From commerce to conquest: The dynamics of British mercantile imperialismin eighteenth-century Bengal, and the foundation of the British Indian Empire

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

After 1757 rapidly increasing private trade led to the displacement of local Indian merchants and to a growing danger that Europeans would penetrate the Bengal government's trade monopolies and further undermine the local government.

“and it also led to the displacement of the local Indian merchants and to a growing danger that Europeans would penetrate the Bengal government's trade monopolies and further undermine the local government.”

• cites [23]Not checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

The British were able to exploit trade opportunities in Awadh, and its autonomy was already seriously undermined by its close links with the Company that began after the Battle of Buxar.

“The British were able to exploit trade opportunities in Awadh, and its autonomy was already seriously undermined by its close links with the Company that began after the Battle of Buxar”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

More often than not, political considerations are rooted in economics.

“More often than not, political considerations are rooted in economics.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Most historians now acknowledge the important if not central role of the Company's employees in India in defending existing economic interests and acquiring new ones for themselves and the Company.

“In the case of Bengal and elsewhere in India, most histo rians now acknowledge the important if not central role of the Company's employees in India, and their desire not only to defend existing economic interests, but also to acquire new ones for themselves and the Company”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

In many cases political and economic motives are so interconnected that to draw a line between them may obfuscate rather than illuminate the problem.

“In many cases political and economic motives are so intercon nected that to draw a line between them may obfuscate rather than illuminate the problem.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

British mercantile and commercial expansion that preceded British colonialism in Asia can be described as imperialism.

“Following this definition it is clear that the British mercan tile and commercial expansion that preceded British colonialism in Asia can be described as imperialism.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Despite the development of increasingly sophisticated nonmarxist and noneconomic theories of imperialism, theories that emphasize economics are still the most prevalent, and arguably still the most important, whether the imperialism under examination is eighteenth-century mercantile imperialism or nineteenth- and twentieth-century industrial imperialism.

“Despite the development of increasingly sophis ticated nonmarxist and noneconomic theories of imperialism, theories that emphasize economics are still the most prevalent, and arguably still the most important, whether the imperialism under examination is eighteenth-century mercantile im perialism, or nineteenth-and twentieth-century industrial im perialism.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

If Young and Stone's theory is applicable at all, which is unlikely, it might be applicable to the nineteenth century.

“If Young and Stone's theory is applicable at all, which is unlikely, it might be applicable to the nineteenth century”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Besides fundamental economic motives for empire and the logic of capitalist expansion, another dynamic in British imperialism was the rivalry of nation-states and the logic of a competitive international system.

“Besides the fundamental economic motives for em pire and the logic of capitalist expansion that was propelling British imperialism forward, another dynamic can be found in the rivalry of nation-states and the logic of a competitive international system.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Stone and Young fail to seriously take into consideration homosexuality as a sexual outlet.

“Stone and Young fail to seriously take into consideration such things as homosexuality as a sexual outlet”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Against the backdrop of Mogul decline and Anglo-French rivalry, the major impetus for the British conquest of India, beginning in the 1750s, was the increasingly dynamic nature of British commercial capitalism or mercantile imperialism.

“Against the backdrop of Mogul decline and Anglo-French rivalry, the major impetus for the British conquest of India, beginning in the 1750s, was the increasingly dynamic nature of British com mercial capitalism or mercantile imperialism.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Stone and Young do not explain the role of, or even consider, female sex drive.

“Furthermore, they do not explain the role of, or even consider, female sex drive”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The interconnection between economics and politics in eighteenth-century India resulted from an alliance between government and the business or merchant community, whose interests overlapped and interlocked.

“Their interconnec tion was the result of an alliance between government and the business or merchant community, whose interests overlapped and interlocked.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The Company's employees' desire to defend and acquire economic interests served to further destabilize the Indian political situation.

“a development which in turn served to further destabilize the Indian political situation.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Stone and Young do not address the fact that eighteenth-century Englishmen like Clive never sublimated or denied their sex drive.

“nor do they address the fact that eighteenth-century Englishmen like Clive never sublimated or denied their sex drive.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Some historians of the eighteenth century, as well as those who write about imperialism more broadly, have assigned high priority to political factors, while others have put far greater emphasis on economic factors, resulting in a number of differing interpretations of the role of political and economic motives.

“In their analysis of dynamics and motives, some historians of the eighteenth cen tury, as well as those who write about imperialism more broadly, have assigned high priority to political factors, while others have put far greater emphasis on economic factors, resulting in a number of differing interpretations of the role of political and economic motives.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

To distinguish between the Company's demands and the employees' demands, as Marshall does, is at times a very subtle, not to say impossible, exercise.

