Write in brief
1. Give two reasons why the population of London expanded from the middle of the eighteenth century.
Answer: The city of London was a magnet for the migrant populations due to the job opportunities provided by its dockyards and industries. By 1750, one out of every nine people of England and Wales lived in London. During the first world war, London began manufacturing motor cars and electrical goods. This increased the number of large factories, which in turn increased the number of people coming to the city in search of work.
2. What were the changes in the kind of work available to women in London between the nineteenth and the twentieth century? Explain the factors which led to this change.
Answer: Changes in the kind of work available to women in London between the nineteenth and the twentieth century were primarily based on industrial and technological advancements. Women had to work in households for a living, and this led to an increase in the number of domestic servants. Some women also began to earn by lodging out rooms, tailoring, washing or making matchboxes. With the coming of the First World War though, women once again joined the industrial sector.
3. How does the existence of a large urban population affect each of the following? Illustrate with historical examples.
a) A private landlord
Answer: The existence of a large urban population means that there would be greater number of individuals in need of a place to stay. This increased demand for places of residence is profitable for private landlords who can then rent out rooms at high rates. In nineteenth-century London, individual landowners made huge profits by taking advantage of the helplessness of the hoards of migrants in the city who needed a place to live.
b) A Police Superintendent in charge of law and order
Answer: The existence of a large urban population means that there are increased cases of crimes, social conflict and rebellion. Police are responsible for maintaining the law and order. Hence, a police superintendent would definitely have increased work on his hands. In nineteenth-century London, policemen had a tough time controlling crime during the migrant influx. In the 1870s, there were 20,000 criminals living in London.
c) A leader of a political party
Answer: The existence of a large urban population implies the simultaneous presence of several social problems, such as problems of housing, food, water, etc. These issues become political issues when they are taken up by political parties. A political party and its leaders can mobilize the masses to support them in these political causes. This was the case in nineteenth-century London as well.
4. Give explanations for the following:
a) Why well-off Londoners supported the need to build housing for the poor in the nineteenth century.
Answer: Well-off Londoners supported the need to build housing for the poor in the nineteenth century on account of three reasons:-
- One-room houses of the poor came to be seen as the breeding ground of diseases, and hence, a threat to public health.
- Fire hazards became a worry in these over-crowded, badly ventilated, unhygienic homes.
- Lastly, there was a widespread fear of social disorder, especially after the 1917 Russian Revolution. Housing schemes were undertaken to avoid a rebellion.
b) Why a number of Bombay films were about the lives of migrants.
Answer: Bombay became an attractive destination for people seeking jobs after the British administration replaced Surat with Bombay as its principal western port. The consequent increase in trade and industries led to a great influx of people. Thus, migrants were an important facet of Bombay. Most of the people in the film industry were migrants themselves, and wanted to portray the plight of this class of people through films. Thus, a number of Bombay films were about the lives of migrants.
c) What led to the major expansion of Bombay’s population in the mid-nineteenth century.
Answer: In mid-seventeenth century, Bombay became East India Company’s principal western port, replacing Surat. Later, by the end of the nineteenth century, it had become an important administrative as well as industrial centre. All through these years, the prospects for trade and commerce, and employment kept increasing, thereby making Bombay an attractive destination for migrants.
Discuss
1. What forms of entertainment came up in nineteenth century England to provide leisure activities for the people.
Answer: For the upper classes, an annual “London Season” was one of the sources of leisure. It comprised the opera, the theater and classical music events. For the working classes, pubs, discussions and meetings for political action served the same purpose. Libraries, art galleries and museums were new types of entertainment brought about through the utilisation of state money. Music halls and cinema theaters too became immensely popular with the lower classes. Industrial workers were encouraged to undertake seaside vacations to rejuvenate from the banes of working in the polluting environment of factories.
2. Explain the social changes in London which led to the need for the Underground railway. Why was the development of the Underground criticised?
Answer: The development of suburbs as a part of the drive to less congest London led to the extension of the city beyond the range where people could walk to work. The Underground railway was constructed to solve problem.
The development of the Underground was criticised because underground travelling was considered risky. Many felt that it added to the mess and unhygienic conditions of the city. Also, to clear the path for the construction of the Underground, a number of houses were destroyed. This led to the displacement of a great number of London poor.
3. Explain what is meant by the Haussmanisation of Paris. To what extent would you support or oppose this form of development? Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper, to either support or oppose this, giving reasons for your view.
Answer: Haussmanisation of Paris refers to the re-building of Paris by Baron Haussmann in the mid-eighteenth century. When Louis Napoleon III came to power, he appointed Haussmann as the chief architect of the new city. He laid out new streets, straight sidewalks, boulevards and open avenues, and planted full-grown trees. Haussmann’s architectural plans had positives as well as negatives. His name has become a representation of forcible reconstruction to enhance the beauty of a city and impose order. This is because his plans led to the displacement of 350,000 people from the centre of Paris. This included many poor people who were now rendered homeless.
4. To what extent does government regulation and new laws solve problems of pollution? Discuss one example each of the success and failure of legislation to change the quality of
a) public life
b) private life
Answer: Government laws play an important role in controlling the rates of pollution in the city. But they need to be properly enforced as well. It is also a fact that people tend to find ways of getting around laws.
Example to show the success of legislation to change the quality of:-
Public life - The Bengal Smoke Nuisance Commission, was successful in controlling industrial smoke in colonial Calcutta.
Private life - The British government passed the Clean Air Act in 1956. This law was aimed at controlling domestic sources of smoke pollution, and to do so, it introduced the concept of smokeless zones.
Examples to show the failure of legislation to change the quality of:-
Public life - By the 1840s, British cities had smoke control laws. However, these laws did not succeed much in controlling smoke emission.
Private life - During the colonial period, a huge population depended on dung and wood as fuel in their daily life. The Bengal Smoke Nuisance Commission found it difficult to control this domestic smoke.
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