What measures were taken to keep the unity among the rebels during 1857? How did the British try to suppress the rebellion? Explain.

The measures taken to keep the unity among the rebels during 1857 were:

(i) Many of the proclamations were issued by Muslim princes or in their names but even these took care to adress the sentiments of Hindus.

(ii) The rebellion was seen as a war in which both Hindus and Muslims had equally to lose or gain.

(iii) The ishtahars harked back to the pre-British Hindu-Muslim past and glorified the coexistence of different communities under the Mughal Empire.

(iv) The proclamation that was issued under the name of Bahadur shah appealed to the people to join the fight under the standards of both Muhammad and Mahavir.

The British tried to suppress the rebellion by:

(i) Passing number of Acts, which not only had put the whole of North India under martial law but military officers and even ordinary Britons were given the power to try and punish Indians suspected of rebellion.

(ii) The ordinary processes of law and trial were suspended and it was put out that rebellion would have only one punishment-death.

(iii) Reinforcements were brought in from Britain and the British mounted a two-pronged attack.

(iv) The British used military on a gigantic scale. Rebel landholders were dispossessd and the loyal rewarded.