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The First War of Independence ( The Great Uprising of 1857) — Syllabus

ICSE · Class 10 · History & Civics

What The First War of Independence ( The Great Uprising of 1857) covers in ICSE Class 10 History & Civics: 4 topics, for the 2026-27 session.

45 questions40 flashcards5 concepts

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A clear diagram outlining the key terms and conditions of the Subsidiary Alliance system introduced by Lord Wellesley, explaining how it led to British control over Indian states.
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4 Topics · ICSE Class 10 History & Civics · 2026-27

Topics in The First War of Independence ( The Great Uprising of 1857)

1

1. Background and Nature of the Uprising

  • The Great Uprising of 1857 was not the first revolt against British rule. Between 1763 and 1856, there were forty major rebellions in different parts of India.
  • Earlier uprisings were mostly localised and were usually suppressed easily by the British.
  • The Sanyasis or Fakirs of Bengal organised peasants into an army of 50,000 soldiers and harassed the British for 30 years.
2

2. Political Causes

  • The East India Company began as a trading company but gradually tried to gain political control over Indian states.
  • The Company used methods such as the Subsidiary Alliance and the Doctrine of Lapse to expand its rule.
  • The Doctrine of Lapse meant an adopted heir could not become ruler of a lapsed state.
3

3. Social and Religious Causes

  • The British interfered in the social and religious life of Indians, which created fear and anger.
  • The Abolition of Sati Act of 1829 was seen as interference in religion.
  • The Widow Remarriage Act of 1856 offended many Indians.
4

4. Economic Causes

  • British economic policies weakened Indian agriculture, industry, and trade.
  • The British reduced agricultural India to an economic colony that served industrial England.
  • Indian textiles faced heavy restrictions, and Indian handicrafts and cottage industries declined.

Key Concepts

Central concept: The Great Uprising of 1857 as a broad anti-British revolt caused by political, social and religious, economic, military, and immediate triggers, followed by major political and military changes under British rule.

Political causesSocial and religious causesEconomic causesMilitary causesImmediate causeMain centres of revoltDelhiKanpur

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in The First War of Independence ( The Great Uprising of 1857) for ICSE Class 10 History & Civics?
Key topics in The First War of Independence ( The Great Uprising of 1857) include Background and Nature of the Uprising, Political Causes, Social and Religious Causes, Economic Causes. Study these first, then practise questions on each for the ICSE Class 10 board exam.
How should I revise The First War of Independence ( The Great Uprising of 1857) for the ICSE Class 10 board exam?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 45 practice questions on The First War of Independence ( The Great Uprising of 1857). Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

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