“However, to distinguish between the Com pany's demands and the employees' demands, as Marshall does, is at times a very subtle, not to say impossible, exercise.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

With regard to British imperialism in eighteenth-century Bengal, as well as in eighteenth-century India more generally, the debate has been more heated than the historiographical debate on nineteenth-century, especially early nineteenth-century, British expansion in the subcontinent.

“In fact, with regard to British imperialism in eighteenth-century Bengal, as well as in eighteenth-century India more generally, the debate has been more heated than the historiographical de bate on nineteenth-century, especially early nineteenth-century, British expansion in the subcontinent.”

• cites R.J. Moore, "India and the British Empire,"Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

There are significant differences in perspective among historians and social scientists writing about British imperialism in its eighteenth-century preindustrial, or mercantile, stage.

“However, there are also significant differences in perspective among his torians and social scientists writing about British imperialism in its eighteenth-century preindustrial, or mercantile, stage.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

There is no real evidence to support Stone and Young's argument that sexual sublimation caused British imperial expansion.

“But there is no real evidence to support their argument.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

There are a growing number of studies that, while still reflecting the political-economic split, broaden the analytical framework and emphasize the pressures of the competitive nation-state system, or the logic of a burgeoning international world-capitalist order, not to mention a few interpretations that underline psychological and technomilitary factors.

“At the same time there are a growing number of studies that, while still reflecting the political-economic split, broaden the analytical framework and emphasize the pressures of the competitive nation-state system, or the logic of a bur geoning international world-capitalist order, not to mention a few interpretations that underline psychological and technomilitary factors.”

• cites [3]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The motives of individual actors in eighteenth-century India must certainly be understood in primarily economic terms.

“On one level there are the indi vidual actors whose motives are often complicated but must certainly be understood in primarily eco nomic terms, especially in the case of eighteenthcentury India.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

When Fort William in Bengal was captured in 1756, the Company's employees there already had at least ten years of experience in large-scale military and political intervention.

“When Fort William in Bengal was captured in 1756, the Company's employees there already had at least ten years of experience in military and political intervention on a large scale.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Apart from one or two other citations, Ramakrishna Mukherjee does not provide very much evidence to support his argument.

“Apart from this and one or two other citations, Mukherjee does not provide very much evidence to support his argument.”

• cites Ramakrishna Mukherjee, The Rise and Fall of the East India CompanyNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Ramakrishna Mukherjee makes no distinction between the motives of the Court of Directors at home and the employees in India.

“Ramakrishna Mukherjee makes no distinction between the motives of the Court of Directors at home and the employees in India.”

• cites Ramakrishna Mukherjee, The Rise and Fall of the East India CompanyNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to substantiate Strachey's argument that a demonic will to conquer seized the British at the decision to attack Bengal.

“It would be difficult, if not impossible, to really substantiate such an argument”

May combine two claims.

The Anglo-French conflict transcended economics but was firmly rooted in, though not always determined by, commercial competition.

“The debate as to whether or not the moti vation behind the dispatch of men, ships, and arms to India is best characterized as politico-strategic or as economic can probably be resolved by noting that although the Anglo-French conflict transcended economics it was firmly rooted in, although not always determined by, commercial competition.”

May combine two claims.

Mogul decline and accelerating French competition helped create increasing anarchy in the subcontinent, so that by the 1740s the Company's trade and its employees' private trade was suffering.

“Mogul decline and the accelerating competition of the French helped create a situation of increasing anarchy in the subcontinent, so that by the 1740s the Company's trade and the private trade of its employees was suffering.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Tony Smith's view of the dynamics of imperialism is also applicable to eighteenth-century British imperialism.

“While Smith's study focuses on the post-1815 era, his view of the dynamics of imperialism is also applicable to eighteenth-century British imperialism.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The deeper structural context of the expanding world-capitalist system and the emergent nation-state system is a level of analysis for eighteenth-century British imperial expansion.

“The second level is the deeper struc tural context of the expanding world-capitalist system and the emergent nation-state system.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

Although one can dismiss the sublimation theory, the opportunity for sexual exploitation may well have figured in some very minor way in the British conquest of Bengal.

“Although one can dismiss the sublimation theory, the opportunity for sexual exploitation may well have figured in some very minor way in the British conquest of Bengal.”

May combine two claims.

By the late eighteenth century, the English had fundamentally altered the trade routes of Bengal, Bihar, and the Coromandel and dislocated much of Indian commerce.

“By the late eighteenth century, the English had fundamentally altered the trade routes of Bengal, Bihar, and the Coromandel and dislocated much of Indian commerce.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The description of Plassey as a business transaction between the Indian banker Jagat Seth and the British emphasizes the importance of economic forces driving the Company and its employees.

