Final answer:
Britain took control over India's economy by enforcing policies that benefited British interests, such as forcing the cultivation of cash crops and imposing high taxes on local goods to promote imported British textiles. Major infrastructures like railways were developed to expedite resource extraction and the import of British products. Despite the introduction of some beneficial systems, the overall impact was detrimental to India's economic autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
British Control of India's Economy:
Great Britain established dominance over India's economy through various restrictions and policies following the decline of the Mughal Empire. The British East India Company started as a trading entity but soon exercised military and political power, leading to extensive influence. By leveraging their advanced naval capabilities, the British granted the company exclusive trade rights, which, over time, restricted India's economic sovereignty, forcing Indian farmers to grow cash crops such as cotton and tea instead of indigenous staples, crafting a colonial economy that catered more to British interests than to local prosperity.
Moreover, the imposition of high taxes on Indian goods, compared to British textiles, led to deindustrialization in India, severely impacting traditional industries like weaving. The development of infrastructure, such as railways and telegraph lines, primarily served to transport British goods and Indian cash crops, which consolidated British economic control at the cost of India's self-sufficiency.