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Why did some industrialists in nineteenth-century Europe prefer hand labour over machines?
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Why did some industrialists in nineteenth-century Europe prefer hand l...
Some industrialists in nineteenth-century Europe prefer hand labour over machines because: Machines were costly, ineffective, difficult to repair, and needed huge capital investments. Labour was available at low wages at that period of time. In seasonal industries only seasonal labour was required.
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Why did some industrialists in nineteenth-century Europe prefer hand l...
Industrialists' preference for hand labour in nineteenth-century Europe


During the nineteenth century, the Industrial Revolutions transformed the economies of Europe by replacing traditional hand tools with machines. While most industrialists embraced the new technology, some preferred hand labour over machines for various reasons.


Lower capital costs



  • Industrialists who preferred hand labour believed that it was cheaper to employ human labour than to buy machines and maintain them.

  • They argued that investing in machines required large sums of money, which they could not afford, especially if they were starting their businesses.

  • On the other hand, hiring workers only required them to pay wages, which they could adjust depending on the demand for their products.



Flexibility and adaptability



  • Hand labour was more flexible and adaptable to changes in demand compared to machines.

  • Industrialists who preferred hand labour argued that they could easily increase or decrease the number of workers depending on the demand for their products.

  • In contrast, machines were fixed and could not be easily modified to produce different products or adjust to changes in demand.



Higher quality of products



  • Some industrialists believed that hand labour produced higher quality products compared to machines.

  • They argued that machines could not match the precision and skill of human hands, which could produce intricate designs and finishes.

  • Hand labour also allowed for greater attention to detail, resulting in products of superior quality.



Resistance to change



  • Finally, some industrialists preferred hand labour because they were resistant to change and believed in preserving traditional methods of production.

  • They were sceptical of the new technology and feared that it would lead to the loss of jobs and the degradation of society.

  • They argued that hand labour was a time-tested method that had served their ancestors well and should not be abandoned in favour of machines.



Overall, while most industrialists embraced the new technology, some preferred hand labour over machines due to lower capital costs, flexibility and adaptability, higher quality of products and resistance to change.
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Read the source given below and answer the questions that follows:A range of products could be produced only with hand labour. Machines were oriented to produce uniforms, standardised goods with intricate designs and specific shapes. In mid-nineteenth century Britain, for instance, 500 varieties of hammers were produced and 45 kinds of axes. These required human skill, not mechanical technology. In Victorian Britain, the upper classes – the aristocrats and the bourgeoisie – preferred things produced by hand. Handmade products came to symbolise refinement and class. They were better finished, individually produced, and carefully designed. Machine made goods were for export to the colonies. In countries with labour shortage, industrialists were keen on using mechanical power so that the needed for human labour can be minimised. This was the case in nineteenth-century America. Britain, however, had no problem hiring human hands.Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:Q. ............... were Standardised products, which were produced for a mass market.

Read the source given below and answer the questions that follows:A range of products could be produced only with hand labour. Machines were oriented to produce uniforms, standardised goods with intricate designs and specific shapes. In mid-nineteenth century Britain, for instance, 500 varieties of hammers were produced and 45 kinds of axes. These required human skill, not mechanical technology. In Victorian Britain, the upper classes – the aristocrats and the bourgeoisie – preferred things produced by hand. Handmade products came to symbolise refinement and class. They were better finished, individually produced, and carefully designed. Machine made goods were for export to the colonies. In countries with labour shortage, industrialists were keen on using mechanical power so that the needed for human labour can be minimised. This was the case in nineteenth-century America. Britain, however, had no problem hiring human hands.Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:Q. .............. products symbolised refinement and class.

Read the source given below and answer the questions that follows:A range of products could be produced only with hand labour. Machines were oriented to produce uniforms, standardised goods with intricate designs and specific shapes. In mid-nineteenth century Britain, for instance, 500 varieties of hammers were produced and 45 kinds of axes. These required human skill, not mechanical technology. In Victorian Britain, the upper classes – the aristocrats and the bourgeoisie – preferred things produced by hand. Handmade products came to symbolise refinement and class. They were better finished, individually produced, and carefully designed. Machine made goods were for export to the colonies. In countries with labour shortage, industrialists were keen on using mechanical power so that the needed for human labour can be minimised. This was the case in nineteenth-century America. Britain, however, had no problem hiring human hands.Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:Q. ................. varieties of hammers and ................ kinds of axes were produced in Britain in mid nineteenth century.

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Why did some industrialists in nineteenth-century Europe prefer hand labour over machines?
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