Write in brief
1. Explain the following:
(a) Women workers in Britain attacked the Spinning Jenny.
Answer: Women workers in Britain attacked the Spinning Jenny because it could spin many spindles with one wheel. This increased productivity and led to decrease in employment of women for spinning. Angry women hence, attacked the machine.
(b) In the seventeenth century merchants from towns in Europe began employing peasants and artisans within the villages.
Answer: The trade and commerce guild controlled the market, raw materials, employees, and also production of goods in the towns. This created problems for merchants who wanted to increase production by employing more men.
(c) The port of Surat declined by the end of eighteenth century.
Answer: By the end of 18th century the port of Surat declined mainly because of the growing power of the European Companies in India. These European Companies gradually gained power and started to control sea-trade in India. They secured a variety of concessions which they obtained from local courts and by gaining monopoly rights to trade. These companies did not want to use the old ports. In stead they developed new ports.
(d) The East India Company appointed gomasthas to supervise weavers in India.
Answer: The East India Company appointed ‘gomasthas’ as their paid servants to supervise weavers, ensure timely supplies, examine the quality of cloth and also advanced loans to weavers.
2. Write True or False against each statement:
(a) At the end of 19th century, 80% of the total workforce in Europe was employed in the technologically advanced industrial sector. False
(b) The international market for fine textiles was dominated by India till the 18th century. True
(c) The American civil war resulted in the reduction of cotton exports from India. False
(d) The introduction of fly shuttle enabled handloom workers to improve their productivity. True
3. Explain what is meant by proto-industrialisation.
Answer: ‘Proto’ means the first or early form of something. Proto-industrialisation means the phase of industrialisation when handmade products were produced for the industrial market in large scale.
Discuss
1. Why did some industrialists in 19th century Europe prefer hand labour over machines?
Answer: Some industrialists in 19th century Europe prefer hand labour over machines due to the following reasons:
a. Machines were costly, ineffective, difficult to repair, and needed huge capital investments.
b. Labour was available at low wages at that period of time.
c. In seasonal industries only seasonal labour was required.
d. Market demands of variety of designs and colours and specific type could not be fulfilled by machine made clothes.
e. In Victorian age, the aristocrats and other upper class people preferred articles made by hand only.
2. How did the East India Company procure regular supplies of cotton and silk textiles from Indian Weavers ?
Answer: The East India Company procure regular supplies of cotton and silk textiles from Indian Weavers by:-
(i) It eliminated the existing traders and brokers and established a more direct control over the weaver. It appointed a paid servant called the gomastha to supervise weavers, collect supplies and examine the quality of cloth.
(ii) It prevented Company weavers from dealing with other buyers.
3. Imagine that you have been asked to write an article for an encyclopaedia on Britain and the history of cotton. Write your piece using information from the entire chapter.
Answer: Attempt this question yourself.
4. Why did industrial production in India increase during First World War?
Answer: India witnessed increased industrial production during the First World War due to following reasons:-
(i) British industries became busy in producing and supplying war-needs. Hence, they stopped exporting British goods or clothes in India.
(ii) It was a good opportunity for Indian industries to fill in empty Indian markets with their products. Therefore, industrial production in India increased.
(iii) British colonial government asked Indian factories to supply the war needs like jute bags, cloth or army uniforms, tents and leather boots, horse and mule saddle, etc.
(iv) The increased demands of variety of products led to the setting up of new factories and old ones increased their production.
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