The Nineteenth Century (1815-1914)
Q. Explain any three effects of population growth in England in the late eighteenth century. [Delhi Set-I, 2020]
Answer:
(i) Food could now be imported into England.
(ii) Demand for food grains increased as urban centres expanded.
(iii) Due to pressure from land groups, the government restricted the import of corn by enacting the Corn Laws.
Q. “Indian trade had played a crucial role in late nineteenth-century world economy”. Analyse the statement. [Delhi Set-I, II, III, 2019]
Ans. Indian trade had played a crucial role in the late nineteenth century:
(i) By helping Britain to balance its deficits, India played a crucial role in the late nineteenth-century world economy.
(ii) Britain’s trade surplus in India also helped in paying the so-called ‘Home Charges’.
(iii) British manufacturers flooded the Indian market.
(iv) Increased food grain and raw material exports from India to Britain.
(v) The value of British exports to India was much higher than the value of British imports from India.
Another Answer Version:
Indian trade played a crucial role in the late nineteenth-century world economy. This statement can be analysed through the following facts:
(i) Trade Surplus: Britain had a trade surplus with India, i.e., a situation under which the value of exports is more than the imports. Britain used this surplus to balance its trade deficit with other countries.
(ii) Home charges: Britain’s trade surplus in India also helped to pay the so-called ‘Home Charges’ that included private remittances home by British officials and traders, interest payments on India’s external debts and pensions of the British officials in India.
(iii) Major supplier of cotton: India remained a major supplier of raw cotton to Britain which was required to feed the cotton textile industry of Britain.
(iv) Supplier of indentured workers: Many indentured workers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Central India migrated to other countries to work in mines and plantations.
Another Answer Version:
Indian trade had definitely played a crucial role in the late 19th-century world economy.
(i) Britain had a trade surplus with India, she used this surplus to balance her trade deficits with other countries.
(ii) Britain’s trade surplus in India also helped to pay the so-called ‘home charges’ that included private remittances by British officials and traders, interest payments on India’s external debts and pensions of the British officials in India.
(iii) In the 19th century, thousands of Indian and Chinese labourers went to work on plantations in mines and for roads and railways construction projects around the world.
(iv) India also provided raw materials to the developing industries of the world.
(v) India became a major market for the final goods, especially for the cotton textile industry of Britain.
Another Answer Version:
The role of the Indian economy in the nineteenth-century world economy can be explained as follows:
(i) India was a major exporter of raw materials to Britain most importantly items such as cotton, spices, indigo etc. (ii) Indian markets were flooded with the British manufactured goods, giving huge profits to the British companies.
(iii) There was a trade surplus for Britain while trading with India. This trade surplus was used in many ways by Britain. This was used to pay for the private remittances by the British officials.
(iv) Not only with Britain, India also traded with China mainly in opium.
(v) In the nineteenth century, thousands of Indian labourers went to work on plantations in mines and in rood and railway construction projects around the world as indentured labour.
Q. Describe the role of ‘Technology’ in transformation of the world in the nineteenth century. [OD, 2019]
Q. Explain the role of technology in shaping the world economy of 19th century. (Term-I 2012)
Ans. Role of Technology:
(i) The railways, steamships, and the telegraph for example were important inventions without which we cannot imagine the transformed nineteenth-century world.
(ii) Technology advances were often the result of larger social, political and economic factors.
(iii) Colonization stimulated new investments.
(iv) Improvement in transport.
(v) Larger ships helped to move food more cheaply.
Another Answer version
Role of Technology in the transformation of the world in the nineteenth century:
(i) Transformation of the world economy: Railways, steam ships and the telegraph – were important inventions which transformed the nineteenth-century world. Colonisation stimulated new investments and improvements in transport; faster railways, lighter wagons and larger ships helped to move food more cheaply and quickly from faraway farms to final markets.
