Class 8 History whole syllabus important questions
How, When, and Where Extra Questions Chapter 1 Class 8 History
Chapter 1 How, When, and Where Very Short Answer Questions:
Answer
Lord Mountbatten
2. Who prepared the first map and when?
Answer
James Rennel in 1782.
3. Who was James Mill?
Answer
He was a Scottish economist and political philosopher who published A History of British India, a massive three-volume work.
4. How did Mills divide Indian History?
Answer
Mills divided Indian History into three periods: Hindu, Muslim, and British.
5. Why did the British establish botanical gardens?
Answer
To collect plant specimens and information about their uses.
6. Who was the first Governor General of India?
Answer
Warren Hastings.
7. Who wrote the book ‘The History of British India’?
Answer
‘The History of British India’ was written by James Mill.
8. Why did the British establish record rooms attached to all administrative institutions?
Answer
They did so to preserve important documents and letters there.
9. Why did the British establish botanical gardens?
Answer
The British established botanical gardens to collect plant specimens and information about their uses.
10. How do dates become important in history?
Answer
Dates become vital in history because we focus on a particular set of events as important.
11. Why do we divide history into different periods?
Answer
In an attempt to capture the characteristics of a time, its central features as they appear to us.
12. Why were revenue surveys conducted in the villages?
Answer
In the villages, revenue surveys were conducted to know the topography, the soil quality, the flora, the fauna, the local histories, and the cropping patterns. These facts were necessary to administer the region.
13. What is the Botanical Survey of India?
Answer
The Botanical Survey of India (1351) is an institution set up by the Government of India in 1890 to survey the plant resources of the Indian empire.
14. What was an important aspect of the histories written by the British historians in India?
Answer
The rule of each Governor-General was an important aspect of big events.
Chapter 1 How, When and Where Short Answer Questions (SAQs):
1. Why do we associate history with dates?
Answer
Because there was a time when history was an account of battles and big events.
• Historians wrote about the year a king was crowned, the year he married, the year he had a child, the year he fought a particular war, the year he died, and the year the next ruler succeeded to the throne.
• For these events specific dates can be determined, and dates continue to be important.
2. The periodization of Indian history into ‘ancient’, ‘medieval’, and ‘modern’ has its own problems. What are these problems?
Answer
• It is a periodization that is borrowed from the West where the modern period was associated with the growth of all the forces of modernity – science, reason, democracy, liberty, and equality.
• Medieval was a term used to describe a society where these features of modern society did not exist. Under British rule or in the modern period people did not have equality, freedom, or liberty. Nor was the period one of economic growth and progress. It is therefore many historians refer to Modem period as the colonial period.
3. What do official records not tell? How do we come to know about them?
Answer
Official records do not always help us understand what other people in the country felt, and what lay behind their actions.
• For that we have diaries of people, accounts of pilgrims and travelers, autobiographies of important personalities, and popular books, etc. that were sold in the local bazaars.
With the spread of the printing press, newspapers came to be published and issues began to be debated in public. Leaders and reformers wrote to spread their ideas, and poets and novelists wrote to express their feelings.
4. How did the British conquer India and establish their rule?
Answer
• The British subjugated local Nawabs and Rajas.
• They established control over the economy and society collected revenue to meet all their expenses, bought goods they wanted at lower prices, and produced crops they needed for export.
• They brought changes in rulers and tastes, customs, and practices.
5. What did the British do to preserve important official documents and letters?
Answer
The British felt the need to preserve all the important official documents and letters. For this, they set up record rooms attached to all administrative institutions. The village tahsildar’s office, the collectorate, the commissioner’s office, the provincial secretariats, the lawcourts—all had their record rooms. The British also established specialized institutions such as archives and museums to preserve important records.
Chapter 1 How, When, and Where Long Answer Questions:
1. Why were surveys carried out under the British Rule in India?
Answer
The British believed that a country had to be properly known before it could be effectively administered. Therefore, by the early nineteenth century, detailed surveys were being carried out to map the entire country.:
• They conducted revenue surveys in villages.
• They made efforts to know the topography, the soil quality, the flora, the fauna, the local histories, and the cropping pattern.
• They also introduced census operations, held at the interval of every ten years from the end of the 19th century. They prepared detailed records of the number of people in all the provinces of India, noting information on castes, religions, and occupations separately.
• The British also carried on several other surveys such as botanical surveys, zoological surveys, archaeological surveys, forest surveys, etc. In this way, they gathered all the facts that were essential for administering a country.
2. Describe how the official records of the British administration helped historians to write about the last 250 years of Indian history.
Answer
1)The British believed that the act of writing was important. Hence, they write up every instruction, plan, policy decision, agreement, investigation, etc. Once this was done, things could be properly studied and debated. This conviction produced an administrative culture of memos, notings, and reports.
