Final answer:
After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British East India Company was abolished, and the British government began direct rule of India, known as the British Raj, which lasted until 1947. This shift in governance marked a significant change in India's political landscape, set the foundation for British imperialism in the region, and eventually led to increased efforts toward Indian self-governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The European presence in India underwent significant changes after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny. While the British East India Company had exercised power through indirect rule, the failure to effectively manage the uprising led to the British government taking direct control. This marked the beginning of the British Raj, a period of direct British rule that lasted until India's independence in 1947.
The Indian Rebellion was fueled by discontent over several issues, including the use of infantrymen called sepoys, who were offended by the rumored greased cartridges which were against their religious beliefs, and by the aggressive attempts of European missionaries to convert them to Christianity. The mutiny saw fierce battles, and despite the numerical advantage of the rebels, they were ultimately divided by religious and geographic lines. In contrast, the British forces were unified and were able to suppress the rebellion. In the aftermath, the British government abolished the British East India Company in 1858, began ruling India directly, promulgated policy changes to smooth over relations, and eventually moved towards consolidating their power as symbolized by Queen Victoria becoming the Empress of India in 1876.
These changes in governance were significant as they marked a shift from company rule to imperial rule by the British Crown, altering the landscape of Indian politics and leading to further resistance and eventual efforts toward self-governance as exemplified by the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885.