Final answer:
The British crown was able to assert authority over the EIC through trade laws, the establishment of viceroys in India, and measures to strengthen control over the colonies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The British crown was able to assert authority over the East India Company (EIC) through a combination of factors. First, the British government passed trade laws, such as the Navigation Acts, which restricted all shipping in the empire to English and colonial vessels and only allowed certain goods to be traded within the empire.
Second, the British government established a system of viceroys in India who governed in the name of the British monarch. These viceroys, supported by a native army and police force, enforced British laws and ensured a steady flow of taxes and soldiers to the EIC.
Finally, the British government took measures to strengthen their control over the colonies, such as raising taxes and curbing government spending. The British also established schools to educate the local elite in English, engineering, science, and British imperial law.