landlords led the locals into battle. However, they were beaten by the British army. The British were heartened by the defeat of the insurgent forces. They used two key ways to put down the uprising. First and foremost, they tried and executed a huge number of rebel leaders who dared to question their authority. At the same time, they showed some leniency to landowners who remained faithful to them during the insurrection. They promised them benefits by allowing them to keep their traditional rights to their lands. Those who had murdered white people would be protected, and their rights and claims to land would not be rejected.

Q9.How did other Indian soldiers in Meerut participate in the Revolt of 1857? How did the regiments stationed in Delhi respond when they came to know about the arrival of the Meerut sepoys in the city? 

Ans. The other Indian soldiers in Meerut enthusiastically supported the insurrection. On May 10, 1857, they marched to Meerut’s jail and liberated the sepoys who had been sentenced to ten years in prison for disobeying their officers. They assassinated British officers. They took rifles and ammunition, set fire to British houses and properties, and declared war on the firangis. The soldiers were adamant about ending British rule in the country. In the early hours of May 11, Meerut sepoys rushed to Delhi. As word of their arrival spread, the troops stationed in Delhi revolted as well. British officers were once again killed, weapons and ammunition were seized, and buildings were set on fire. 

Soldiers gathered triumphantly around the walls of the Red Fort, where Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar dwelt, wanting to meet him. The emperor refused to challenge the strength of the British Empire, but the soldiers persisted. They broke into the palace and installed Bahadur Shah Zafar as their leader. The emperor eventually agreed to this demand. After capturing the leader, the men began to plot their next move.

Q10. How did the rebellion spread to other regions of the country?

Ans. The British were almost defeated by the rebel troops in Delhi as their position deteriorated. As a result, there was no revolt for nearly a week. Following that, a wave of mutinies erupted in various parts of India. Regiment after regiment revolted and fled to join other forces at nodes such as Delhi, Kanpur, and Lucknow. Following them, the inhabitants of the towns and villages rebelled. They banded together around local leaders, zamindars, and chiefs who were willing to assert their power and oppose the British.

Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the late Peshwa Baji Rao, collected military men and drove the British garrison out of Kanpur. He established himself as Peshwa. He pretended to be a Governor under Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. Birjis Qadr, the son of ousted Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was proclaimed the new Nawab at Lucknow. He, too, recognised Bahadur Shah Zafar’s suzerainty.Rani Lakshmibai joined the rebel sepoys in Jhansi and fought the British alongside Tantia Tope, Nana Saheb’s General.

A situation of widespread insurrection emerged in the Awadh region as well. Many new leaders emerged and joined the revolt. Ahmadullah Shah, a maulvi from Faizabad, amassed a sizable following. He arrived in Lucknow to oppose the British.

A great number of religious warriors gathered in Delhi to exterminate the white people. Bakht Khan, a soldier from Bareilly, led a big number of fighters who arrived in Delhi. Kunwar Singh, an ancient zamindar from Bihar, joined the rebel sepoys and fought with the British for several months.
 
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