Q1. Describe the condition of the workers in the 19th century in England. Q2. Mention any three functions of gomasthas. Q3. Explain the role played by advertisements in creating new consumers for the British products. Q4. Why did the East India Company appoint gomasthas? Give three reasons. Q5. Who were the jobbers? Explain their main functions.
Answers
Ans 1 : (I) Seasonal work : In most of the industries, the demand for labour was seasonal. The actual possibility of getting a job depending on existing networks of friendship and kin relations.
(ii) Low wages : The workers were getting very low wages. At the best of times till the mid nineteenth century, about 10% of the population was extremely poor.
(iii) Women workers : Factories employed large number of women. With technological development women gradually lost their industrial jobs.
(iv) Problem of housing : Most of the workers were living in slums. Factory or workshop owners did not house the migrant workers.
(v) Source of Fun and leisure : For the poor workers the streets often were the only place for rest, leisure and fun. The working poor created spaces of entertainment wherever they lived.
Ans 2 : (I) They supervised the weavers.
(ii) They collect supplies from them.
(iii) They act as a mediator between the weavers and the britishers.