Second Anglo Maratha War

Second Anglo Maratha War – MCQ Set 1

1. After the capture of Tipu Sultan’s Mysore in 1799, which major Indian power remained outside of British domination?
   a) Vijayanagara Empire
   b) Maratha Confederacy
   c) Sikh Empire
   d) Mughal Empire
2. How many major chiefs constituted the Maratha Confederacy at that time?
   a) Three
   b) Four
   c) Five
   d) Six
3. Who was installed as the Peshwa after the death of Madhavrao II?
   a) Raghunathrao
   b) Yashwantrao Holkar
   c) Baji Rao II
   d) Scindias
4. In the Battle of Poona in 1802, who defeated the Peshwas and the Scindias?
   a) Gaekwads
   b) Holkars
   c) Bhonsles
   d) British
5. After the Battle of Poona, whom did Baji Rao II seek protection from and signed the Treaty of Bassein?
   a) French
   b) Portuguese
   c) British
   d) Dutch
6. According to the Treaty of Bassein, what did Baji Rao II agree to regarding British troops?
   a) Expel them from Maratha territory
   b) Form an alliance against them
   c) Allow their maintenance in Maratha territory
   d) Seek their assistance against internal rivals
7. Why did the second Anglo-Maratha war break out in central India in 1803?
   a) Internal conflicts among the Maratha chiefs
   b) British betrayal of the treaty
   c) French intervention
   d) Invasion by the Sikhs
8. Who joined the battle against the English at a later stage during the second Anglo-Maratha war?
   a) Gaekwads
   b) Holkars
   c) Scindias
   d) Bhonsles

Answers

1. b) Maratha Confederacy
2. c) Five
3. c) Baji Rao II
4. b) Holkars
5. c) British
6. c) Allow their maintenance in Maratha territory
7. a) Internal conflicts among the Maratha chiefs
8. b) Holkars

Second Anglo Maratha War – MCQ Set 2

1. What was the outcome for all the Maratha forces in the Second Anglo-Maratha War?
   a) Decisive victory
   b) Defeat by the British
   c) Mutual ceasefire
   d) Stalemate
2. What territories did the British acquire through the Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon with the Scindias in 1803?
   a) Hyderabad and Golconda
   b) Rohtak, Ganga-Yamuna Doab, Gurgaon, Delhi Agra region, Broach, some districts in Gujarat, parts of Bundelkhand, and Ahmadnagar fort
   c) Bengal and Bihar
   d) Deccan and Carnatic regions
3. According to the Treaty of Deogaon in 1803, what did the English acquire from the Bhonsles?
   a) Mumbai and Thane
   b) Cuttack, Balasore, and area west of Wardha River
   c) Pune and Satara
   d) Nagpur and Vidarbha
4. What territories did the Holkars give up to the British according to the Treaty of Rajghat in 1805?
   a) Jaipur and Jodhpur
   b) Tonk, Bundi, and Rampura
   c) Udaipur and Kota
   d) Bhopal and Indore
5. What was the overall impact of the Second Anglo-Maratha War on central India?
   a) Increased Maratha influence
   b) Establishment of an independent Maratha state
   c) British control over large parts of central India
   d) Division of central India among various Maratha chiefs

Answers

1. b) Defeat by the British
2. b) Rohtak, Ganga-Yamuna Doab, Gurgaon, Delhi Agra region, Broach, some districts in Gujarat, parts of Bundelkhand, and Ahmadnagar fort
3. b) Cuttack, Balasore, and area west of Wardha River
4. b) Tonk, Bundi, and Rampura
5. c) British control over large parts of central India

The Second Anglo-Maratha War- Study Notes

The Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1805) was a significant conflict between the British East India Company and the Maratha Confederacy. Here’s a detailed overview:

Background

1. Post-Tipu Sultan’s Defeat: After the defeat of Tipu Sultan in 1799, the British emerged as the dominant power in southern India. The Marathas remained as one of the major powers resisting British expansion.
2. Maratha Confederacy: The Maratha Confederacy was composed of five major chiefs: the Peshwas at Pune, the Gaekwads at Baroda, the Holkars at Indore, the Scindias at Gwalior, and the Bhonsles at Nagpur. Internal conflicts and rivalries weakened the unity of the Marathas.
3. Battle of Poona (1802): Yashwantrao Holkar, the chief of the Holkars of Indore, defeated the combined forces of the Peshwas and the Scindias in the Battle of Poona in 1802. This internal conflict further destabilized the Maratha Confederacy.
4. Treaty of Bassein (1802): In the aftermath of the Battle of Poona, Baji Rao II, the Peshwa, sought British protection and signed the Treaty of Bassein with the British in 1802. According to the treaty, Baji Rao II ceded territory to the British and agreed to the presence of British troops in his territory.

Course of the War

• Resistance by Scindias and Bhonsles: The Scindias of Gwalior and the Bhonsles of Nagpur did not accept the Treaty of Bassein. Their refusal to recognize the treaty led to hostilities and the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Maratha War in central India in 1803.
• Holkars’ Involvement: The Holkars, who had earlier defeated the Peshwas and the Scindias, also joined the conflict against the British at a later stage. This alliance further intensified the hostilities.
• British Military Campaign: The British, with a well-organized and disciplined military force, conducted a military campaign against the Marathas. Notable battles during this war included the Battle of Assaye and the Battle of Laswari.
• Outcome: The war concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Deogaon in 1803 and the Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon in 1805. The terms of these treaties were unfavorable to the Marathas, as they had to cede territories, accept British control, and pay a substantial indemnity.

Significance

• Weakening of Maratha Power: The Second Anglo-Maratha War marked a significant blow to the Maratha Confederacy, leading to a further weakening of their political and military strength.
• British Supremacy: With the Marathas defeated, the British consolidated their control over central India, establishing their supremacy in the region.
• Shift in Indian Power Dynamics: The outcome of the Second Anglo-Maratha War contributed to the broader shift in power dynamics in India, with the British East India Company emerging as the dominant force on the subcontinent.

Result of Second Anglo-Maratha War

• Defeat of Maratha Forces
  • British achieved victory in battles against all Maratha forces.
• Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon (1803 – Scindias)
  • Territories acquired by the British:
    • Rohtak
    • Ganga-Yamuna Doab
    • Gurgaon
    • Delhi Agra region
    • Broach
    • Some districts in Gujarat
    • Parts of Bundelkhand
    • Ahmadnagar fort
• Treaty of Deogaon (1803 – Bhonsles)
  • Territories acquired by the British:
    • Cuttack
    • Balasore
    • Area west of Wardha River
• Treaty of Rajghat (1805 – Holkars)
  • Territories given up by the Holkars to the British:
    • Tonk
    • Bundi
    • Rampura
• Consequence
  • Large parts of central India came under British control as a result of the war.