What began as the East India Company grew into Britain directly and indirectly controlling much of India. Britain began to expand its colonial settlements, brought in its own military and made alliances with Indian rulers. Britain had ignored their original claims to protect India and instead began to rule over the country. By 1876 Queen Victoria became Empress of India, and any rebellions were quickly dismantled. Many British people came to India for work, and once the job was finished they came back. The country was never fully settled by English people. In The Half-Caste, Zillah comes from India and is sent to live with the LePoer family although she is under the guardianship of Mr. Sunderland.

“The British Empire in the 19th Century | Máire Ní - Gale.” Gale A Cengage Company, Gale, Cengage Company, 2021, https://www.gale.com/intl/essays/maire-ni-fhlathuin-british-empire-ninet...