Class 10 History Chapter 2 Case Based Questions - India and the Contemporary World - II

iii. How did Proto-Industrialisation benefit both merchants and peasants?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. Proto-Industrialisation was a phase of industrial production before factories, where goods were produced by artisans and peasants in rural households.
ii. Merchants shifted production to the countryside to avoid trade guild restrictions in towns and increase production.
iii. Merchants benefited from increased production and access to cheaper labor, while peasants earned extra income by producing goods like textiles alongside farming, helping them supplement their earnings and sustain their livelihoods.

Q2: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

The first factories in England appeared in the 1730s, and by the late eighteenth century, factory-based production had increased. The cotton industry was the leading sector in the early phase of industrialisation. Britain’s cotton imports grew from 2.5 million pounds in 1760 to 22 million pounds in 1787. Many new inventions such as the Spinning Jenny (1764) and steam engines improved production. The cotton mill, developed by Richard Arkwright, brought workers and machines under one roof, increasing efficiency and supervision.

i. Which industry led the Industrial Revolution in Britain?(1 mark)
ii. Who invented the Spinning Jenny, and what was its impact?(1 mark)
iii. How did Richard Arkwright’s cotton mill change the manufacturing process?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. The cotton industry was the leading sector during the Industrial Revolution in Britain.
ii. The Spinning Jenny was invented by James Hargreaves in 1764, allowing multiple spindles to spin yarn at once, increasing efficiency.
iii. Richard Arkwright’s cotton mill centralized production by bringing workers and machines under one roof. This improved supervision, enhanced quality control, and increased overall efficiency in the manufacturing process.

Q3: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Industrialisation led to mass migration of workers from rural areas to cities. However, life for workers was difficult. Jobs were seasonal, and during off-seasons, many workers became unemployed. Housing was inadequate, and wages were low. Jobbers, trusted factory workers, controlled recruitment and took bribes in exchange for jobs. The introduction of machines like the Spinning Jenny led to opposition from workers, who feared that machines would replace their jobs.

i. Why was industrial employment unstable for workers?(1 mark)
ii. What role did jobbers play in factories?(1 mark)
iii. Why did many workers oppose the use of machines like the Spinning Jenny?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. Jobs were seasonal, leading to periods of unemployment when factories were not operating at full capacity.
ii. Jobbers recruited workers, helped them settle in the city, and demanded bribes in exchange for securing jobs.
iii. Many workers opposed machines like the Spinning Jenny because they feared that these machines would replace manual labor, leading to a reduction in job opportunities and lower wages for workers.

Q4: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Before the rise of machine industries, Indian textiles dominated the international market. Cities like Surat, Masulipatam, and Hooghly were major trading centers. However, as British colonial rule expanded, Indian merchants lost their control over trade. The East India Company established a monopoly, restricting Indian weavers from selling to other traders. The gomastha system was introduced, where Company officials supervised weavers and forced them to sell only to the British at low prices. Many weavers protested and abandoned their looms.

i. Which cities were major Indian textile trade centers before colonial rule?(1 mark)
ii. What was the gomastha system, and why was it introduced?(1 mark)
iii. How did British control impact Indian weavers and their trade?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. Surat, Masulipatam, and Hooghly were major textile trade centers.
ii. The gomastha system was introduced by the East India Company to supervise weavers and force them to sell only to British traders.
iii. British control impacted Indian weavers by taking away their freedom to trade independently. They were forced into exploitative contracts, paid very low prices for their goods, and many abandoned weaving due to harsh conditions and loss of livelihood.

Q5: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

The First World War (1914-1918) had a significant impact on Indian industries. British factories were focused on war production, leading to a decline in imports from Britain. This created an opportunity for Indian industries to expand. Indian mills started producing war-related goods like jute bags, cloth for uniforms, and steel products. Many new factories were set up, and employment increased. After the war, Indian industries continued to grow, reducing dependence on British goods.

i. How did the First World War impact British imports into India?(1 mark)
ii. What kind of goods did Indian industries produce during the war?(1 mark)
iii. Why did Indian industries continue to grow even after the war?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. British imports declined as British factories focused on war production.
ii. Indian industries produced jute bags, military uniforms, steel products, and other war-related goods.
iii. After the war, Indian industries continued to grow because they had gained momentum and expanded their production capacity. Additionally, local industries replaced British imports, fostering self-reliance and economic growth in India.