“The description of Plassey as a business transaction between the powerful Indian banker Jagat Seth and the British serves to emphasize and underline the importance of economic forces driving the Company and its employees, not to mention the importance of collaborators in any successful attempt at imperial expansion.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

There are a number of historians and social scientists writing about imperialism in eighteenth-century India and elsewhere who emphasize economic motives for empire, at times to the exclusion of all else.

“There are, of course, a number of historians and social scientists writing about imperialism in eighteenth-century India and elsewhere who emphasize economic motives for empire, at times to the exclusion of all else.”

May combine two claims.

The sprawling network of factories provided the foundation from which in the 1750s the Company's employees launched a campaign of conquest that ended with Britain as the preeminent power in all of the subcontinent.

“The sprawling network of factories provided the foundation from which in the 1750s the Company's employees were able to launch a campaign of conquest that would only end with Britain as the preeminent power in all of the subcontinent.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Bengal revenue paid for the Company's textile exports from India.

“At the same time it paid for the Company's textile exports from India and helped finance the silk and tea trade to China as well as providing the money for further con quest in India.”

• cites WallersteinNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

After 1756 the employees and officers controlling the British military force in Bengal used it to protect and expand the Company's interests and to acquire substantial personal fortunes through present-taking and private trade.

“But this was only the beginning, and after 1756 the employees and officers who controlled the British military force in Bengal were able to use it not only to protect and expand the Company's interests but to acquire substantial fortunes for themselves through present-taking and private trade.”

May combine two claims.

Subimperial activity was primarily economic and occurred in a larger context of economic motives emanating from Britain and the expanding capitalist world economy.

“At the same time, subimperial activity, which was primarily eco nomic, was occurring in a larger context of economic motives emanating from Britain itself and the expanding capitalist world economy.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

This development coincided with the maturation of a proto-nationalist imperialist mythology that helped psychologically underpin European national competition and imperial expansion.

“This development also coincided with the matura tion of a proto-nationalist imperialist mythology that helped to psychologically underpin European national competition and imperial expansion.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Clive and Admiral Watson quickly recaptured Calcutta, which was regarded as essential to the Company's trading operation.

“Clive and Ad miral Watson were able to quickly recapture Calcutta, which was regarded as essential to the well-being of the Company's trading operation.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Ramakrishna Mukherjee disregards any idea of subimperialism.

“He disregards any idea of subimperialism, entirely overlooking any evidence that suggests that the Company employees in India were less cautious and acted with considerable independence from the directors.”

• cites Ramakrishna Mukherjee, The Rise and Fall of the East India CompanyNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The Court of Directors continued to be extremely hesitant about the Company's territorial expansion in India.

“means, the Court of Directors continued to be extremely hesitant about the Com pany's territorial expansion in India.44”

• cites [44]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

These historians are at odds with historians like P.J. Marshall, who argues that political considerations are at least as important as economic ones.

“These historians are at odds with historians like P.J. Marshall, who argues that political considerations are at least as important as economic ones.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

British imperialism between 1688 and 1850 had more to do with the evolution of gentlemanly capitalism than it did with the transition from a mercantile and agrarian to an industrial economy.

“They demonstrate persua sively that British imperialism between 1688 and 1850 had more to do with the evolution of gentlemanly capitalism than it did with the transition from a mercantile and agrarian to an industrial economy.”

• cites Cain and HopkinsNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Nation-state rivalry was another dynamic behind British imperialism, and it was always firmly based at least indirectly in economic considerations and imperatives.

“This nation-state rivalry, the basis for what some historians have termed political or politico-strategic mo tives for empire, was and is always firmly based at least indi rectly in economic considerations and imperatives.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

After 1700 the subcontinent grew increasingly unstable politically as the Mogul Empire declined.

“This approach became considerably more pronounced as the eighteenth century progressed, in part because after 1700 the subcontinent grew increasingly unstable politically as the Mogul Empire declined.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

If psychological theories or explanations have any validity, it is only in the context of, or as a complement to, the fundamental economic forces behind commercial and mercantile imperialism of the eighteenth century or industrial capitalist imperialism of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

“If the psychological theories or explanations have any validity, it is only in the context of, or as a complement to, the fundamental economic forces that lay behind the commercial and mercantile imperialism of the eighteenth century or the industrial capitalist imperialism of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.”

May combine two claims.

Revenue from Bengal accrued to the English Company, which used it in large part to purchase Indian goods for export to Europe.

“Revenue from Bengal now accrued to the English Company, which used it in large part to purchase Indian goods for export to Europe.”

• cites AliNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The subimperialism of the Company's employees in India is central to any analysis of eighteenth-century British imperialism.

