The Plassey Revolution
Lesson details
Learning outcome
Explain why historians have described the changes in India between 1757 and 1765 as revolutionary.
Key learning points
- In 1756, war was triggered by the EIC building fortifications without permission from the Nawab of Bengal.
- The EIC achieved significant military victories in India at the Battles of Plassey and Buxar.
- After 1757, the EIC installed puppet leaders in Bengal.
- The 1765 Treaty of Allahabad allowed the EIC to formally control Bengal and collect taxes.
- The years between 1757 and 1765 have been referred to as part of the Plassey Revolution.
Keywords
Fortifications - fortifications include strong walls and towers that are built to protect a place
Revolution - a revolution is a period of time when there is significant change, such as a change in who holds power in a country
Puppet ruler - a puppet ruler is someone who appears to be in charge of a country but is actually controlled by other people or groups
Treaty - a treaty is a written agreement between two or more countries, approved and signed by their leaders
Common misconception
EIC victory in the Battle of Plassey only relied upon its own strengths.
The EIC army benefitted from Indian support, including its secret agreement with Mir Jafar who refused to let his troops participate in the battle.
Teacher tip
get students to create a time-power axis charting the change in the EIC's power between 1756 and 1765. Students might judge the EIC's power in key years (i.e. 1756. 57, 64, 65). Justifications for this should be included.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The Compagnie des Indes was from which European country?
Q2.Rival networks of alliances were able to develop across India in the early eighteenth century because Mughal authority had...
Q3.In 1746, the French captured the important British trading post of...
Q4.Following the First Carnatic War, the East India Company and the Compagnie des Indes the size of their armies in the Indian subcontinent.
Q5.Indian soldiers serving in __________ armies became known as sepoys.
Q6.During the conflict over who should be the new Nawab of Arcot...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the statements to the group in order to describe the opposing sides in the conflict over Calcutta.
organised its armies to recapture Calcutta
made an agreement with the East India Company
supported the Nawab of Bengal
took Calcutta from the East India Company
Q2.At the Battle of Plassey the East India Company's forces were commanded by Robert...
Q3.At the Battle of the East India Company defeated the forces of Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Awadh and the Mughal emperor.
Q4.Historians have suggested that during the Plassey Revolution the Nawabs of Bengal became __________ rulers controlled by the EIC.
Q5.Which of these were agreed at the Treaty of Allahabad?
Q6.The Treaty of Allahabad actually placed Shah Alam under the protection of the East India Company, which included a ban on the emperor returning to for several years.
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: The Plassey Revolution, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: The Plassey Revolution, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The East India Company: when did Mughal authority collapse? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.