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1.    Who was the successor of Lord Warren Hastings to the office of Governor General?
Lord Cornwallis, a warrior-statesman, succeeded Warren Hastings as Governor-General in 1786.

2.    What was done to increase the powers of Lord Cornwallis as he assumed the office of the Governor General?
Cornwallis was prompted by a strong sense of public duty and enjoyed the respect as well as the confidence of his fellow countrymen. The Parliament was prepared to give him extraordinary legal powers to carry out radical reforms in the administration of Bengal. It amended Pitt’s India Act in 1786 so as enable him to overrule the decision of the majority of his council, if necessary.

3.    On what terms was the Treaty of Srirangapattinam signed between Tipu and the British?
Tipu Sultan concluded the Treaty of Srirangapattinam with the British.
The terms of the treaty were as follows:
(i) Tipu had to give up half his dominions.
(ii) He had to pay a war indemnity of three crore rupees and surrender two of his sons as hostages to the English.
(iii) Both sides agreed to release the prisoners of war.

4.    What is the significance of the Third Mysore War?
The Treaty of Srirangapattinam is a significant event in the history of South India. The British secured a large territory on the Malabar Coast. In addition they obtained the Baramahal district and Dindugal. After this war, although the strength of Mysore had been reduced, it was not extinguished. Tipu had been defeated but not destroyed.

5.    Mention two important administrative reforms of Cornwallis.
(1) Purification of the civil service by the employment of capable and honest public servants.
(2) Separation of the three branches of service, namely commercial, judicial and revenue.

6.    "The greatest work of Cornwallis was the purification of the civil service by the employment of capable and honest public servants." With reference to the context, expalain how Cornwallis accomplished this task.
The greatest work of Cornwallis was the purification of the civil service by the employment of capable and honest public servants. He aimed at economy, simplification and purity. He found that the servants of the Company were underpaid. But they received very high commissions on revenues. In addition to that they conducted forbidden and profitable private trade in the names of relatives and friends. Cornwallis, who aimed at cleansing the administration, abolished the vicious system of paying small salaries and allowing enormous perquisites. He persuaded the Directors of the Company to pay handsome salaries to the Company servants in order that they might free themselves from commercial and corrupting activities. Further, Cornwallis inaugurated the policy of making appointments mainly on the basis of merit thereby laying the foundation of the Indian Civil Service. To cut down on extravagances, he abolished a number of surplus posts.

7.    Examine how Cornwallis introduced the separation of the three branches of service.
A major reform that Cornwallis introduced was the separation of the three branches of service, namely commercial, judicial and revenue. The collectors, the king-pins of the administrative system were deprived of their judicial powers and their work became merely the collection of revenue.

8.    State the measures adopted by Cornwallis to reorganize the criminal and civil courts.
In the work of judicial reorganization, Cornwallis secured the services of Sir William Jones, who was a judge and a great scholar. Civil and criminal courts were completely reorganized.
1. At the top of the judicial system, the highest civil and criminal courts of appeal, namely Sadar Diwani Adalat and Sadar Nizamat Adalat were functioning at Calcutta. Both of them were presided over by the Governor-General and his Council.
2. There were four provincial courts of appeal at Calcutta, Dacca, Murshidabad and Patna, each under three European judges assisted by Indian advisers.
3. District and City courts functioned each under a European judge. Every district was provided with a court. As already stated, Cornwallis had taken away from the collectors of their judicial powers and made them solely responsible for the collection of revenue. As a result, District Judges were appointed.
4. Indian judges or Munsiffs were appointed to all the courts at the bottom of the judicial system.

9.    Discuss how Cornwallis improvised criminal laws, and specially those cases that involved religion.
In criminal cases, Muslim law was improved and followed. In civil cases, Hindu and Muslim laws were followed according to the religion of the litigants. In suits between Hindus and Muslims, the judge was the deciding authority. Cornwallis was merciful by temperament. He hated barbarous punishments and abolished those like mutilation and trial by ordeal.

10.    State with reason why Cornwallis was better known as a law giver than as an administrator.
Cornwallis was better known as a law giver than as an administrator. With the help of his colleague, George Barlow, Cornwallis prepared a comprehensive code, covering the whole field of administration’, judicial, police, commercial and fiscal. This Code was based upon the principle of Montesquieu, “the Separation of Powers”, which was popular in the West in 18th century. In order to curb undue exercise of authority Cornwallis made all officials answerable to the courts.

