📚 Third Carnatic War | Anglo-French War (1756–1763) – UPSC Notes
🕰️ Background & Cause
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Europe: Outbreak of the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763) between France and England.
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The conflict extended to India, leading to the Third Carnatic War.
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Both colonial powers wanted to establish complete dominance over Indian trade and territory.
⚔️ Main Events
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French Response: France sent a strong military force under Count de Lally to India.
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British Naval Power: French fleet was driven off Indian waters by the British navy.
⚔️ Key Battles
1. Battle of Wandiwash (22 January 1760)
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British Commander: Sir Eyre Coote
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French Commander: Count de Lally
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British decisively defeated the French.
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Marked the beginning of the end of French power in India.
2. Fall of Pondicherry (1761)
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British captured and destroyed Pondicherry, the French capital in India.
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French lost almost all their possessions by 1761.
💰 Role of Bengal’s Wealth
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After the Battle of Plassey (1757), the British gained Bengal's revenue, helping:
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Fund a strong army
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Finance the Carnatic campaign
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🏳️ Treaty of Paris (1763)
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Ended both the Seven Years’ War and the Third Carnatic War.
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Terms:
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French factories (trading posts) were returned (like Pondicherry).
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But they could not be fortified.
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French presence was limited to trade only, under British protection.
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🔚 Aftermath
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Anglo-French rivalry in India (1744–1763) ended.
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British emerged as the supreme European power in India.
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With no European rivals, the British turned focus toward Indian territorial conquest.
✅ Why the British Won
Advantages of the British:
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Stronger trade and navy.
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Better ports – Bombay, Madras, Calcutta vs French had only Pondicherry.
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British EIC had private enterprise spirit, unlike the French which relied on state funding.
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Superior leadership: Robert Clive, Eyre Coote vs French only had Dupleix (recalled in 1754).
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British had better resources after gaining Bengal.
📝 UPSC Prelims MCQs
1. The Battle of Wandiwash (1760) was fought between which two generals?
A) Robert Clive vs Bussy
B) Eyre Coote vs Count de Lally
C) Dupleix vs Eyre Coote
D) Clive vs Dupleix
✅ Answer: B) Eyre Coote vs Count de Lally
2. Which treaty ended the Third Carnatic War?
A) Treaty of Pondicherry
B) Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle
C) Treaty of Madras
D) Treaty of Paris
✅ Answer: D) Treaty of Paris
3. What was the outcome of the Treaty of Paris (1763) in the Indian context?
A) British handed over Calcutta to French
B) French were allowed to trade but not fortify their settlements
C) French gained control of Carnatic
D) Robert Clive was made Nawab
✅ Answer: B) French were allowed to trade but not fortify their settlements
4. Which of the following was NOT an advantage of the English over the French?
A) Control over three major ports
B) Greater naval strength
C) Continuous support from the British Crown
D) Strong private enterprise model
✅ Answer: C) Continuous support from the British Crown
5. Which war gave the British revenue from Bengal, helping fund the Third Carnatic War?
A) First Anglo-Mysore War
B) Battle of Plassey
C) Battle of Buxar
D) Battle of Wandiwash
✅ Answer: B) Battle of Plassey
