What was a political cause of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?(1 point) Responses A rumor spread that animal fat was being used to grease rifle cartridges, causing Muslims and Hindus to revolt. A rumor spread that animal fat was being used to grease rifle cartridges, causing Muslims and Hindus to revolt. The British East India Company gained greater control through its doctrine of lapse. The British East India Company gained greater control through its doctrine of lapse. India is a diverse region with many competing ethnic and religious interests. India is a diverse region with many competing ethnic and religious interests. The British East India Company undermined the traditional Hindu caste system.
The British East India Company gained greater control through its doctrine of lapse.
The political cause of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 was that the British East India Company gained greater control through its doctrine of lapse. This policy allowed the British to take over Indian princely states if they did not have a male heir. This caused discontent among the Indian rulers and their supporters, leading to a revolt against British rule.
The correct answer is: The British East India Company gained greater control through its doctrine of lapse.
To arrive at this answer, let's go through the options and analyze them:
1. A rumor spread that animal fat was being used to grease rifle cartridges, causing Muslims and Hindus to revolt.
This option describes a popular myth that contributed to the unrest, but it does not address a political cause of the rebellion. The "greased cartridge" rumor did play a role in escalating tensions but is not a political cause.
2. The British East India Company gained greater control through its doctrine of lapse.
This option correctly identifies a political cause of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The Doctrine of Lapse was a policy implemented by the British East India Company that allowed them to annex the territories of Indian rulers who did not have male heirs. This policy threatened the autonomy and power of Indian princes, which led to discontent and resistance.
3. India is a diverse region with many competing ethnic and religious interests.
Although diversity and competing interests in India existed and contributed to the complex socio-political landscape of the time, this option does not specifically address a political cause of the rebellion.
4. The British East India Company undermined the traditional Hindu caste system.
While the British East India Company's rule did impact various aspects of Indian society, including the caste system, it was not a primary political cause of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Therefore, the correct answer is that the British East India Company gained greater control through its Doctrine of Lapse, leading to political grievances and ultimately sparking the rebellion.