2)They were very interested in preserving all important documents and letters. For this, they established record rooms attached to all administrative institutions such as the village tahsildar’s office, the collectorate, law courts, etc. They also set up archives and museums to preserve important records.
3)Letters and memos that moved from one branch of the administration to another in the early years of the nineteenth century can still be read in the archives. Historians can also take help from the notes and reports that district officials prepared or the instructions and directives that were sent by officials at the top to the provincial administrators.
From Trade to Territory Extra Questions Chapter 2 Class 8 History
Chapter 2 From Trade to Territory Class 8 History Extra Questions is available here and will help you understand the chapter completely and score good marks in the examinations. Extra Questions for Class 8 History in increasing concentration among students.
Chapter 2 From Trade to Territory Very Short Answer Questions (VSAQs):
1. Who was the last of the powerful Mughal rulers?
Answer
Aurangzeb
2. With what purpose did the British originally come to India?
Answer
Trading
3. Who was the ruler of England in 1600?
Answer
Queen Elizabeth I
4. Name a thing produced in India that had a big market in Europe.
Answer
Fine qualities of cotton and silk (Any One)
5. How did the royal charter empower the East India Company?
Answer
Through a royal charter, the East India Company gained sole trading rights with the East.
6. Why did the Battle of Plassey become famous?
Answer
It was the first major victory the Company won in India.
7. When did the British emerge on the political horizon of India?
Answer
By the second half of the 18th century
8. Who discovered the sea route to India and when?
Answer
Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, discovered the sea route to India in 1498 C.E.
9. When did Siraj-ud-Daulah become the Nawab of Bengal?
Answer
Siraj-ud-Daulah became the Nawab of Bengal in 1756 C.E., after the death of Alivardi Khan.
10. Why did the Company want a puppet ruler?
Answer
A puppet ruler would willingly give it trade concessions and other privileges.
11. Whom did the Company install in place of Mir Jafar?
Answer
The company installed Mir Qasim in place of Mir Jafar.
12. Who were called ‘nabobs’?
Answer
Several Company officials returned to Britain with wealth led flashy lives and showed their riches with great pride. They were called “nabobs’.
13. Why did Tipu Sultan develop a close relationship with the French in India?
Answer
He did so to modernize his army with their help.
14. What was the objective behind the Company’s new policy of ‘paramountcy ’?
Answer
The Company claimed that its authority was paramount or supreme and therefore its power was greater than that of Indian states.
15. What happened in the Battle of Seringapatam?
Answer
Tipu Sultan was killed defending his capital Seringapatam.
16. What was Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse?
Answer
If an Indian ruler died without a male heir his kingdom would become the part of Company territory.
17. What was the result of Rani Channamma’s anti-British resistance movement?
Answer
She was put in prison where she died.
18. Why was Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of India, tried after he returned to England?
Answer
He was tried for the misgovernance of Bengal.
Chapter 2 From Trade to Territory Short Answer Questions (SAQs):
1. What led to a fierce battle between the European trading companies?
Answer
• The competition for Indian silk, cotton, and spices among the European companies pushed up the prices at which goods could be purchased which led to a reduction in profit.
• They saw a way to increase profit by eliminating rival companies which led to a fierce battle between the trading companies.
• They regularly sank each other's ships, blocked routes, and prevented rival ships from moving with supplies of goods. Trading posts were also protected with arms and fortifications.
2. Give an account of different European trading companies besides the British East India Company that entered the Eastern markets.
Answer
Different European trading companies were:
• The Portuguese: By the time the first English ships sailed down the West coast of Africa, around the Cape of Good Hope, and crossed the Indian Ocean, the Portuguese had already established their presence on the western coast of India and had their base in Goa.
• The Dutch: By the early 17th century, the Dutch too were exploring the possibilities of trade in the Indian Ocean.
• The French: The French traders soon arrived on the scene for the same purpose.
3. What were the causes of conflict between Siraj-ud-Daulah and the British?
Answer
• The Company was not paying taxes.
• The Company officials were writing disrespectful letters to the Nawab.
• The British started deploying forces in Calcutta and despite the refusal of the Nawab to allow them to keep their forces there, the British did not withdraw them.
4. What was the Doctrine of Lapse? Which kingdoms did the Company annex by applying this Doctrine?
The Doctrine of Lapse was the culmination of the Company’s territorial expansion policy. It was implemented by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856. According to the
doctrine if an Indian ruler died without a male heir his kingdom would ‘lapse’, that is, become a part of Company territory. Several kingdoms were annexed by applying this doctrine - Satara, Sambalpur, Udaipur, Nagpur, Jhansi and Awadh.
