Headquartered in Lidenhall Street in London, the East India Company founded British India to a great extent. In 1717, the Mughal Emperor ordered the East India Company to be exempted from tariffs in Bangladesh, which gave the company a huge advantage in trade with India. In 1757, Sir Robert Clive won a decisive victory in the Battle of placide, which made the East India Company an economic and military power. The East India Company became an economic and military power. In 176, France was expelled from India except for a few coastal trading posts. The East India Company is also interested in Britain's road to India. As early as 162, the company claimed the ownership of Table Mountain in South Africa. Later, it occupied and ruled St. Helena. After Hong Kong and Singapore were occupied by Britain, the East India Company participated in the construction of Hong Kong and Singapore, hired William Kidd to deal with pirates, and introduced and planted tea in India. Other famous events in the company's history include the imprisonment of Napoleon on St. Helena and the Elihu-Yale fortune from the East India Company. The products of the East India Company in the British American colonies led to the Boston tea incident. The company flag of the East India Company consists of a St. George's cross and a horizontal bar, which may be the prototype of the American flag. The comparison of these two historical flags shows that this statement has some truth. The flag of the East India Company was designed in the 16s, while the American flag was designed in 1777. The dock of the East India Company provides a prototype for St. Petersburg. Some elements of its management organization have been used in the Indian bureaucracy, and its corporate organization is a successful model of early joint-stock companies. The company's financial demand for Bangladesh made the local government helpless in the face of the famine in 177. From 177 to 1773, the famine caused millions of deaths. The full name of the East India Company, which was founded in
, is "London Businessmen Management and Company Trading with east indies". It was founded by a group of entrepreneurs and influential businessmen. The British royal family granted these businessmen a 5-year East India trade patent. The company has 125 holders and a capital of 72,. But at first, the East India Company posed little threat to the Dutch spice trade, so it failed to establish a lasting foothold in East India at first. In 168, the ships of the East India Company arrived in surat and established a trading post there. In the next two years, the East India Company established its first factory in Murgila-Bodnum, Saikui, Bay of Bengal. In 169, James I extended the franchise of the East India Company and stipulated that the franchise would be cancelled unless the company failed to make profits for three consecutive years.
gain a foothold in India
British businessmen are often involved in armed conflicts with Dutch and Portuguese competitors in the Indian Ocean. In 1612, the East India Company defeated the Portuguese and won the favor of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. The British realized that the victory and defeat of the ocean war were temporary, so they decided to establish a foothold on Indian territory with the support of the two governments. In 1615, King James I sent Sir Thomas Noy to visit Jahangir, the ruler of 7% territory in India-Asia. The purpose of this diplomatic visit is to grant the East India Company the unique right to settle down and set up factories in surat and other areas. In exchange, the East India Company is willing to provide Jahangir with goods and treasures from the European market. This trip was very successful. Jahangir wrote a reply to James I through Noyes: In order to repay your royal family, I issued decrees to all the kingdoms and seaports under my rule, and I accepted any British businessman as my friend. They can live anywhere and enjoy unrestricted freedom. No matter which seaport they arrive at, Portugal or anyone else must not disturb them. No matter which city they settled in, I ordered all my governors and governors to give them whatever freedom they could and what they needed. They can buy, sell and ship to their own countries at will.
in order to strengthen our love and friendship, I hope your majesty will order your merchants to use their boats to bring all kinds of treasures and commodities to my palace, and give you a chance to deliver your imperial books to me, so that I can be happy for your health and career. May our friendship last forever.
