the grease cartridges were the main cause of the 1857 Indian Mutiny

Since I am Pro, I will begin with arguments. This will allow Con a fair chance at actually providing rebuttals to my contentions. Definitions1857 Indian Mutiny: Was a widespread but unsuccessful rebellion against British rule in India in 1857–58. In India it is often called the First War of Independence and other similar names. [1]Main: the chief part : essential point. [2]Cause: something or someone that produces an effect, result, or condition : something or someone that makes something happen or exist. [3][1] . http://www.britannica.com...[2] . http://www.merriam-webster.com...[3] . http://www.merriam-webster.com...First and Foremost, there is some controversy in this topic. Many accept the common knowledge that the grease cartridges I. Indian Mutiny of 1857 had many causes, with the grease cartridges being the main cause. When accepting this debate, I immediately began my search to see what arguments, if any, can be made against the resolution at hand. I have a somewhat basic understanding of the events leading up to that mutiny including the religious, social, and caste issues that all played as factors in the ensuing conflict. With all of that acknowledged though, I believed it was common knowledge that the grease cartridges were indeed the main cause of the mutiny. In fact, at-least three different wikipedia pages all state that the main cause was the grease cartridges. I will quote, specifically, the statements found in wikipedia alone, before sharing sources that some would deem as more appropriate than just wikipedia. 1) "The most important change that began the rebellion was anger about the ammunition for the new rifles they had to use when they had to fight. The cartridges that were used in the rifles had to be bitten open. " [4] The article then continues to expand on why this was such a major issue at the time:"The Muslims were angry because they thought that the paper cartridges had pig fat in them. Hindu soldiers were angry because they believed the cartridges had cow fat in them. On January 27, Colonel Richard Birch ordered that no cartridges should have grease on them, and that sepoys could grease them with whatever they wanted. However, this only made the sepoys believe that the stories about the cartridge having pork and beef fat were true. " [4][4] . http://simple.wikipedia.org...As you can see in the link just above, in the article itself this is listed immediately under the "causes" section as they start to discuss the most important change that began the rebellion. 2) In a second wikipedia article that focuses specifically on the causes of the rebellion, it is shown under the section titled "The Enfield Rifle" that: "The rebellion was, literally, started over a gun. Sepoys throughout India were issued with a new rifle. It was believed that the cartridges that were standard issue with this rifle were greased with lard (pork fat) which was regarded as unclean by Muslims. "[5][5] . http://en.wikipedia.org...3) In the final and most dedicated wikipedia article to the Indian rebellion, as a subsection of the section dedicated to causes, we see a part titled "Tallow and lard-greased cartridges". Under that section, the audience is told immediately that:"The final spark was provided by the ammunition for the new Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle. These rifles, which fired Minie balls, had a tighter fit than the earlier muskets, and used paper cartridges that came pre-greased. To load the rifle, sepoys had to bite the cartridge open to release the powder. .. " [6][6] . http://en.wikipedia.org...As we can see from all three wikipedia articles, the greased cartridges were indeed the main cause of the rebellion. Please keep in mind, I am not claiming that the grease cartridges are the only cause, nor am I claiming that the other factors leading up to the rebellion weren't of equal importance. What I am stating is that, in terms of causation, the greased cartridges were indeed the main cause. When articles use such descriptions as. ..1) The most important change that began the rebellion. ..2) The rebellion was, literally, started over a gun. .. and3) The final spark was provided by the ammunition for the new Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle. .. .. it is clear that the greased cartridges used in the newly distributed rifles were indeed the main cause of the rebellion. II. THE ORIGINS OF THE INDIAN MUTINY, EPISODE 49 - 23/02/06On February 23, 2006, BBC ran an episode for a series which focused on the Indian Mutiny of 1857. The summation and outline of the episode can be found at source link [7] which I have shared below. What stood out in the episode, for me, was the additional factors that were at play before the rebellion actually occurred. The summation included the following excerpt: "It is wrong to accept the popular reason that sepoys refusing to use cartridges coated in animal fat caused the 1857 rebellion. There were relevant causes other than greased cartridges:1. The British restructured India on European lines thus usurping centuries of right and privilege.2. Governor-General Dalhousie seized states claiming that the Hindu custom of accession was illegal. This was known as the Doctrine of Lapse.3. Many sepoy regiments were recruited from the wrong areas and castes and didn't want to serve outside their own regions.4. Discipline in many regiments was poor.5. Promotion was on time serving rather than ability and this added to discontent as well as inefficiency.6. For decades there had been friction between the British and Indians because the latter, with some considerable justification, believed it was government policy to aid British missionaries who tried to convert Indians to Christianity with the force of the 1813 Charter Act encouraging them so to do. " [7] I believe this is what my opponent will attempt to use against me. The main fact I would like to draw from this is that the summation of the episode found on their website also includes the following excerpt: "From a letter from George Barnes, Commissioner and Superintendent of the Cis-Sutlej states to Robert Mongomery, judicial commissioner for the Punjab, 5th February 1858- "The spark which lit the train was undoubtedly the greased cartridges. A change in the shape of a turban had led, in eighteen hundred and six, to the mutiny and massacre of Europeans at Vellore, and there can be no doubt that the danger to their caste, supposed to be hidden in the obnoxious cartridge, was sufficient case, in the existing temper of the sepoys to incite a revolt. .. "" It seems that even the BBC researchers for the series recognized that although there were several causes that brought about this rebellion, it was indeed the grease cartridges that served as the "spark which lit the train. .. " It is also noteworthy that the additional causes they listed above were never mentioned as the main causes, nor did the BBC ever say that it wasn't the main cause - they simply said that it wasn't the only cause. [7] . http://www.bbc.co.uk...III. Further evidence that greased cartridges were the main cause. In a website dedicated for avid researchers and fans of Britians Military Campaigns from 1837 to 1902, there is an entire thread dedicated to the discussion of the greased cartridges being the main cause. The discussion is amazingly informative and one that I believe will benefit both my opponent and the audience in terms of understanding the main cause of the mutiny. In short, they all agree that it was the "final straw that broke the camels back". [8][8] . http://www.victorianwars.com...Conclusion In conclusion, I believe it is evident that the greased cartridges were the main cause of the 1857 Indian Mutiny. I look forward to my opponents rebuttals and arguments. Thank you.