5. How did the assumption of Diwani prove advantageous for the East India Company?
Answer
The assumption of Diwani was advantageous for the East India Company in many ways. The Diwani allowed the Company to use the vast revenue resources of Bengal. This solved a major problem that the Company had earlier faced. Its trade with India had expanded no doubt but it had to pay most of the
goods in India with gold and silver imported from Britain. The auto flow of these costly metals from Britain stopped after the assumption that Diwani now revenues from India could finance company expenses. These revenues could be used to purchase cotton and silk textiles in India, maintain Company books, and meet the cost of building the Company fort and offices at Calcutta.
6. Why was the East India Company worried about Russia in the late 1830s? What did the
Answer
In the late 1830s, the East India Company became worried about Russia. It was feared that Russia might expand across India and enter India from the north-west. Hence, the British now wanted to secure their control over the north-west. They fought a prolonged war with Afghanistan between 1838 and 1842 and established an indirect Company ruler there. Sind was taken over in 1843. However, it took some time to take over Punjab because of the resistance put by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. But after his death, it was annexed in 1849.
7. Give a brief description of all the three Anglo-Maratha wars. Also, write the main consequences.
Answer
The Company waged a series of wars against the Marathas to crush Maratha power:
• In the first war there was no clear victor, hence it ended in 1782 with the Treaty of Salbai.
• The second Anglo-Maratha War began in 1803 and ended in 1805. This war was fought on different fronts resulting in the British gaining Orissa and the territories north of the Yamuna river including Agra and Delhi.
• The third Anglo-Maratha War of 1817-1819 crushed Maratha power. The Peshwa was removed. The Company now had complete control over the territories south of the Vindhyas.
8. Write a brief note on Tipu Sultan.
Answer
Tipu Sultan was the famous ruler of Mysore. He ruled Mysore from 1782 to 1799. Under his leadership, Mysore became very powerful. It controlled the profitable trade of the Malabar coast where the Company purchased pepper and cardamom. In 1785 Tipu Sultan stopped the export of these items through the ports of his kingdom and disallowed local merchants from trading with the Company. He also developed a relationship with the French in India to modernize his army with their help. The British got furious. They waged four battles against Tipu Sultan. The last battle proved unfortunate for him. He was killed defending his capital Seringapatam. The way he resisted the British is undoubtedly praiseworthy.
Chapter 2 From Trade to Territory Long Answer Questions (LAQs):
1. How did the East India Company begin trade in Bengal?
Answer
• The East India Company set up the first English factory on the banks of the river Hugli in the year 1651 which became the base from which the Company’s traders, known at that time as ‘factors’, operated.
• The factory had a warehouse where goods for export were stored and it had offices where Company officials set. As trade expanded, the Company persuaded merchants and traders to come and settle near the factory.
• By 1696 the Company began to build a fort around the settlement. Two years later it bribed Mughal officials into giving the Company zamindari rights over three villages. One of these was Kalikata which later developed into a city, known as Calcutta.
• The Company also persuaded the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb to issue a farman granting the Company the right to trade duty-free.
• The Company tried continuously to press for more concessions and manipulate existing privileges.
2. Why was the Battle of Plassey fought? What was its result?
Answer
The Battle of Plassey was fought when the conflicts between the Bengal Nawabs and the Company intensified. The Company did not like Sirajuddaulah because he was a strong nawab of Bengal. It wanted a prepped ruler in his place who would willingly give trade concessions and other privileges. For this purpose the Company tried to help one of Sirajuddaulah’s rivals become the nawab. This infuriated Sirajuddaulah. He asked the Company to stop meddling in the political affairs of his dominion, stop fortifications, and pay the revenues. When the Company refused to do so the Nawab market with 30,000 soldiers to the English factory at Kasimbazar, captured the Company officials, and
locked the warehouse. Then he marched to Calcutta where he was interrupted by the Company officials.
Finally, in 1757, Robert Clive led the Company’s army against Sirajuddaulah at Plassey, known as the Battle of Plassey. Sirajuddaulah could not manage to win this battle because one of his commanders, Mir Zafar supported Robert Clive by not fighting the battle. The victory of the Company in the Battle of Plassey strengthened its roots in the Indian soil. It was the first major victory the Company won in the country.
3. How did the Company expand its rule in India after the famous Battle of Buxar?
Answer
The East India Company crossed all limits in the process of annexation of Indian states that began in 1757 and continued till 1857. The Company rarely launched a direct military attack on an unknown territory. Instead, it used a variety of political, economic, and diplomatic methods to extend its influence before annexing an Indian kingdom:
• The Company appointed Residents in Indian states after the Battle of Buxar in 1764. Through the Residents, the Company officials began interfering in the internal affairs of Indian states. The Company forced the states into a ‘subsidiary alliance’ under which Indian rulers were not allowed to have their independent armed forces. They were to be protected by the Company but had to pay for the subsidiary forces. If the Indian rulers failed to make to payment, then part of their territory was taken away as a penalty. Awadh and Hyderabad were forced to code territories on this ground.