Expansion
With such obvious protection, the East India Company soon surpassed the Portuguese who set up bases in Goa and Mumbai. The East India Company established its strongholds in surat, Chennai (1639), Mumbai (1668) and Kolkata. By 1647, it had established 23 factories (bases) in India with 9 employees. Larger bases include Fort William in Bangladesh, Fort St George in Chennai and Mumbai Castle. In 1634, the Mughal emperor extended preferential treatment to British businessmen to Bangladesh (even completely pardoned tariffs in Bangladesh in 1717). The main trading commodities of the East India Company are cotton, silk, indigo, sodium nitrate and tea. At the same time, the East India Company continued to challenge the monopoly position of the Netherlands in spice trade through the Straits of Malacca, and set up a trading post in Guangzhou, China in 1711 to exchange silver for tea. In 1657, Oliver Cromwell renewed the charter in 169 and slightly adjusted the distribution of shares in the company. In 167, charles ii promulgated five laws, which granted the East India Company the right to occupy territory, mint coins, command fortresses and armies, make alliances and declare war, conclude peace treaties and try civil and criminal cases in the occupied areas. The enemies of the East India Company include commercial competitors, hostile countries and domestic hostile forces, so it needs additional protection rights. Therefore, the right to participate in military operations is very important to the company, which quickly established its own armed forces in the 168s, mainly recruiting from local residents. By 1689, the East India Company could be said to be a "country" of India, with independent control over Bangladesh, Chennai and Mumbai, and a powerful and threatening military force. Trade monopoly
Many employees of the East India Company became rich after returning to Britain, and established their own manors, enterprises and political forces. The company established its own lobbyist army in the British Parliament. However, ambitious businessmen who initially cooperated with the East India Company also put pressure on the company, hoping to set up their own private companies in India. Under these pressures, Parliament passed a non-control bill in 1694. The bill allows any British company to trade with India, unless Parliament passes a bill to prohibit such trade. In this way, the British Parliament actually abolished the charter that had been in force for about 1 years. In 1698, Parliament passed a law to establish a parallel "East India Company" (officially named "British and East India Trading Company") with a state-guaranteed capital of 2 million pounds. The company's state-guaranteed capital is 2 million pounds. However, the strong shareholders of the old company quickly bought 315, pounds of shares in the new company, making them the majority in the new company. In order to gain a dominant position in trade, the two companies fought in Britain and India for some time. But it was soon discovered that the old company actually faced almost no competition. Finally, the two companies merged in 172, along with some government agencies and two other companies. The new company borrowed 3.2 million pounds from the government in exchange for exclusive privileges for the next three years. The full name of the merged company is "British and East India Trade Joint Merchant Company". In the following decades, there was a constant struggle between Parliament and the East India Company. The East India Company hoped to become a permanent and fixed company, while Parliament used every opportunity to make use of the company's wealth and did not give the company greater autonomy. In 1712, although the East India Company had paid off its debts, another law reaffirmed its status. In 172, 15% of Britain's imports came from India, almost all of which were imported through the East India Company. In 173, the East India Company's license was extended to 1766. At this time, Britain and France became sworn enemies. In 1742, fearing that the war would lead to financial difficulties, the government agreed to extend the license of the East India Company to 1783. In return, the company borrowed an additional 1 million pounds from the government. Small-scale conflicts eventually led to war. During the seven-year war from 1754 to 1763, Britain's main attention was focused on consolidating its territory in Europe and North America. The war also spread to India. The company's army clashed with the French in India. At the same time, Britain surpassed its European competitors through the industrial revolution. Due to the need to supply the army and economy in wartime, the trade with India has increased dramatically, and Britain's ability to obtain raw materials and the efficiency of production methods have also improved. As a result, the living standards of the British people have improved. Richness brings production and demand, which in turn increases the demand for ocean trade. The East India Company became the sole master of the British world market and gained an unchallenged influence in government decision-making. William Paine wrote in the book "London in miniature" published in 188: On March 1, 181, the East India Company was in debt of 5,393,989 pounds, owned movable property of 15,44,736 pounds, and its sales increased from 4,988,3 pounds in February 1793 to 7,62,41 pounds now.
colonial monopoly
the seven-year war led to the defeat of the French army, which frustrated France's imperial ambitions and weakened the influence of the industrial revolution in France. Robert Clive, the governor of the company, won an unexpected victory in India, defeating the local French army and retaking Fort St George. In the Treaty of Paris in 1763, France's influence in India was limited to a few unarmed trade points, such as Giri, Mashi and Gyanen. Although these small trade points have been in the hands of France for the next 2 years, France's desire for Indian land has been shattered, and for the East India Company, it has also lost an important economic rival. On the contrary, the East India Company at this time had a disciplined and experienced army, which was independent of any other colonial country and started from Chennai to safeguard the interests from Bangladesh to Kolkata.