11.    What was the purpose of reorganization of police administration? How was it carried out?
The effective implementation of judicial reforms required the reorganization of police administration. The District Judge controlled the police. Each district was divided into thanas or police circles each of which was about 20 square miles. It was placed under an Indian officer called the daroga who was ably assisted by many constables. However, the police organization was not effective. In the words of Marshman, ‘the daroga enjoyed almost unlimited power of extortion and became the scourge of the country”.

12.    Give a short note on Cornwallis’ reformation of the Board of Trade.
Cornwallis reformed the Board of Trade which managed the commercial investments of the Company. With the aid of Charles Grant, he eradicated numerous abuses and corrupt practices. Fair treatment was given to weavers and Indian workers. He increased the remuneration for honest service.

13.    What are the chief causes for the Third Mysore War?
The chief causes for the Third Mysore War were:-
a.    Tipu Sultan’s various internal reforms created worries to the British, the Nizam of Hydrabad and the Marathas.
b.    Tipu made attempts to seek the help of France and Turkey by sending envoys to those countries.
c.    Tipu also expanded his territories at the cost of his neighbors, particularly, the Raja of Travancore, who was an ally of the British.
d.    In 1789, the British concluded a tripartite alliance with the Nizam and the Marathas against Tipu.

14.    Explain the police reforms of Lord Cornwallis.
The effective implementation of judicial reforms required the reorganization of police administration.
a.    The District Judge controlled the police.
b.    Each district was divided into Thanas or Police or Police circles each of which was about 20 square miles.
c.    Thanas was placed under an Indian officer called daroga. Who was assisted by many constables.
d.    The daroga enjoyed almost unlimited power of extertion.

15.    What were the trade reforms undertaken by Lord Cornwallis?
Cornwallis reformed the Board of Trade which managed the commercial investments of the company. With the aid of Charles Grant, he eradicated numerous abuses and corrupt practices. Fair treatment was given to weavers and Indian workers. He increased the remuneration for honest service.

16.    Give an estimate of Cornwallis?
Cornwallis a blue – blooded aristocrat, was an ardent patriot. He discharged his duties fearlessly and his life was an embodiment of duty and sacrifice. He curtailed Tipu's growing power by boldly discarding the policy of nonintervention. He consolidated the company's position in India and started the tradition of efficient and pure administration. There were defects in his permanent settlement of Land Revenue. His administrative and judicial reforms were solid achievements. He may be regarded the parent of the Indian Administration service and founder of an efficient of clean system of administration.

17.    Why was Cornwallis known as a law giver than as an administration?
Cornwallis prepared a comprehensive code, with the help of his colleague George Barlow, covering the whole field of administration, judicial, police, commercial and fiscal. This code was based upon the principle of Montesquieu, "the separation of Powers", which was popular in the West in 18th century. Inorder to curb under exercise of authority Cornwallis made all officials answerable to the courts. Thus Cornwallis was known as a law giver than as an administrator.

18.    What are the administrative reforms of Cornwallis?
The administrative reforms of Lord Cornwallis were:-
a.    The Civil service was purified by the employment of capable and honest public servants.
b.    He abolished the vicious system of paying small salaries and allowing enormous perquisites.
c.    He persuaded the directors of the company to pay handsome salaries to the company servants in order that they might free themselves from commercial and corrupting activities.
d.    Cornwallis inaugurated the policy of making appointments mainly on the basis of merit thereby laying the foundation of the Indian civil service.
e.    He abolished a number of surplus posts in order to cut down extravagances.
f.    Another major reform, was the separation of the three branches of service, namely, commercial, judicial and revenue.
g.    The collectors were deprived of their judicial powers and their work became, merely the collection of revenue.

19.    Explain the three phases of Third Mysore War.
In May 1790, the was broke out between the English and Tipu. It was fought in three phases.
I Phase:- The first phase commenced when Medows, the Governor of Madras, directed his campaign to invade Mysore. But Tipu's rapid movements halted the progress of the English troops and inflicted heavy losses on them.
II Phase:- Cornwallis himself assumed command in December 1790. This was the beginning of the second phase of the war. Marching from vellore, he captured Bangalore in March 1791, but Tipu's brilliant strategies prolonged the war and Cornwallis was forced to retreat to Mangalore due to lack of provisions.
III Phase:- The third phase began with the help of marathas. Cornwallis marched against Srirangapattinam. Thus the English occupied the hill forts near Srirangapattinam and seized it in February 1792. Thus Tipu concluded the Treaty of Srirangapattinam with the British.

20.    Name the successor of Lord Cornwallis to the office of the Governor-General of India.
Sir John Shore (1793-98) succeeded Cornwallis as the Governor-General of India.

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