• Under the policy of ‘paramountcy’ the Company claimed that its authority was supreme and therefore its power was greater than that of Indian states. To protect its interests it was justified in annexing Indian states.
• Then there was the Doctrine of Lapse which declared that if an Indian ruler died without a male heir his kingdom would lapse that is, become part of Company territory. Satara, Sambalpur, Udaipur, Nagpur, Jhansi, and Awadh were annexed under this policy.
Ruling the Countryside Extra Questions Chapter 3 Class 8 History
Chapter 3 Ruling the Countryside Class 8 History Extra Questions which is very useful in grasping important points inside the chapter properly. Extra Questions for Class 8 will help answer the difficult questions with ease.
Chapter 3 Ruling the Countryside Very Short Answer Questions (VSAQs):
1. When was the East India Company appointed as the Diwan of Bengal?
Answer
On 12th August 1765, the East India Company was appointed as the Diwan of Bengal.
2. When did Bengal face a severe famine and how many people were killed in it?
Answer
A terrible famine occurred in Bengal in 1770 and around 10 million people were killed.
3. Who were made the owners of land in Permanent Settlement?
Answer
The rajas and taluqdars were recognized as zamindars and they were made the owners of the land.
4. Name the Governor-General of India when the Permanent Settlement was introduced.
Answer
Charles Cornwallis.
5. What did the Permanent Settlement actually mean?
Answer
The amount of revenue the peasants were expected to pay was fixed permanently, that is, it was not to be increased ever in the future.
6. What was the advantage of Permanent Settlement to the Company?
Answer
As a result of the Permanent Settlement, the Company was assured of a fixed and regular income.
7. Who introduced the mahalwari system and where?
Answer
An Englishman named Holt Mackenzie devised the mahalwari system in the north-western provinces of the Bengal Presidency in 1822 CE.
8. What was the unit of measurement in the malware system?
Answer
The mahal or village was the unit in the mahalwari system.
9. Who was to pay revenue in the mahalwari system?
Answer
It was decided that the village would pay the revenue in the mahalwari system.
10. How did the Diwani of Bengal empower the Company?
Answer
As Diwan, the Company became the chief financial administrator of the territory under its control. Now it could administer the land and organize its revenue resources.
11. What did the woad producers in Europe want their government to do? Why?
Answer
The woad producers wanted their government to ban the import of indigo because they were worried about the competition from indigo.
12. Why did cloth dyers prefer indigo as a dye?
Answer
Indigo produced a rich blue color whereas the dye from Woad was pale and dull.
Chapter 3 Ruling the Countryside Short Answer Questions (SAQs):
1. How did the responsibility of the Company change as the Diwan of Bengal?
Answer
• When the Company got Diwani rights of Bengal, it became the chief financial administrator of the areas under its control.
• Now, the Company has to manage and organize revenue resources.
• The Company was also responsible for the administration of its territory. It had to yield enough revenue to meet the increasing expenses.
2. How did the Bengal economy fall into a deep crisis?
Answer
• After the Company became the Diwan of Bengal it began its efforts to increase the revenue as much as it could and buy fine cotton and silk cloth as cheaply as possible.
• Within five years the value of goods bought by the Company in Bengal doubled. Before 1765, the Company had purchased goods in India by importing gold and silver from Britain.
• Now the revenue collected in Bengal could finance the purchase of goods for export. This caused a huge loss of revenue for Bengal which paralyzed its economy.
3. What did the Company officials learn from their past experiences as administrators?
Answer
• As administrators, the Company officials learned a lot from their past experiences. The officials had to move with great caution since they represented an alien or foreign power.
• They had to pacify the local people who had ruled the countryside and wielded extensive power in the society.
• The Company officials knew well that these local rulers could only be controlled, and not entirely eliminated.
4. What were the consequences of the economic crisis that gripped Bengal?
Answer
• Artisans began to leave villages since they were being forced to sell their goods to the Company at low prices.
• Peasants were unable to pay the dues that were being demanded from them.
• Artisanal production was in decline and agricultural cultivation showed signs of collapse.
• The most terrible consequence came to be seen in 1770 when a terrible famine hit Bengal killing ten million people. About one-third of the population was wiped out.
5. How was indigo cultivated under the Ryoti system?
Answer
Under the ryoti system, the planters forced the ryots to sign a contract, known as satta. At times they pressured the village headmen to sign the contract and got cash advances from the planters at low rates of interest to produce indigo. But the loan committed the ryot to cultivate indigo on at least 25 percent of the area under his holding. The planters provided the seed, and the drill, while the cultivators prepared the soil, sowed the seed, and looked after the crop. After the harvest, the crop was delivered to the planters.