Local resistance
But the local rulers still resisted the rule of the East India Company. In 1757, Clive defeated the last resistance supported by France in the Battle of Plasi. However, this victory worsened the relationship between Britain and the Mughal Empire. After the emperor aurangzeb was deposed, the Mughal Empire was already in the process of falling apart. After losing the battle with the company, the Mughal emperor gave up his rule over Bangladesh, Bihar and Orissa. Clive thus became the first British governor in Bangladesh. The legendary King Tipp Sultan of Mysore also brought some troubles to the British. He was an ally of France and constantly resisted the rule of the East India Company in four Anglo-Mysore wars. Since then, the company has gradually weakened the local resistance and occupied Mumbai and its surrounding areas. In these wars, Arthur Wellesley, later the first Duke of Wellington, made his debut, which was the beginning of his road to the Peninsula War and the Battle of Waterloo. Britain thus occupied the whole of South India, East India and West India. The last resistance is the princes of northern Delhi, Ude, Rajputana and Punjab. Through pressure, provocation and suspicious protection, the company effectively prevented these principalities from uniting against Britain. From 1757 to 1857, the Indian national uprising, the East India Company continued to strengthen its rule, and it became more and more like a country than a trading enterprise.
Economic difficulties
Although the East India Company became more and more bold and ambitious in conquering the rebellious countries, at the same time, it was obvious that the East India Company could not control the huge consumption of the territory it occupied. In 177, the great famine in Bangladesh (one sixth of the local population died of hunger) sounded the alarm for Britain itself. With the decline of labor efficiency, the British military and management fees in the occupied areas of Bangladesh continued to increase, which could not be controlled. At the same time, European trade was sluggish in the post-industrial revolution period. Britain was involved in the American revolution, and France was on the verge of it. The president of the desperate East India Company appealed for financial assistance to Parliament, which passed the Tea Act in 1773. The bill gives the East India Company greater autonomy in trading with America. The company's monopolistic behavior led to the Boston tea incident. This was an important event that led to the American War of Independence.
Management Law
The East India Company Law of 1773
The British Parliament has carried out a series of reforms on the management and economy of the company through this law, and clearly established the parliament's sovereignty and ultimate control over the company. The bill recognizes the political responsibility of the company and clearly stipulates that "the sovereignty acquired by the company belongs to the royal family, not the company itself". The bill was passed despite strong opposition from the lobbyists and shareholders of the East India Company in Parliament. The bill introduced substantial government control, and formally placed the areas ruled by the company under the management of the royal family, but the royal family leased its sovereignty to the company for two years at a rent of 4 thousand pounds. Under this condition, Warren Hastings, the chief executive of Bangladesh, was promoted to governor, who had the right to govern the whole of British India. According to the agreement, although Hastings was appointed by the company's board of directors, the position will be filled by a four-member committee at the request of the royal family in the future. Hastings was granted the right to declare war and sign peace treaties. British judicial officials were sent to India to enforce British laws. The Governor and the four-member committee have all legislative powers. Therefore, Hastings actually became the first Indian governor of Britain. The company is allowed to continue its de facto trade monopoly. In return, the company needs to pay the fees for the above two years and is obliged to export at least a certain amount of goods to the UK every year. The expenses of the management organization are also paid by the company. These conditions that the company originally hoped to obtain have become a very heavy financial burden every year. The company's economic situation continues to decline.
The East India Company Act of p>1784
This Act has two important contents:
The relationship between the company and the British government. The law clearly distinguishes between the political mission and business activities of the company. The law clearly stipulates that the political activities of the company must obey the orders of the British government. In order to realize this task, the Act established an Indian Affairs Control Committee. The Committee is composed of the Minister of Finance, a Deputy Minister and four advisers appointed by the King. The decree stipulates that the deputy minister is the chairman of the Committee.
the internal management of British India. The Act laid the foundation for the British central bureaucratic administration in India, which reached its peak in the early 2th century under Governor George Nathaniel Curzon.
The reason for this decree was that people realized at that time that the relationship between government control and enterprise power was not clear and could be freely explained. The government also believes that it has an obligation to respond to humanitarian appeals, that is, the local people in the occupied areas should