Q6: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

By the early nineteenth century, the demand for Indian textiles in Europe declined due to the rise of British industrial production. British manufacturers pressured the government to impose import duties on Indian textiles while removing duties on British goods exported to India. As a result, cheap machine-made cloth from Manchester flooded the Indian market. Indian weavers found it difficult to compete with these low-cost imports, leading to the collapse of handloom weaving in many regions.

i. Why did the demand for Indian textiles decline in the early nineteenth century?(1 mark)
ii. How did British manufacturers ensure dominance in the Indian market?(1 mark)
iii. What impact did Manchester imports have on Indian weavers?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. The demand declined because British industries produced cheap machine-made textiles, reducing the need for Indian handmade textiles.
ii. British manufacturers pressured the government to impose high import duties on Indian textiles while allowing duty-free exports of British goods to India.
iii. Manchester imports had a devastating impact on Indian weavers. They lost their markets due to stiff competition from cheap, machine-made cloth and were unable to compete with the low prices. As a result, many weavers abandoned weaving and turned to agricultural labor or other small jobs for survival.

Q7: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

With the expansion of industries, factory owners needed a constant supply of laborers. Since thousands of workers migrated to cities for work, they depended on a jobber to secure employment. The jobber was often an old and trusted worker, who helped newcomers settle in the city, find jobs, and provided financial help in times of crisis. Over time, the jobber gained power and started taking bribes from workers in exchange for jobs.

i. Who were jobbers, and what was their role?(1 mark)
ii. Why did migrant workers depend on jobbers?(1 mark)
iii. How did jobbers gain power, and what was the effect of their role?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. Jobbers were trusted factory workers who helped recruit and settle new laborers in factories.
ii. Migrant workers depended on them to find jobs, housing, and financial support in new cities.
iii. Jobbers gained power by controlling the recruitment process and began demanding bribes in exchange for jobs. This made the employment system corrupt and unfair, especially for poor workers who struggled to afford these bribes, worsening their plight.

Q8: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Despite the growth of factories, many industries in Victorian Britain continued to prefer hand labor over machines. Industrialists found that hand labor was cheaper, especially when there was an abundant supply of workers. Moreover, some goods, like furniture, ceramics, and textiles, required skilled craftsmanship, which machines could not replicate. The upper classes and aristocrats in Britain also preferred handmade products, as they were considered a sign of quality and class.

i. Why did industrialists in Victorian Britain continue to use hand labor?(1 mark)
ii. Which types of goods were mostly produced by hand?(1 mark)
iii. Why did the upper class prefer handmade goods over machine-made ones?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. Hand labor was cheaper and more flexible, as workers could be hired and fired easily.
ii. Goods like furniture, ceramics, textiles, and other decorative items required skilled craftsmanship.
iii. The upper class preferred handmade goods over machine-made ones because they were seen as symbols of luxury, refinement, and exclusivity. Handmade products were considered better finished, unique, and of higher quality compared to mass-produced machine-made goods.

Q9: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

The Swadeshi Movement (1905-1911) emerged as a response to British economic exploitation and aimed to promote Indian industries. Nationalists urged people to boycott British goods and support Indian enterprises. Indian industrialists took advantage of this growing nationalist sentiment and expanded local industries. They also pressured the British government to increase tariff protection, helping Indian industries grow further.

i. What was the primary goal of the Swadeshi Movement?(1 mark)
ii. How did Indian industrialists benefit from the Swadeshi Movement?(1 mark)
iii. What demands did Indian industrialists make to the British government?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. The goal was to boycott British goods and promote Indian-made products.
ii. The movement increased support for Indian industries, boosting their sales and encouraging more investment in local production.
iii. Indian industrialists demanded that the British government increase tariff protection on Indian goods to reduce competition from British imports and create a more favorable environment for local industries to grow.

Q10: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

The First World War (1914-1918) disrupted global trade, leading to a decline in British imports to India. Indian industries had to fill this gap by increasing production of jute bags, military uniforms, and other essential war materials. Many new factories were set up, and employment increased. Even after the war, British industries failed to regain control, allowing Indian industries to continue growing.

i. Why did Indian industries grow during the First World War?(1 mark)
ii. What type of goods were produced by Indian industries during the war?(1 mark)
iii. How did the war help Indian industries in the long run?(2 marks)

Ans:
i. Indian industries grew because British imports declined, creating demand for locally made goods.
ii. Indian industries produced jute bags, military uniforms, boots, and war-related materials.
iii. The war helped Indian industries in the long run as British industries struggled to regain their dominance after the war. This allowed Indian businesses to expand, establish themselves, and reduce dependence on British goods, fostering sustained industrial growth in India.