6. Why did the demand for Indian indigo increase in late-eighteenth-century Britain?
Answer
Britain began to industrialize by the end of the eighteenth century. As a result, its cotton production expanded dramatically. This created an enormous new demand for cloth dyes. While the demand for indigo increased, its existing supplies from the West Indies and America collapsed for several reasons. Between 1783 and 1789 the production of indigo in the world fell by half. Cloth dyers in Britain now desperately looked for new sources of indigo supply.
Chapter 3 Ruling the Countryside Long Answer Questions (LAQs):
1. Explain in brief the Permanent Settlement, the Ryotwari system, and the Mahalwari system.
Answer
(i) Permanent Settlement
• Permanent Settlement is a system of revenue collection that was introduced in the provinces of Bengal and Bihar by Lord Cornwallis in 1793.
• The entire work of revenue collection was assigned to zamindars, who were given hereditary rights over the land on the condition that they would pay a fixed amount of revenue to the government every year.
(ii) Ryotwari system
• This system of land revenue collection was introduced by the British in the Madras and Bombay Presidencies.
• The government made settlements with farmers for a specific period of about 30 years.
• The farmer had to pay 50% of their production to the government every year. The settlement could be revised after the stipulated period.
(iii) Mahalwari system
• Holt Mackenzie, an Englishman, introduced a new system of mahalwari in 1822.
• In this system, the revenue collectors went from village to village inspecting and measuring the land and recording the customs and rights of different groups. The estimated revenue was calculated for each village. This demand was not fixed and could be revised.
• The village headman, and not the zamindar, was given the charge of collecting revenue and depositing it to the Company.
2. Describe the processes involved in indigo production.
Answer
Indigo production involves the following processes:
• After harvest, the indigo plant was taken to the vats (a fermenting or storage vessel) in the indigo factory. Three or four vats were needed to manufacture the dye.
• Each vat had a separate function. The leaves stripped off the indigo plant were first soaked in warm water in a vat known as the fermenting vat for several hours.
• When the plant fermented, the liquid began to boil and bubble. Now the rotten leaves were taken out and the liquid drained into another vat that was placed just below the first vat.
• In the second vat, known as the beater vat, the solution was continuously stirred and beaten with paddles. When the liquid gradually turned green and then blue, lime water was added to the vat.
• Gradually the indigo separated out in flakes, a muddy sediment settled at the bottom of the vat and clear liquid rose to the surface. The liquid was drained off and the sediment i.e. the indigo pulp transferred to another vat, known as the settling vat, and then pressed and dried for sale.
CHAPTER 4 is not more important
Chapter 4 When People Rebel Extra Questions for Class 8 History is very helpful in encouraging students to learn new topics and understanding important points. Class 8 Extra Questions will guide student in a better way and improving the learning behaviour of the students.
Chapter 5 When People Rebel Very Short Answer Questions (VSAQs):
1. Under what pretext did Governor-General Dalhousie take over Awadh?
Answer
He took over Awadh under the pretext of misgovernment.
2. What was the first step taken by the Company towards ending the Mughal dynasty?
Answer
The name of the Mughal king was removed from the coins minted by the Company.
3. What was the plea of Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao-II?
Answer
Nana Saheb pleaded that he be given his father’s pension when the latter died.
4. What did the ageing Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar do after he was declared the leader of the rebels?
Answer
He wrote letters to all the chiefs and rulers of the country to come forward and organise a confederacy of Indian states to fight the British.
5. Who was Bakht Khan?
Answer
Bakht Khan was a soldier from Bareilly. He took charge of a large force of fighters who came to Delhi.
6. Who was Tantia Tope?
Answer
Tantia Tope was the General of Nana Saheb.
7. Who was Ahmadullah Shah? What was his prophecy?
Answer
Ahmadullah Shah was a maulvi from Faizabad. His prophecy was that the rule of the British would soon come to an end.
8. Why were the powers of the East India Company transferred to the British Crown?
Answer
The powers of the East India Company were transferred to the British Crown in order to ensure a more responsible management of Indian affairs.
9. When did the British recapture Delhi?
Answer
The British recaptured Delhi in September 1857.
10. What rumour spread among the sepoys of the Meerut regiment about the new cartridges?
Answer
The rumour spread that the new cartridges were coated with the fat of cows and pigs.
11. Why did the British treat Muslims with suspicion and hostility?
Answer
The British believed that Muslims were responsible for the rebellion in a big way.
12. What was the first step that the Company took to bring an end the Mughal dynasty?
Answer
The name of the Mughal king was removed from coins minted by the Company.
Chapter 5 When People Rebel Short Answer Questions (SAQs):
1. What reforms did the British introduce in the Indian society? How did the people of India respond to them?
Answer
The British introduced several reforms:
• They passed laws to stop the practice of sati and to encourage the remarriage of widows.
