The First War of Indian Independence , Sepoy Mutiny, Indian Rebellion, The Great Rebellion are the different names for the 1857 Revolt. The 1857 was an important event in the history of India against the British East India Company. There were many causes for 1857 Revolt which can be divided into

1. Political Causes
2. Economic and Social Causes
3. Military Causes
4. Immediate Causes

Political Cause

• The policy Of Doctrine of Lapse can be regarded as one of the causes for the 1857 Revolt.
•  Lord Dalhousie introduced the Doctrine of Lapse . By following this he captured places like Satara, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jhansi, Sambalpur and Nagpur and were bought under British expansion.

Social and Economic Cause

• Initially when the British came to India they followed a policy of non interfere in the internal affairs of the Indians. As time passed they started to interfere in the social life of the country.
  ● In India the caste system was quite complex and rigid and any interference in that in any manner was not tolerated. But the company tried to interfere in this system as well.
  ● Another social cause for 1857 Revolt was Hindus getting converting to Christianity
  and spread of English education in India.
  ● The passing of the Widow Remarriage act in 1856 was another cause for the 1857 Revolt.
  ● The passing of Caste Disabilities Removal Act of 1850 by which existing Hindu Laws about inheritance of Hindu property rights were changed. Hindu did not like the interference of the British in the affairs of inheritance so they revolted against them.

Military Causes

• In India there was a deep faith that crossing the sea was irreligious. But without caring about the religious sentiments of the Indian people they were forced and sent to Burma, Afghanistan and several countries to fight on the behalf of the British government.
• The British government did not give higher posts to the Indian Soldiers in the military and they were given less concession and Salary.
• Another important cause was the introduction of Creased Cartilages

Immediate Causes

• The introduction of Greased Cartridges by the British government was a major cause for the 1857 revolt.
• Rumors spread that the cartilages were Greased with fat of Cow and Pig which hurted the religious sentiments of Indian soldiers. Pig was considered a bad omen by the Muslim soldiers and Cow was regarded sacred by Hindu soldiers.
• On April 24 1857 the cavalry regiment of Meerut refused to use the greased cartridges and revolted against the British and the soldiers were arrested and imprisoned.
• On May 10 1857 the Indian soldiers of Meerut killed a large number of English soldiers and marched to Delhi and declared Bahadur Shah Zafar as the emperor of India.