(ii) Impact on meat trade: Till the 1870s, meat from America was shipped to Europe in the form of live animals which were then slaughtered in Europe. But live animals took up a lot of ship space, and many of them also died in voyage, fell ill, lost weight, or became unfit to eat. A new technology, namely, refrigerated ships enabled the transport of perishable foods over long distances. Now animals were slaughtered at the starting point and then transported to Europe as frozen meat. This reduced the shipping costs and lowered meat prices in Europe. The poor in Europe could now consume a more varied diet. Better living conditions promoted social peace within the country and support for imperialism abroad.
Another Version Answer
Technology had the following effects in shaping the world economy.
(i) Technology played a major role in all the developments. Railways, steam shipping, telegraph, etc. were important inventions led to the transformation of the nineteenth-century world.
(ii) Linking the markets: New investments and improvements in transport, faster railways, lighter wagons and larger ships helped move food more cheaply and quickly from far away farms to final markets.
(iii) Impact on the meat trade: Till the 1870s, meat from America was shipped to Europe in the form of live animals which were then slaughtered in Europe. But live animals took up a lot of ship space. Many also died in voyages fell ill, lost weight or became unfit to eat. So, the prices of meat were very high and it was beyond the reach of the European poor. Due to the high price, the demand and production was low. But the invention of refrigerated ships made it possible to transport meat from one region to another.
(iv) Social peace and imperialism: The poor in Europe could now consume a more varied diet. Better living conditions promoted social peace within the country and support for imperialism abroad.
(v) Colonialism: Technology played a very important role in linking the world markets which promoted colonialism.
Q. Critically examine the expansion of trade facilities in the 19th century. [Term-I, 2016-17]
Ans. Expansion of trade facilities in the 19th century:
(i) In many parts of the world, these developments meant the loss of freedom and livelihoods.
(ii) In the late 19th century, European conquest brought about many destructive economic, social and ecological changes in the colonies.
(iii) In Africa, in the 1890s, a fast-spreading disease of cattle plague or Rinderpest had a terrifying impact on people’s livelihoods and the local economy.
(iv) The example of indentured labour migration.
(v) Great misery and poverty for others.
(vi) New forms of coercion in Asia and Africa.
Q. 6. After 19th century, how did the indentured labourers discover their own ways of survival? Explain. [Term I, 2016-17]
Answer:
(i) Initially, the indentured labourers found it difficult to adjust to the harsh living conditions of the plantation. But very soon they discovered new ways of survival.
(ii) They developed new forms of individual and collective self-expression, blended art, cultural forms, old and new.
(iii) In Trinidad, the cultural Muharram procession was transformed into a riotous carnival called ‘Hosay’ in which workers of all races and religions joined.
(iv) The protest religion ‘Rastafarianism’ is also said to reflect social and cultural links with Indian migrates to the Caribbean.
(v) Chutney music is popular in Trinidad and Guyana and is another creative expression of the post-indenture experience.
Q. Describe the impact of ‘Rinderpest’ in Africa in the 1890s. (2019)
Q. Describe the impact of Rinderpest on people’s livelihood and the local economy in Africa in the 1890s. (2018)
Answer:
(i) Rinderpest was a disease of cattle plague spreading fast in Africa in the 1880s. It had a terrible impact on the livelihood and the local economy in Africa
(ii) This disease was carried by the infected cattle which were imported from British Asia in order to feed the Italian soldiers who were deputed for invading Eritrea in east Africa.
(iii) Rinderpest spread from east Africa to West Africa and reached the Atlantic coast of Africa in the year 1892 and the southernmost tip of Africa (the Cape) in 1897.
(iv) Along the way from East to West Africa this rinderpest killed 90% of the cattle which destroyed the livelihoods of the Africans.
(v) Now the leftover or scarce cattle was monopolized by the planters, mine owners and the colonial governments. This incident helped the European powers to conquer and subdue Africa and easily forced the Africans into the labour market.
Another Answer Version:
Rinderpest was the fast-spreading and devastating disease of cattle plague. It affected the Africans in the following ways:
(ii) 90% of cattle were killed
(ii) The loss of cattle destroyed African livelihood.