“On the other hand, as a growing number of historians have shown, the subimperialism of the Company's employees in India is central to any analysis of eighteenth-century British imperialism.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Bengal revenue provided the money for further conquest in India.

“At the same time it paid for the Company's textile exports from India and helped finance the silk and tea trade to China as well as providing the money for further con quest in India.”

• cites WallersteinNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Rudrangshu Mukherjee has seriously questioned Marshall's interpretation of the British takeover of Awadh.

“The Indian historian Rudrangshu Mukherjee, who writes in the neomarxist tradition, has seriously questioned this inter pretation.”

• cites Rudrangshu Mukherjee, "Trade and Empire in Awadh, 1765-1804," Past and Present no.94Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The Court of Directors and the British government dispatched a large military force to India in the 1740s and 1750s.

“Under these circumstances the Court of Directors and the British government dispatched a large military force to India in the 1740s and 1750s.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Rudrangshu Mukherjee's approach has much wider application and is relevant to any discussion of the motives for the conquest of Bengal itself and the rest of India.

“Although Rudrangshu Mukherjee's article deals specifically with Awadh, his approach has much wider application and is relevant to any discussion of the motives for the conquest of Bengal itself and the rest of India.”

• cites Rudrangshu Mukherjee, "Trade and Empire in Awadh, 1765-1804," Past and Present no.94Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Ramakrishna Mukherjee entirely overlooks any evidence that suggests that the Company employees in India were less cautious and acted with considerable independence from the directors.

“He disregards any idea of subimperialism, entirely overlooking any evidence that suggests that the Company employees in India were less cautious and acted with considerable independence from the directors.”

• cites Ramakrishna Mukherjee, The Rise and Fall of the East India CompanyNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Bengal revenue helped finance the silk and tea trade to China.

“At the same time it paid for the Company's textile exports from India and helped finance the silk and tea trade to China as well as providing the money for further con quest in India.”

• cites WallersteinNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

The desire for personal fortune combined with concern to protect and expand the Company's position spurred Clive and other Englishmen to involve themselves deeply in regional politics, so that the Company had become virtual ruler of Bengal by the early 1760s.

“The desire for a personal fortune combined with their concern to protect and expand the Company's position in Bengal spurred Clive and the rest of the Englishmen to involve themselves ever more deeply in the politics of the region so that the Company had become virtual ruler of Bengal by the early 1760s.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Other Indian historians, such as Ramakrishna Mukherjee, have also interpreted the conquest of Bengal and the rest of the subcontinent in entirely economic terms.

“Like Rudrangshu Mukherjee, other Indian historians, such as Ramakrishna Mukherjee, have also interpreted the conquest of Bengal and the rest of the subcontinent in entirely economic terms.”

• cites Ramakrishna Mukherjee, The Rise and Fall of the East India CompanyNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The decision to sail north in December suggests sound reasoning on Clive's part: delaying the voyage would have risked a negotiated peace with the French or reassignment of the fleet at Clive's disposal.

“in fact the decision to sail north in December suggests sound reasoning on Clive's part: to have delayed the voyage for any length of time would have risked the possibility of a negotiated peace with the French or the reassignment of the fleet that was at Clive's disposal.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Marshall's view of British expansion up the Ganges Valley, beyond Bengal, or out into central India is even more of a return to the idea of empire as primarily a defense against local political instability.

“In fact Marshall's view of British expansion up the Ganges Valley, beyond Bengal, or out into central India is even more of a return to the idea of empire as primarily a defense against local political instability.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Psychological and psychosexual theories of imperialism are even harder to verify than other theories of imperialism.

“Unfortunately, psychological and psychosexual theories of imperialism are even harder to verify than other theories of imperialism.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Cain and Hopkins's approach does not exclude other explanations concerned with particular cases of British expansion that rely on local evidence or emphasize noneconomic factors.

“Because their own approach is so broad in its emphasis, it does not exclude other explanations concerned with particular cases of British expansion that rely on local evidence or emphasize noneconomic factors.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

It is very common to interpret the Seven Years' War and Anglo-French rivalry in the eighteenth century as a commercial and economic struggle and as the major engine of European expansion.

“It is very common to interpret the Seven Years' War and Anglo-French rivalry in the eighteenth century more generally as a commercial and economic struggle, and as the major engine of European expansion in this period.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The description of Plassey as a business transaction between the Indian banker Jagat Seth and the British emphasizes the importance of collaborators in any successful attempt at imperial expansion.

“The description of Plassey as a business transaction between the powerful Indian banker Jagat Seth and the British serves to emphasize and underline the importance of economic forces driving the Company and its employees, not to mention the importance of collaborators in any successful attempt at imperial expansion.”