Below are 15 key dates and events based on Class 8 History Chapter 5, “When People Rebel, 1857 and After” of the NCERT book. Please use it as a refresher. You should memorize them by heart as it will help you to write the answers perfectly.
- 1801: Subsidiary alliance imposed on Awadh
- 1856: Awadh annexed by the British
- 1856: New law for employment in Company’s army
- 1857: Massive rebellion against British rule begins
- 8 April 1857: Mangal Pandey hanged for mutiny
- 9 May 1857: Meerut sepoys refuse new cartridges
- 10 May 1857: Meerut sepoys declare war on British
- 3 July 1857: Over 3000 rebels attack Delhi
- September 1857: Delhi recaptured by British forces
- March 1858: Lucknow taken by British
- June 1858: Rani Lakshmibai defeated and killed
- April 1859: Tantia Tope captured and executed
- 1858 Act: East India Company’s powers transferred to British Crown
- Military Reforms: Increased European soldiers, recruited Gurkhas, Sikhs, Pathans
- Land Policies: Protection for landlords and zamindars, rights over lands secured
The chapter focuses on the 1857 Rebellion and its aftermath. The above points are created to provide students with concise notes for exam preparation. Feel free to explore more Class 8 History MCQ questions on our site.
Fill in the Blanks and True/False Questions for Class 8 History Chapter 5: When People Rebel, 1857 and After
Question 1. What was one of the immediate causes of the Indian Revolt of 1857?
a) Introduction of Western education
b) Imposition of high taxes
c) Use of animal fat in cartridges
d) Abolition of Zamindari system
Answer:
c) Use of animal fat in cartridges — The use of animal fat in cartridges for new rifles used by the Indian sepoys was one of the immediate causes of the revolt.
Question 2. Who was the Mughal Emperor during the 1857 Revolt?
a) Akbar II
b) Bahadur Shah Zafar
c) Shah Alam II
d) Aurangzeb
Answer:
b) Bahadur Shah Zafar — Bahadur Shah Zafar was the Mughal Emperor during the 1857 Revolt.
Question 2. Who was the Mughal Emperor during the 1857 Revolt?
a) Akbar II
b) Bahadur Shah Zafar
c) Shah Alam II
d) Aurangzeb
Answer:
b) Bahadur Shah Zafar — Bahadur Shah Zafar was the Mughal Emperor during the 1857 Revolt.
Question 3. What role did Mangal Pandey play in the Revolt of 1857?
a) He was a British officer
b) He led the sepoys at Meerut
c) He was a key figure in the initial uprising
d) He negotiated peace
Answer:
c) He was a key figure in the initial uprising — Mangal Pandey played a crucial role in the initial stages of the uprising.
Question 4. Which of the following territories was annexed by applying the Doctrine of Lapse?
a) Punjab
b) Awadh
c) Jhansi
d) Bengal
Answer:
c) Jhansi — Jhansi was annexed by applying the Doctrine of Lapse.
Question 5. Who led the revolt in Kanpur during 1857?
a) Rani Lakshmibai
b) Tantia Tope
c) Nana Sahib
d) Kunwar Singh
Answer:
c) Nana Sahib — Nana Sahib led the revolt in Kanpur during 1857.
Question 6. Where did the sepoys first revolt in 1857?
a) Delhi
b) Meerut
c) Lucknow
d) Kanpur
Answer:
b) Meerut — The sepoys first revolted in Meerut in 1857.
Question 7. What was the primary profession of the sepoys?
a) Farmers
b) Soldiers
c) Traders
d) Artisans
Answer:
b) Soldiers — The sepoys were primarily soldiers in the East India Company’s army.
Question 8. What was the main demand of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi during the revolt?
a) Independence of Jhansi
b) Restoration of her son’s rights
c) British protection
d) Economic compensation
Answer:
b) Restoration of her son’s rights — Rani Lakshmibai’s main demand was the restoration of her adopted son’s rights.
Question 9. Who was the British general who suppressed the revolt in Delhi?
a) General Hugh Rose
b) General James Outram
c) General Colin Campbell
d) General John Nicholson
Answer:
d) General John Nicholson — General John Nicholson was instrumental in suppressing the revolt in Delhi.
Question 10. What was the impact of the 1857 Revolt on British policy in India?
a) Introduction of liberal policies
b) Abolition of the East India Company’s rule
c) Increased military recruitment
d) Expansion of territory
Answer:
b) Abolition of the East India Company’s rule — One of the major impacts was the abolition of the East India Company’s rule, leading to direct governance by the British Crown.
Question 11. Which policy of Lord Dalhousie played a significant role in causing the Revolt of 1857?
a) Doctrine of Lapse
b) Subsidiary Alliance
c) Permanent Settlement
a) Doctrine of Lapse
b) Subsidiary Alliance
c) Permanent Settlement
d) Economic reforms
Answer:
a) Doctrine of Lapse — Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse policy was a major cause of discontent that led to the Revolt of 1857.
Question 12. What was the primary grievance of the sepoys in the East India Company’s army?
a) Poor pay and conditions
b) Forced conversion to Christianity
c) Use of greased cartridges
d) Lack of promotion opportunities
Answer:
c) Use of greased cartridges — The primary grievance of the sepoys was the use of greased cartridges, which they believed were defiling their religious beliefs.