(iii) Colonial government forced the Africans into the labour market. Earlier people rarely worked for a wage. They possessed land and livestock. Due to Rinderpest, they were forced to work for wages and so it affected the economy.
(v) Control over the cattle resources enabled European colonisers to conquer and subdue Africa.
(v) Thus, this worked as a god’s gift to the colonizers as now they could easily have cheap labour to meet their colonial needs.
Q. Why did the industrialists and people living in cities of Britain forced the government to abolish Corn Laws in the 18th century? Give two reasons. (AI 2016)
Answer:
- Population growth from the late 18th century had increased the demand for food grains in Britain pushing up the prices. Under pressure from farmers, the government restricted the import of corn. These laws were commonly known as the ‘Corn Laws’
- Unhappy with high food prices, urban dwellers and industrialists forced the abolition of the Corn-laws.
- As the population in Britain grew in the late 18th century the demand for food grains went up. This led to a spike in the prices of food.
- With the expansion of industries, cities began expanding. This also led to a rise in food demand. As the food prices rose there was social unrest.
- Most of the industrialists and landlords also did not support Corn Laws, as these laws hindered free trade.
- This forced the government to scrap Corn Laws.
Q. Mention any three effects of the British Government’s decision for the abolition of the Corn Laws. (Term-I 2016, 14, 2012)
Ans. A few effects are listed below:
(i) Food could be imported into Britain at much cheaper rate than it was produced within the country.
(ii) British agriculture was unable to compete with imports. Vast areas of land were left uncultivated and people started migrating to cities or other countries.
(iii) As food prices fell, consumption in Britain rose. Faster industrial growth in Britain also led to higher incomes and therefore more food imports.
(iv) Around the world in Eastern Europe, Russia, America, and Australia, lands were cleared and food production expanded to meet the British demand.
Ans. Version 2:
The three effects of the abolition of the Corn Laws were:
(a) It led to the movement of people to the cities and overseas.
(b) The imported corn was much cheaper which the British farmers were unable to compete.
(c) As a result, they either left the cultivation or were thrown out of the farm
Ans. version 3:
According to the Corn Laws in Britain, the government restricted the import of the corn which increased the prices of food items in Britain. The industrialists and the urban dwellers forced the government to abolish the Corn Laws.
The abolition of the Corn Laws was responsible for the movement of people to the cities and overseas because the imported corn was much cheaper which the British farmers were unable to compete with as a result, they either left the cultivation or were thrown out of the farm.
Answer Version 4:
(i) Britain began to import food grains from the rest of the world. British agriculture was unable to compete with imports.
(ii) Vast areas of land were now left uncultivated.
(iii) Thousands of men and women were thrown out of work. They started migrating to cities.
(iv) Food prices fell and consumption in Britain rose.
(v) Other countries: Russia, America and Australia cleared land to produce and send food grains to meet British demand.
(vi) They required railways to link the ports.
Answer Version 5:
- The abolition of the Corn Laws was responsible for the movement of people to the cities and overseas because the imported corn was much cheaper and the British farmers were unable to compete; as a result, they either left the cultivation or were thrown out of the farm.
- The consumption of food crops rose in Britain due to the fall in prices. The food imports increased due to the higher income caused by the faster industrial growth in Britain.
- This increased demand for food crops in Britain was fulfilled by the countries in Western Europe, Russia, America and Australia where the lands were cleared for the expansion of food grain production.
Q. Trade flourished and markets expanded in the 19th century, but there was a darker side to the process. Justify the statement. (Term-I 2015)
Answer:
(i) In many parts of the world, these developments meant the loss of freedom and livelihoods.
(ii) Late 19th century European conquest brought about many destructive economic, social and ecological changes in the colonies.
(iii) In Africa, in the 1890s, a fast-spreading disease of cattle plague or Rinderpest had a terrifying impact on people’s livelihoods and the local economy.
(iv) The example of indentured labour migration from India illustrates that it was a world of faster economic growth for some and great misery and poverty for others.
(v) It led to technological advances in Europe but a new form of coercion in Asia and Africa.
