India received many benefits from Britain. The biggest benefit was that the country gained money for its future. Some other benefits were that they brought a great government and brought together many separated colonies. Britain helped India build many different infrastructures, or basic structures that will benefit any place for a long period of time, like the railroad, better roads, and irrigation systems that will make better farming methods, and they last long into the future even after India becomes independent. These infrastructures, along with the newer education system, will give India an advantage in the long run.
The downsides to British imperialism to the Indian people were the very high taxes on the peasants, and the British manufactured goods that put Indian industries out of business. Plus, British textile industries put many women out of work. The taxes were collected by land owners, and they took advantage of their power over the peasants and raised the taxes to make a profit. Farmers grew poor since the British encouraged cotton growth instead of produce. The British also failed to respect India’s culture, which made the Indians extremely angry.
The benefits for Britain were much different. They now had direct trade routes to East Asia, and there were many raw materials that could be easily produced in India, and thus bringing more wealth to each of the countries. Great Britain transformed India from many undeveloped city states into a united country with a large potential for successes.
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