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Difficulty: EasyRevolt of 1857, Peasant Struggles, and Tribal Uprisings

Which of the following was the immediate trigger for the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857 among the sepoys of the British Indian Army?

  1. The introduction of the Enfield rifle with greased cartridgesAnswer
  2. B
    The passage of the Vernacular Press Act restricting local newspapers
  3. C
    The implementation of the Ilbert Bill granting equality to Indian magistrates
  4. D
    The enactment of the Rowlatt Act authorizing detention without trial

Answer

The introduction of the Enfield rifle with greased cartridges was the immediate trigger for the Revolt of 1857.
The introduction of the Enfield rifle required soldiers to bite off the ends of greased paper cartridges. Rumors that the grease contained cow and pig fat deeply outraged both Hindu and Muslim sepoys, acting as the immediate spark for the mutiny in early 1857.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the immediate military trigger of the 1857 Revolt.
The introduction of the new Enfield rifle required sepoys to bite off the paper cartridge ends before loading.
Rumors spread that the grease used on the cartridges contained tallow from cows (sacred to Hindus) and lard from pigs (forbidden to Muslims).
2
Evaluate the chronological timeframe of the alternative options.
The Vernacular Press Act (1878), Ilbert Bill (1883), and Rowlatt Act (1919) occurred decades after 1857.
Differentiating 19th and 20th-century colonial legislation rules out the incorrect options.

Key Concept

Immediate Cause of the Revolt of 1857
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Topics

Revolt of 1857, Peasant Struggles, and Tribal Uprisings

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