Q. What were the Corn Laws? Why were the Corn Laws abolished? What was the result of the abolishing the laws? (Term-I 2014)
Answer:
(i) The laws allowing the British Government to restrict the import of corn is known as the “Corn Laws”.
(ii) These laws were abolished because the industrialists and urban dwellers were unhappy with high food prices; as a result of which they forced the abolition of the Corn Laws.
(iii) As a result, food could be imported into Britain at a much cheaper rate.
(iv) The immediate effect of the British Government’s decision to abolish the Corn Laws was the inflow of cheaper agricultural crops from America and Australia.
(v) English farmers left their profession and migrated to towns and cities.
Q. How did Rinderpest become instrumental in subjugating the Africans? (Term-I 2014)
Answer:
(i) The loss of 90% of the cattle destroyed African livelihood.
(ii) Planters, mine owners and the colonial government now successfully monopolised what little cattle resources remained, to strengthen their power and forced Africans into the labour market.
(iii) Control over the scarce resource of cattle enabled European colonisers to conquer and subdue Africa.
Q. 19th century indenture had been described as a new system of slavery. Explain the statement briefly. (Term-I 2014)
Q. Why have the historians described the 19th century indenture as a new system of slavery? Explain five reasons. (Term-I 2013, 2012)
Answer:
A new system of slavery:
(i) Recruiting agents tempted the poor people by giving false information about the nature of work, final destinations, living and working conditions, mode of travel, etc.
(ii) Less willing workers were, at times, forcibly abducted by the agents.
(iii) On arrival at the plantations, when labourers found conditions to be different, many of them escaped into the wilds while other developed new forms of individual and collective self-expression.
Another Answer Version:
Indentured labour was described as a new system of slavery because:
(i) Agents tempted the poor people by giving false information about the nature of work, living and working conditions, final destination modes of travel, etc.
(ii) Less willing workers were at time forcibly abducted by the agents.
(iii) On the plantation, the working conditions were harsh and they had few legal rights.
(iv) They were beaten or imprisoned for not being able to meet tasks that used to be very heavy or for running away from the job.
(v) Normal medical attention was given to them and wages were deducted in case of absence at work or failure to fulfil the task.
Q. Write any three factors responsible for indentured labour migration from India. (Term-I 2014)
Ans. Factors responsible for indentured labour migration from India:
(i) In the mid-19th century, cottage industries declined, land rents rose, and lands were cleared for mines and plantations. This affected poor people because they were highly indebted and were forced to migrate for work.
(ii) Temptations: As the agents provided false information about final destinations, nature of work and living and working conditions, many poor people were tempted to go and work.
(iii) In order to escape poverty or oppression at home and in villages, many migrants agreed to work.
Q. After 19th century, how did the indentured labourers discover their own ways of survival? Explain? (Term-I 2016-17)
Answer:
(i) Initially, the indentured labourers found it difficult to adjust to the harsh living conditions of the plantation. But very soon they discovered new ways of survival.
(ii) They developed new forms of individual and collective self-expression, blended art, cultural forms, old and new.
(iii) In Trinidad, the cultural Muharram procession was transformed into a riotous carnival called ‘Hosay’ in which workers of all races and religions joined.
(iv) The protest religion ‘Rastafarianism’ is also said to reflect social and cultural links with Indian migrates to the Caribbean.
(v) Chutney music is popular in Trinidad and Guyana is another creative expression of the post-indenture experience.
Q. Describe the contribution of indentured labours towards cultural fusion in the emerging global world. (Term-I 2017, 2014, 2013)
Ans. Indentured labour made a huge contribution towards cultural fusion.
(i) Cultural fusion is a phenomenon, which emerges when two or more cultures inter-mingle and produce a new culture.
(ii) Indentured labourers used to live and work in very harsh conditions. This forced them to seek new avenues of comfort and relaxation. This blended different cultural forms.
(iii) Examples:
(a) Hosay: In Trinidad, the annual Muharram procession was transformed into a riotous carnival called ‘Hosay’ in which workers of all races and religions joined.
