HIST 351 Lecture 4: American Revolution notes 4
Document Summary
The eic was involved in one of the worst famines in human history. It grew so powerful it seized control of the country. Army defeated the leaders of bengal and took control of half the country. Leader of bengal defeated at the battle of plassey in 1757. Governor was sent over to run bengal (population of 20,000,000) End of 1769, 1. 2 million people lost their lives in bengal to the famine. There was a bad drought that destroyed crops. 80% of people grew food to live. Limited food caused a 20-50% price in ation. News of the famine spread around the world. They were a government and a company. They only had a responsibility to their shareholders. Well being of populous did not matter. They refused to lower pro t margins to help starving people. Only provisions went to wealthy white englishmen. Eic blamed disaster on previous bengal rulers. But previous rulers had actually always lowered taxes during agricultural disasters.
