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Does Robert Clive deserve to be remembered as a hero of the British Empire?

Does Robert Clive deserve to be remembered as a hero of the British Empire?. L/O – To evaluate the life of Clive in India and judge whether he deserves to be remembered as a significant hero. Starter – What makes someone ‘significant’ in history?.

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Does Robert Clive deserve to be remembered as a hero of the British Empire?

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  1. Does Robert Clive deserve to be remembered as a hero of the British Empire? L/O – To evaluate the life of Clive in India and judge whether he deserves to be remembered as a significant hero Starter – What makes someone ‘significant’ in history?

  2. This man was a drug addict who bribed and threatened people. He robbed and killed people and was made a baron and a lord for it, gaining his own manor house and lands before eventually committing suicide. As a boy he had his own gang who extorted money from local shopkeepers. He is also one of the most famous and significant hero’s of the British Empire. This lesson you will be studying Robert Clive and asking the question: ‘Does he deserve to be remembered?’

  3. Robert Clive 1. Do you think that Robert Clive looks like a hero in the portrait?

  4. Robert Clive 2. Which three facts from the profile of Clive’s life would you be sure to use if you wanted to make him appear heroic? 3. Are there any facts that you would definitely leave out?

  5. Trouble in British India • As you learnt last lesson, a group of merchants started the East India Company in 1600. • After a slow start, the Company set up three trading bases at Bombay, Madras and Calcutta.

  6. Trouble in British India • At first the Company was not interested in taking over any land. But in 1707, the death of the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, led to a power vacuum. Wars broke out between rival Indian princes. • French traders helped the princes win battles and in return the princes promised to trade with the French. Unless the Company did something to stop this, it would be squeezed out of India.

  7. The man of action • In 1750 British trade in India seemed to be doomed. The French and the Indian princes they supported were on the verge of complete victory. • Then Robert Clive entered the story. Just a few years before, he had been so bored with his office work for the East India Company that he had tried to commit suicide, but his gun failed to fire – twice! Only when he joined the Company’s army could he show his talents as a man of action. • What does the story so far tell us about his character? Does he deserve to be called a hero? Fill in your sheets.

  8. The man of action • In 1751 Clive led a force of 500 British and Indian soldiers and captured an important city called Arcot. He held the city for 50 days against a French and Indian army of 10,000 men. This gave the British time to recover. • Over the next four years French power in southern India collapsed. The East India Company emerged as the closest friend and most favoured trading partner of the victorious princes. • What does the story so far tell us about his character? Does he deserve to be called a hero? Fill in your sheets. Look at Source 13. How has the artist made Clive seem heroic in this picture?

  9. Present day city of Arcot, India

  10. Crisis in Bengal • After his success in southern India, Clive returned to Britain as a hero – and as a very wealthy man. • Then in 1756, a prince in Bengal, in NE India, dared to attack the East India Company’s base in Calcutta. The Company sent Robert Clive to Bengal to teach this prince a lesson. • SirajudDowlah had become the nawab (prince) of Bengal early in 1756. He disliked the British taking a bigger and bigger part in his country’s trade. Then the British, with their possession under attack elsewhere in India, fortified their base in Calcutta. • This was the last straw for the nawab. He didn’t want other nations building forts in his own land. He feared the British were aiming to take over Bengal so he attacked Calcutta. • Was the Nawab justified in attacking the British?

  11. Fort William – Calcutta: built by the East India Company originally in the 17th century, it was finally completed in 1781 by Robert Clive

  12. Fort William – Calcutta: built by the East India Company originally in the 17th century, it was finally completed in 1781 by Robert Clive

  13. Fort William – Calcutta: built by the East India Company originally in the 17th century, it was finally completed in 1781 by Robert Clive

  14. The story of the ‘Black Hole of Calcutta’ • When SirajudDowlahattacked the East India Company base in Calcutta, his soldiers held a number of British men and women prisoner overnight, in a room that was about 5 metres by 4 metres with just two small windows: • Many historians now think that John Holwell greatly exaggerated what happened. When Clive reached Bengal in 1757, however, he certainly believed all he had been told about the ‘Black Hole’ and was determined to take full revenge on SirajudDowlah. Clive knew this could be difficult and that he would be heavily outnumbered.

  15. The Battle of Plassey • Here is an extract from a school history book from 1956. It tells the story of what happened when Clive finally met SirajudDowlah at the Battle of Plasseyon 23rd June 1757: What does the story so far tell us about his character? Does he deserve to be called a hero? Fill in your sheets.

  16. Map of the Battle of Plassey - 1757

  17. Map of the Battle of Plassey - 1757

  18. The Battle of Plassey - 1757

  19. The Battle of Plassey - 1757

  20. The Battle of Plassey • R.J. Unstead’s book certainly makes Clive seem like a hero. See what you think as you look at a few more facts about the battle, and about what Clive had been doing before it started: Do the facts tell us anything about Clive’s role in the battle? Does he deserve to be called a hero? Fill in your sheets.

  21. This painting was made in 1761. By that time Clive had rewarded Mir Jafar by making him the new nawab of Bengal – but the EIC really controlled his lands.

  22. 1. Why do you think the artist has shown both men in the picture? 2. How does the artist suggest that Clive and Britain are more important than Mir Jafar? 3. Some people say this painting looks more like a business deal than a battlefield. What might this suggest?

  23. Consequences of Clive’s victory • The Battle of Plassey in 1757 changed the history of the world. It was a ‘turning point’. • Mir Jafar became the new ruler of Bengal, but the East India Company held the real power over the richest area in India. • Looking back, we can see that this was the start of the British Empire in India. • Why was the Battle of Plassey significant? EIC by 1800

  24. Consequences of Clive’s victory • Over the next 20 years the Company became more involved in Indian politics. • In 1765 Clive took over all tax collection in Bengal. He - and others – made enormous fortunesin India by bribery, deceit and threats. He said that this was what powerful Indians did and that it was natural that he should follow their example. • Back in Britain, Parliament and the public were ashamed of Clive. In 1772 he was put on trial for corruption. Even though he was not found to be guilty, his reputation never recovered. He became depressed, took drugs and finally killed himself in 1774. Does this part of the story tell you anything about his character? Does he deserve to be called a hero? Fill in your sheets.

  25. Does Robert Clive deserve to be remembered as a hero of the British Empire? • On your own copy the following chart, give Clive a mark out of 4 for each criteria. Give a reason why as well:

  26. Does Robert Clive deserve to be remembered as a hero of the British Empire? • Now use your notes from the story and the significance table to write a mini essay on the question above. I believe Robert Clive deserves / does not deserve to be remembered as a hero of the British Empire for a number of reasons. Firstly… (your main reason why he was a significant person) Secondly… Lastly… On the other hand… (evaluate what other people might say) In conclusion…

  27. Which empire builder deserves to be remembered? Look back at the story of both men and write down who you think should be remember with 3 reasons justifying your decision. Robert Clive: 1725-1774 His army of 3000 men defeated an Indian army of 60,000 at Plassey thereby conquering most of India James Wolfe: 1727-1759 Captured Quebec from the French thereby conquering the whole of North America for the British

  28. Plenary • Is being famous the same as being significant? • What makes someone significant in History? • Was Robert Clive a significant person? Why? • What helped Clive defeat Dowlah at Plassey? • Can individual people change the course of History? • Is Robert Clive still a role model for us today? How? Did we meet our learning objective? L/O – To evaluate the life of Clive in India and judge whether he deserves to be remembered as a significant hero

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