(b) Chutney Music: It is another creative contemporary expression of the post-indentured experience.
(c) Rastafarianism: The protest religion of ‘Rastafarianism’ is also said to reflect social and cultural links with Indian migrants to the Caribbean.
Q. What attracted the Europeans to Africa? Give any three reasons. (Term-I 2014, 2012)
Answer:
(i) Europeans were attracted due to the resources of land and minerals of Africa.
(ii) They came to Africa to establish plantations and exploit mines.
(iii) African countries were militarily weak and backward. So, it was easy to conquer them.
Q. Mention the three types of flows within international economic exchanges during the 19th century. (Term-I 2012)
Answer:
(i) Flow of Trade: Trade in goods, e.g., cloth or wheat, giving shape to a global agricultural economy where food no longer came from a nearby village or town, but from thousands of miles away.
(ii) Flow of Labour: The migration of people in search of employment is called Flow of Labour’. Nearly 50 million people emigrated from Europe to America and Australia in the 19th century. All over the world some 150 million are estimated to have left their homes, and crossed oceans and vast distances over land in search of a better future.
(iii) Flow of Capital Investment: Long-term or short-term investment. Capital flowed from financial centres, such as London to build railways and other buildings to different parts of the world.
Another Answer Version
(i) Flow of Trade: Trade means flow of goods, e.g., cloth or wheat, in which goods are exchanged at long and short distances. For example, Indian weavers produced fine-quality cotton cloth and exported it to European countries. But post-industrial revolution due to tariff barriers this changed drastically.
(ii) Flow of Labour: The migration of people in search of employment is called ‘Flow of Labour’. Nearly 50 million people emigrated from Europe to America and Australia in the 19th century. All over the world, some 150 million people are estimated to have left their homes, crossed oceans and vast distances over land in search of a better future.
(iii) Flow of Capital: In this, movement of resources from one country to another takes place through loans or business investments. The British transferred a lot of capital from India to England before independence.
All ‘three flows’ are closely associated with and affected the lives of people in the nineteenth century.
Q. Explain the three types of movements or flows within International Economic Exchange. Mention example of any one type of flow from India and one from England. (Term-I 2013)
Answer:
(i) The first movement is the flow of trade of goods.
(ii) The second movement is the flow of people migrating in search of employment.
(iii) The third movement is the flow of capital in terms of short-term and long-term investments done overseas.
(iv) Flow of goods and capital was smoother than the flow of people. All three were benefitted by the exchange of ideas.
Examples:
India: Migration of indentured labourers; trade of cotton textile.
Europe: Selling of manufactured goods in India.
Q. How did the use of technology transform food availability in Europe? (Term-I 2012)
Answer:
(i) Faster railways, lighter wagons and larger ships helped food to reach more cheaply and quickly from far away farms to markets.
(ii) Earlier the animals were shipped live from America to Europe, many died on the way or became unfit to eat. Thus, meat became expensive.
(iii) Refrigerated ships: The animal could be slaughtered at the starting point of America, Australia or New Zealand and transported to Europe as frozen meat.
(iv) This reduced the shipping cost and lowered prices in Europe.
(v) The poor could add variety to their food and it improved their living condition.
Q. Define the term trade surplus. How was the income received from the trade surplus with India used by Britain? (Term-I 2013)
Answer:
Trade Surplus: It is a situation in which the total value of exports of a nation during the year exceeds the total value of imports.
(i) Over the 19th century, British manufacturers flooded the Indian market. Food grains and raw material exports from India to Britain and the rest of the world also increased.
(ii) Value of British exports to India were higher than imports from India.
(iii) Britain, thus had a trade surplus with India. Britain used this surplus to balance the trade deficit with other countries.
(iv) This is how a multilateral settlement system works that allows one country’s deficit with another country to be settled by its surplus with a third country.
(v) India played a crucial role in helping Britain to balance its deficits. Britain’s trade surplus in India helped paying the home charges that included private remittances by British officials and traders.