Question 13. Who led the Revolt of 1857 in Lucknow?
a) Nana Sahib
b) Rani Lakshmibai
c) Begum Hazrat Mahal
d) Bahadur Shah Zafar
Answer:
c) Begum Hazrat Mahal — Begum Hazrat Mahal led the Revolt of 1857 in Lucknow.
Question 14. What was the stance of the princely states during the Revolt of 1857?
a) Most joined the revolt
b) They remained neutral
c) They supported the British
d) They formed alliances with the British
Answer:
c) They supported the British — Most princely states either supported the British or remained neutral during the Revolt of 1857.
Question 15. In which year was the East India Company dissolved following the Revolt of 1857?
a) 1858
b) 1860
c) 1870
d) 1880
Answer:
a) 1858 — The East India Company was dissolved in 1858 following the Revolt of 1857, marking the end of its rule in India.
Question 16. Which European power supported the British during the Revolt of 1857?
a) France
b) Portugal
c) Germany
d) None
Answer:
d) None — No European power actively supported the British during the Revolt of 1857.
Question 17. What was the role of Tatya Tope in the Revolt of 1857?
a) He was a British commander
b) He led the revolt in Delhi
c) He was a key military leader in the revolt
d) He negotiated peace with the British
Answer:
c) He was a key military leader in the revolt — Tatya Tope was one of the key military leaders in the Revolt of 1857.
Question 18. What was the impact of the Revolt of 1857 on British military policies in India?
a) Reduction in Indian soldiers in the army
b) Complete disarmament of Indian soldiers
c) Increased recruitment of Indian soldiers
d) No significant change
Answer:
a) Reduction in Indian soldiers in the army — The revolt led to a policy of reducing the number of Indian soldiers in the British army.
Question 19. How did the British view the Revolt of 1857?
a) As a minor uprising
b) As a national war of independence
c) As a sepoy mutiny
d) As a religious conflict
Answer:
c) As a sepoy mutiny — The British primarily viewed the Revolt of 1857 as a mutiny by Indian sepoys.
Question 20. What was one of the social reforms introduced by the British after the Revolt of 1857?
a) Abolition of Sati
b) Introduction of Western education
c) Land reforms
d) Abolition of caste discrimination
Answer:
b) Introduction of Western education — One of the reforms introduced by the British after the Revolt was the introduction of Western education.
Match the columns for Class 8 History Chapter 5
Unmatched Columns (Questions)
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (i) Mangal Pandey | (a) Introduction of the Doctrine of Lapse |
| (ii) Sepoy Mutiny in Meerut | (b) Revolt by a soldier that sparked widespread rebellion |
| (iii) Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi | (c) Key location where Indian soldiers rebelled against British officers |
| (iv) Doctrine of Lapse | (d) Played a crucial role in the rebellion against British rule |
| (v) British East India Company’s Policies | (e) Led to the annexation of Indian territories |
Matched Columns (Answers)
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (i) Mangal Pandey | (b) Revolt by a soldier that sparked widespread rebellion |
| (ii) Sepoy Mutiny in Meerut | (c) Key location where Indian soldiers rebelled against British officers |
| (iii) Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi | (d) Played a crucial role in the rebellion against British rule |
| (iv) Doctrine of Lapse | (a) Introduction of the Doctrine of Lapse |
| (v) British East India Company’s Policies | (e) Led to the annexation of Indian territories |
Fill in the Blanks and True/False Questions for Class 8 History Chapter 5: When People Rebel, 1857 and After
8 fill-in-the-blank questions and 7 true/false questions from chapter “When People Rebel – 1857 and After” from the NCERT history textbook for Class 8 –
Fill in the Blanks
Question 1. The British East India Company annexed the kingdom of __________ in 1856, claiming misgovernance.
Answer:
Awadh
Question 2. Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi wanted the Company to recognize her __________ son as the heir to the kingdom.
Answer:
Adopted
Question 3. The __________ were the traditional peasant-soldiers in Bengal during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Answer:
Sepoys
Question 4. In 1857, the sepoys at Meerut rebelled and declared __________ as their leader.
Answer:
Bahadur Shah Zafar
Question 5. The revolt of 1857 started in the city of __________ on 10th May.
Answer:
Meerut
Question 6. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao, led the rebellion in __________.
Answer:
Kanpur
Question 7. The British recaptured __________ from the rebel forces in September 1857.
Answer:
Delhi
Question 8. After the revolt of 1857, the British Parliament passed a new Act transferring powers from the East India Company to the __________.
Answer:
British Crown
True or False
Question 9. The sepoys were generally satisfied with their pay and allowances in the British army. (True/False)
Answer:
False
Question 10. The British did not actively try to convert Indians to Christianity during the 19th century. (True/False)
Answer:
False
Question 11. The Indian rulers were allowed to pass their kingdoms to their heirs after the revolt of 1857. (True/False)
Answer:
True
Question 12. Mangal Pandey played a crucial role in igniting the revolt of 1857. (True/False)
Answer:
True
Question 13. The revolt of 1857 was successful in overthrowing British rule in India. (True/False)
Answer:
False
Question 14. The British were able to suppress the revolt of 1857 within a few months. (True/False)
Answer:
False
Question 15. The policies of the British East India Company led to widespread discontent among various sections of Indian society. (True/False)
Answer:
True
