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Which State of India was annexed by Dalhousie was the most unjustified act of British aggression ?
Jaipur
Satara
Jhansi
Avadh
None of the above
Avadh
Lord Dalhousie annexed the Kingdom of Avadh (Oudh) in 1856 on the grounds of alleged 'maladministration' rather than the Doctrine of Lapse. This action was widely considered the most unjustified act of British aggression as the Nawab of Avadh, Wajid Ali Shah, had been a loyal ally to the British, and the annexation deeply alienated the local nobility and sepoys.
Lord Dalhousie annexed the Kingdom of Avadh (Oudh) in 1856 on the grounds of alleged 'maladministration' rather than the Doctrine of Lapse. This action was widely considered the most unjustified act of British aggression as the Nawab of Avadh, Wajid Ali Shah, had been a loyal ally to the British, and the annexation deeply alienated the local nobility and sepoys.
Lord Dalhousie served as the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856, implementing the Doctrine of Lapse, which effectively ended with the Revolt of 1857.
Avadh was annexed in February 1856 under the pretext of 'misgovernance'.
Wajid Ali Shah was the last Nawab of Avadh before its annexation.
The annexation of Avadh is frequently cited as a major catalyst for the 1857 Revolt because many sepoys in the British Indian Army hailed from this region.
Dalhousie justified the annexation by stating the British had a duty to intervene to protect the subjects from the ruler's perceived misrule.
Satara (1848), Jaipur (1849), and Jhansi (1853) were annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse, which targeted states whose rulers died without a natural heir.
Unlike the Doctrine of Lapse states, Avadh had a legal heir, making its annexation a clear violation of previous treaties and international norms of the time.
D is correct тАФ Avadh was annexed by Lord Dalhousie in 1856 based on the charge of maladministration, which was widely viewed as a pretext for territorial expansion.
When studying the 1857 revolt, always contrast 'Doctrine of Lapse' states (Jhansi, Nagpur, Satara) with states annexed via 'misgovernance' (Avadh) to understand the diverse grievances of the Indian princely states.