CBSE Class 8 English Question 16 of 19

Glimpses of the Past — Question 16

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16
Question
How did the British East India Company eventually become the ruler of India? What tactics did they adopt to expand their empire?
Answer

The British came to India as traders. Their chief motive was to make a fortune. But they needed political power to carry on their trade. They imposed heavy taxes on the peasants. The Indian goods lost their demand because the market was flooded with imported English goods. These goods didn’t have to pay import duty. The British, in this way, ruined the skilled Indians. They dethroned the Indian rulers and took advantage of their rivalries. Slowly and steadily they spread their empire all over India.