• They promoted English language education.
• In 1850, the Company passed a new law that made the conversion to Christianity easier.
Many Indians began to feel that the British were destroying their religion, their social customs and their traditional way of life. But at the same time there were other Indians who readily accepted the reforms introduced by the British. In fact, they wanted to change existing social practices.
2. How did the Company plan to bring an end to the Mughal dynasty?
Answer
• First of all the name of the Mughal king was removed from the coins minted by the Company.
• In 1849, Governor-General Dalhousie announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place in Delhi to live in.
• In 1856, Governor-General “Canning decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal king and after his death his descendants would be known as princes.
3. How did the British try to win back the loyalty of the people after they recaptured Delhi?
Answer
• The British announced rewards for loyal landholders by allowing them to continue to enjoy traditional rights over their lands.
• Those who had rebelled were told that if they submitted to the British and if they had not killed any white people, they would remain safe and their rights and claims to land would not be denied.
4. Why were the Indian sepoys in the employ of the Company discontented? Give sufficient reasons.
Answer
Reasons for discontentment among Indian sepoys:
• The Indian sepoys were given poor salaries and allowances.
• The conditions of service also made them unhappy.
• Some of the new rules even violated their religious sentiments and beliefs.
• Those were the days when many people in the country believed that if they crossed the sea they would lose their religion and caste. So when in 1824 the sepoys were told to go to Burma by the sea route to fight for the Company, they refused to follow this order. As a result they were given severe punishment. In 1856, the Company passed a new law which stated that every new person who took up employment in the Company’s army had to agree to serve overseas if required.
5. What did the Company do to bring the Mughal dynasty to an end?
Answer
The Company did not want tob continue the Mughal dynasty any more. For this it made a cautions plan which it executed by one. First of all the name of the Mughal king was removed from the coins minted by the Company. In 1849, Governor-General Dalhousie announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place in Delhi to reside in. In 1856, Governor- General Canning decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal king and after this death none of his descendants would be recognised as kings. Instead they would be called princes.
6. How did the ruling families try to protect their interest?
Answer
Since the mid-eighteenth century, nawabs and rajas had seen their power and influence wear away gradually. They had gradually lost their authority and honour. Hence, many ruling families tried to negotiate with the Company to protect their interests so that they could enjoy their influence to a considerable extent. For example, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi wanted the Company to recognise her adopted son as the heir to the kingdom after the death of her husband. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, pleaded that he be given his father’s pension when the latter died. But the Company turned away these pleas.
7. What did the British do to win back the loyalty of the Indian after the defeat of rebel forces?
Answer
The British tried their best to win back the loyalty of the people of India. They announced rewards for loyal landholders by allowing them to continue to enjoy traditional rights over their lands. Those who had rebelled were told that if they submitted to the British, and if they had not killed any white people, they would remain safe and their rights and claims to land would not be denied.
8. How did the British deal with the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar during the last years of his life?
Answer
The British recaptured Delhi from the rebel forces in September 1859. Just after that they turned their eyes to Bahadur Shah Zafar. He was tried in court and sentenced to life imprisonment. He and his wife Begum Zinat Mahal were sent to prison in Rangoon in October 1858. Bahadur Shah Zafar died in the Rangoon jail in November 1862. Thus, the last years of his life were very pathetic because the British dealt with him so ruthlessly.
Chapter 5 When People Rebel Long Answer Questions (LAQs):
1. How did the British succeed in securing the submission of the rebel landowners of Awadh?
Answer
The British had to face defeat in several battles during their revolt. This caused a number of uprisings against the British in various states of India.
• One such rebellion occurred in the region of Awadh. The villagers took to arms and the landlords led them. But unfortunately, they were defeated by the British forces. The defeat of the rebel forces encouraged the British.
• They applied two major methods to suppress the rebellion. First of all, they tried and hanged a large number of rebel leaders who had dared to challenge their authority. But at the same time they showed a little bit soft altitude to those landholders who were loyal to them during the revolt.
• They announced rewards for them by allowing them to continue to enjoy traditional rights over their lands. Those who had killed any white people, they would remain safe and their rights and claims to land would not be denied.
2. How did the rebellion spread to other regions of the country?
Answer
The position of the British became very weak in Delhi and they were almost defeated by the rebel force. Therefore, there was no uprising for almost a week. Afterwards a spurt of mutinies began in several parts of India.
• Regiment after regiment mutinied and took to join otlter troops at nodal points like Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow. After them, the people of the towns and villages also” rose up in rebellion. They rallied around local leaders, zamindars and chiefs who were prepared to establish their authority and fight the British.
• Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the late Peshwa Baji Rao who lived near Kanpur, gathered armed forces and expelled the British Garrison from the city. He proclaimed himself Peshwa. He delcared that he was a Governor under emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. In Lucknow, Birjis Qadr, the son of the deposed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was proclaimed the new Nawab. He too acknowledged the suzerainty of Bahadur Shah Zafar.
• In Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai joined the rebel sepoys and fought the British along with Tantia Tope, the General of Nana Saheb.
• A situation of widespread rebellion also developed in the region of Awadh. Many new leaders also came up and joined the revolt. Ahmadullah Shah, a maulvi from Faizabad, raised a large force of supporters. He came to Lucknow to fight the British.
• In Delhi, a large number of religious warriors came together to wipe out the white people. Bakht Khan, a soldier from Bareilly, took charge of a large force of fighters who came to Delhi. In Bihar, an old zamindar, Kunwar Singh, joined the rebel sepoys and battled with the British for several months.
3. What were the consequences of the Revolt of 1857?
Answer
After the end of the popular rebellion of 1857, the British introduced some important changes in their policies. These changes were:
• The British Parliament passed a new Act in 1858 and transferred the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown in order to ensure a more responsible management of Indian affairs.
• The Governor-General of India was given the title of viceroy, that is, personal representative of the crown.
• All ruling chiefs of the country were assured that their territory would never be annexed in future. They were allowed to pass on their kingdoms to their heirs, including adopted sons.
• It was decided that the proportion of Indian soldiers in the army would be reduced and the number of European soldiers would be increased.
• The land property of Muslims was confiscated on large scale because the British held them responsible for the rebellion.
• The customary religions and social practices of the people of India were given due respect.
• Policies were made to protect landlords and zamindars and give them security of rights over their lands
Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners Extra Questions Chapter 6 Class 8 History
Chapter 6 Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners Chapter Class 8 History Extra Questions that is very helpful in passing exams with flying colours and grasping the concepts properly. Extra Questions for Class 8 will give good experience and provide opportunities to learn new things.
Chapter 6 Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners Very Short Answer Questions (VSAQs):
1. Name the country where Patola was highly valued?
Answer
Indonesia.
2. What was Dacca famous for in the eighteenth century?
Answer
Mulmul and jamdani weaving.
3. During which period patola weaving was famous?
Answer
It was famous during the mid-19th century.
4. Name two places where chintz were produced during the mid-19th century.
Answer
Masulipatnam and Andhra Pradesh.
5. Name the origin of the word calico.
Answer
Calicut.
6. Give reasons why Indian textiles were renowned all over the world.
Answer
Their fine quality and beautiful craftsmanship made them renowned all over the world.
7. Why were bellows used?
Answer
Bellows were used to keep the charcoal burning.
8. How did Indian cotton factories prove to be helpful during the First World War?
Answer
They began to produce cloth for military supplies.
9. What became a symbol of nationalism?
Answer
Khadi became a symbol of nationalism.
10. How did European trading companies purchase cotton and silk textiles in India?
Answer
European trading companies purchased cotton and silk textiles in India by importing silver.
11. What were piece goods?
Answer
Piece goods were usually woven cloth pieces that were 20 yards long and 1 yard wide.
12. Why did the British government enact the Calico Art?
Answer
The British government enacted the Calico Act to ban the use of printed cotton textiles i.e., chintz.
13. Who were Agarias?
Answer
The Agarias are a community of iron smelters living in villages in Central India.
14. What is spinning jenny?
Answer
Spinning jenny is a machine by which a single worker could operate several spindles on to which thread was spun.
15. What were the furnaces made of?
Answer
The furnaces were made of clay and sun-dried bricks.
16. How did Indian cotton factories prove to be helpful during the First World War?
Answer
They began to produce cloth for military supplies.
Chapter 6 Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners Short Answer Questions (SAQs):
1. Who were the weavers? Mention the names of the communities famous for weaving.
Answer
Weavers belonged to communities that specialised in weaving. Weaving is a method of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. Their skills were passed on from one generation to the next. Some of the communities famous for weaving are the tanti weavers of Bengal, the julahas or momin weavers of north India, sale and kaikollar and devangs of south India.
2. Give a description of the four regions where textile production was concentrated in the early 19th century.
Answer
Textile production was concentrated in the following four regions in the early 19th century:
• Bengal was one of the most important centres. Located along the numerous rivers in the delta, the production centres in Bengal could easily transport goods to distant places.
• Dacca in Eastern Bengal, present- day Bangladesh, was the foremost textile centre in the 18th century. It was famous for its mulmut and jamdani weaving.
• Textile production was concentrated along the Coromandal coast stretching from Madras to nothem Andhra Pradesh.
• On the western coast there were important weaving centres in Gujarat.
