Extra 20 long-answer questions from the chapter 4 "The Age of Industrialisation" for Class 10 CBSE History:
1-5: Pre-Industrialization and Early Industrial Growth
1. Describe the condition of industries before the Industrial Revolution.
Answer:
Before industrialization, production was based on
handicrafts and small-scale industries
.
Guilds
controlled trade, regulated quality, and fixed wages.
Most goods were made in
homes or small workshops
under the
putting-out system
.
Merchants supplied
raw materials
to artisans and collected finished goods for sale.
The demand for
mass production
was low, and markets were small.
2. Why did industrialization first begin in Britain?
Answer:
Abundant raw materials
like coal and iron, which powered machines.
Technological advancements
, such as the steam engine by
James Watt
.
Expansion of trade networks
with colonies providing raw materials and markets.
Strong banking system
for investment in industries.
Availability of
labour
due to agricultural changes and urban migration.
3. What were the major inventions of the Industrial Revolution?
Answer:
Spinning Jenny (James Hargreaves, 1764)
– Increased the speed of spinning cotton thread.
Flying Shuttle (John Kay, 1733)
– Made weaving faster.
Power Loom (Edmund Cartwright, 1787)
– Mechanized weaving on a large scale.
Steam Engine (James Watt, 1775)
– Provided efficient energy for factories and railways.
Railways and steamships
– Improved transport and trade.
4. How did industrialization change the social structure?
Answer:
Rise of factory owners (capitalists)
and decline of traditional artisans.
Growth of working-class people
in urban areas.
Increase in
women and child laborers
in factories.
Urbanization
, as people migrated to cities for jobs.
Wealth inequality
, as industrialists became rich while workers faced hardship.
5. What role did railways play in industrialization?
Answer:
Railways
connected raw material sources to factories
.
Helped in
faster movement of goods and people
.
Reduced transportation costs and
expanded markets
.
Enabled
mass production
by ensuring steady supply chains.
Led to the growth of
new industrial cities
along railway lines.
6-10: Industrialization and Its Impact on India
6. How did British industrialization impact Indian textile industries?
Answer:
Indian textiles declined
due to cheap British machine-made cloth.
Heavy taxes on Indian goods
but free entry of British textiles into India.
Indian weavers lost jobs as demand for
handmade cloth fell
.
Raw materials (cotton, indigo) were exported
to Britain, leaving little for local industries.
Indian textile mills grew slowly
due to lack of government support.
7. Why did Indian industries grow during World War I?
Answer:
British factories focused on war production
, reducing imports to India.
Indian industries expanded to meet the demand for
textiles, steel, and chemicals
.
Rise of new industrialists
like Tata and Birla.
Increase in
job opportunities in Indian factories
.
Strengthened India's
self-sufficiency in industrial production
.
8. What was the Swadeshi Movement? How did it help Indian industries?
Answer:
Launched in
1905
to
boycott British goods
and promote Indian products.
Increased
demand for Indian textiles, soap, and salt
.
Encouraged
Indian entrepreneurs
like Tata to invest in industry.
Boosted
self-reliance and industrial nationalism
.
Created awareness about
economic exploitation under British rule
.
9. What challenges did Indian industrialists face under British rule?
Answer:
British companies dominated key industries
like textiles and jute.
Indian businessmen lacked financial support
from British banks.
Import duties were high on Indian goods
, reducing competitiveness.
British monopolized shipping and railways
, making exports costly.
No government support
for Indian entrepreneurs.
10. How did Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) contribute to industrial growth?
Answer:
Established in
1907
by
Jamsetji
Tata
in Jamshedpur.
First major
Indian-owned steel factory
, reducing dependence on British steel.
Provided
employment to thousands of workers
.
Helped in
railway construction and military equipment
.
Paved the way for
India’s industrial self-sufficiency
.
11-15: Factory System and Labour Movements
11. What were the working conditions in early factories?
Answer:
Long working hours (12-14 hours/day)
.
Low wages
and job insecurity.
Poor sanitation
and unsafe working conditions.
No
labour
laws
, so workers had no rights.
Use of child and women
labour
at lower wages.
12. How did industrialization lead to urbanization?
Answer:
Factories needed workers, leading to
migration from villages to cities
.
Cities grew near
industrial
centres
like Bombay and Calcutta.
Increase in slums and poor living conditions
due to overpopulation.
Development of
railways, roads, and housing
in industrial areas.
Rise of a middle-class
of traders and managers.
13. What were the main demands of labour unions in the 19th century?
Answer:
Higher wages and shorter working hours
.
Better working conditions
(safety and hygiene).
End of child
labour
in factories.
Job security and fair treatment
.
Right to form trade unions
and protest.
14. What was the Factory Act of 1819?
Answer:
One of the first
labour
laws
in Britain.
Banned employment of children under 9 years
in factories.
Limited
working hours for children
to 12 hours/day.
Aimed to improve
working conditions
but was poorly enforced.
Later factory acts
provided stronger protections.
15. Why did industrialists prefer machines over hand labor?
Answer:
Machines
produced goods faster
and in larger quantities.
Reduced
dependency on skilled workers
.
Lowered
production costs
.
Ensured
uniform quality
of goods.
Allowed
factories to operate 24/7
.
16-20: Social and Economic Effects of Industrialization
16. How did industrialization impact the environment?
Answer:
Deforestation
for factory and railway expansion.
Air pollution
from coal-burning industries.
Water pollution
from chemical waste.
Overcrowding in cities
, leading to sanitation problems.
Loss of agricultural land
to industrial growth.
17. How did the middle class benefit from industrialization?
Answer:
New jobs in banking, trade, and management
.
Increased
wealth and social status
.
Education and literacy rates improved
.
More
political power and representation
.
Growth of a
consumer culture
due to mass production.
18. What was the impact of industrialization on artisans and craftsmen?
Answer:
Lost jobs as factories produced goods cheaply
.
Decline of
handloom and handicrafts
.
Many were forced to
work in factories
at low wages.
Shift from
rural cottage industries
to urban industries.
Increased poverty in
traditional craft villages
.
19. How did industrialization affect women workers?
Answer:
Increased
employment in textile and garment industries
.
Low wages and long working hours
.
Unsafe working conditions
in factories.
Restricted to low-skilled jobs
.
Few opportunities for
education and career growth
.
20. What were the major negative effects of industrialization?
Answer:
Exploitation of workers
(low wages, long hours).
Child
labour
in factories and mines.
Environmental pollution
increased.
Loss of traditional industries
.
Growth of slums and poor living conditions
in cities.
