Causes of Failure of Revolt of 1857

In spite of popular participation in the Revolt of 1857, the rebels were ultimately forced to surrender before the British.

Reasons for the failure of the rebels were:

• the rebels had limited supply of arms and ammunitions.
• there was a lack of communication and centralized leadership among the rebels.
• the British had sufficient resources and also better arms and equipments.
• the rebels did not have clear political agenda for future except their distrust on the foreign rule.
• the rebels, in spite of the popular character of the movement had failed to enlist the support of merchants, intelligentsia and many local princes that rather supported the British.