3. How did the inventions of Spinning Jenny and Steam Engine revolutionise cotton textile weaving in England?
Answr
Textile industries had just emerged in England in the early 18th century. So, it was difficult for the English producers to compete with Indian textiles. This competition with Indian textiles led to a search for technological innovation in England. In 1764, the Spinning Jenny was invented by John Kaye which increased the productivity of the traditional spindles. Then came the steam engine. It was invented by Richard Arkwright in 1786. These two inventions revolutionised cotton textile weaving in England. Cloth could now be woven in immense quantities and cheaply too.
4. What was Wootz Steel? How was it produced?
Answer
Wootz was a special type of high carbon steel. It was produced all over south India.
• Wootz steel when made into swords produced a very sharp edge with a flowing water pattern. This pattern came from very small carbon crystal embedded in the iron.
• Wootz steel was produced in many hundreds of smelting furnaces in Mysore. In these furnaces, iron was mixed with charcoal and put inside small clay pots. Through an intricate control of temperatures the smelters produced steel ignots that were used for sword making not just India but in West and Central Asia too.
5. Give a brief description of growth of cotton mills in India.
Answer
The first cotton mill in India was set up as a spinning mill in Bombay in 1854. By 1900, over 84 mills started operating in Bombay.
Mills were set up in other cities too. The first mill in Ahmedabad was started in 1861. A year later a mill was established in Kanpur, in the United Provinces. Growth of cotton mills led to a demand for labour. As a result, thousands of poor peasants, artisans and agricultural labourers moved to cities to work in the mills.
6. Describe the process of cloth making.
Answer
The process of cloth making consists of two stages:
• The first stage of production was spinning, Le. work done mostly by women. The charkha and the takli were household spinning instruments. The thread was spun on the charkha and rolled on the takli
• When the spinning was over the thread was woven into cloth by the weaver.
In most communities weaving was a task done by men. For coloured textiles, the thread was dyed by the dyer, called rangrez. For painted cloth the weavers needed the help of specialist block printers called chhipigars.
7. What problems did the Indian textile industry face in the first few decades of its existence? What happened after that?
Answer
The textile factory industry in Indian faced several problems in the first few decades of its existence. It found it difficult to compete with the cheap textiles imported from Britain. In most countries, governments supported industrialisation by imposing heavy duties on import. This eliminated competition and protected infant industries. The colonial government of India usually refused such protection to local industries. However, cotton factory production in India increased suddenly during the First World War. This was the period when textile imports from Britain declined and Indian factories were called upon to produce cloth for military supplies.
8. In what way did the development of cotton industries in Britain affect textile producers in India?
Answer
Indian textiles were famous all over the world for their fine quality and exquisite craftsmanship. But the development of cotton industries in Britain marred their fame. Textile producers in India got affected due to this in the following ways:
• Indian textiles now had to compete with British textiles in the European and American markets.
• Exporting textiles to England also became increasingly difficult since very high duties were imposed on Indian textiles imported into Britain. By the beginning of the nineteenth century, English made cotton textiles successfully ousted Indian goods from their traditional markets in Africa, America and Europe.
Chapter 6 Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners Long Answer Questions (LAQs):
1. How did Iron and Steel factories come up in India?
Answer
Jamsetji Tata had decided to spend a large part of his fortune to build a big iron and steel industry in India. But this could not be done without identifying the sources of fine quality iron ore. For this reason his son, Dorabji Tata along with Charles Weld, an American geologist, began travelling in Chhattisgarh in search of iron ore deposits. It was the year 1904.One day, after travelling for many hours in the forests, Weld and Dorabji came upon a small village where they met the Agarias, who were carrying basket loads of iron ore. When asked where they had found the iron ore, the Agarias pointed to hill in the distance, Weld and Dorabji rushed to the hill. On exploring the hill the geologist declared that they had at last found what they had been looking for.
But there was a problem. The region was dry and the Tatas had to search for a more suitable place to set up their factory.
A few years later a large area of forest was cleared on the banks of the river Subarnarekha to set up the factory and an industrial township, i.e. Jamshedpur. Here, there was water near iron ore deposits. The Tata Iron and Steel Company, popularly known as TISCO began producing steel in 1912.
2. Describe how the Indian iton smelting industry declined in the nineteenth century.
Answer
There were several reasons behind this:
• The new forest laws introduced by the colonial government in India prevented people from entering the reserved forests. This created problems for the iron smelters. It became difficult for them to find wood for charcoal and iron ore. As a result, many gave up their craft and looked for other means of livelihood.
• In some areas the government did grant access to the forest. But the iron smelters had to pay a very high tax to the forest department for every furnace they used. This reduced their income.
• By the late nineteenth century iron and steel was being imported from Britain. Ironsmiths in India began using the imported iron to manufacture utensils and implements. This lowered the demand for iron produced by local smelters.
• By the early twentieth century, the artisans producing iron and steel faced a new competition that came up with the emergence of iron and steel industries in India.
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