The causes of 1857 were political, economic, social–religious, and military. Politically, the Doctrine of Lapse, annexation of Awadh, and disrespect to the Mughal Emperor angered ruling classes. Economically, heavy revenue demand, destruction of handicrafts, and the drain of wealth ruined peasants and artisans.

Socially, aggressive reforms such as the Abolition of Sati (1829), the Widow Remarriage Act (1856), and missionary activity offended orthodox opinion, while the immediate military cause — greased cartridges — detonated the accumulated discontent. Each cause weighed differently on different groups, which explains why the revolt spread unevenly.