When Queen Elizabeth I granted a charter to the British East India Company in 1600, the British Empire gained a solid foothold in the lucrative Indian trade. By 1858, the Company had virtual control over India and this power was transferred to the British government. British rule brought improvements in transportation, weakened the caste system, and dominated India’s political sphere, significantly altering the daily life and culture of the Indian people.

You will be assigned topics that reflect the issues surrounding the impact of the British colonial presence on daily life in India. Use what you have learned to debate whether British rule had a positive or negative influence on the lives of the Indian people. To prepare for the debate, you will research different areas of Indian life that were affected by British influence.

Look at the advertisement below. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

A 1900 advertisement for medicine features Lord Roberts, a British war hero who commanded troops in India.

• How does this British advertisement portray Lord Roberts?
• How does this portrayal reflect British attitudes about their Empire and its expansion in places such as India?

Use the Daily Life through History articles listed on the right to research the ways in which British rule influenced different areas of Indian life, from education to recreation. Examine the Map, British Conquest of India. As you read, keep your assigned topic and point of view in mind. Remember that your arguments will need to be based on specific facts from your readings.

Use the 2-Column Table to organize your information. Label your columns with the headings Positive and Negative. Use row headings such as Men’s Roles, Women’s Roles, Housing, Education, Political Life, Recreational Life, and Caste System. Work together to write and organize your arguments regarding how British rule affected each of these areas. Practice your arguments within your group.

Choose a spokesperson to give an opening statement that presents the main ideas of your group’s point of view.

Each group will have 5 minutes to respond to opening statements. Each member of the group must participate in the response portion of the debate.

The spokesperson will summarize your group’s arguments in a closing statement.

Your teacher will use these questions to assess your performance:

• Did you organize your information clearly and systematically?
• Did you present arguments to support your opinions?
• Did you provide facts and examples to support your arguments?
• Did actively participate in your group’s oral presentation and rebuttals?