Notes on Peasants and Farmers | MCQs & Q&A

Multiple Choice Questions of Peasants and Farmers (MCQs)

Notes on Peasants and Farmers

1. Captain Swing was a
(a) farmer
(b) army chief
(c) mythical name
(d) labourer

2. Agricultural Revolution first occurred in
(a) England
(b) France
(c) USA
(d) India


3. Before late 18th century English countryside was
(a) open fields
(b) enclosed
(c) partitioned
(d) common land

4. Which of the following was not a feature of strip cultivation?
(a) Cultivable land around villages was divided into strips.
(b) Beginning of each year villagers were allocated a number of strips to cultivate.
(c) Strips were a mix of good and bad land.
(d) Common land was divided into strips.

5. Strip cultivation was practiced by
(a) peasants in England
(b) tribals
(c) nomadic pastoralists
(d) shifting cultivators

6. Which of the following was not a feature of Common Land?
(a) All villagers had access to the commons
(b) Commons helped sustain the meagre income of the poor
(c) Here the poor fished in ponds, collected fuel, food and fodder
(d) Villagers cultivated land and shared the produce

7. 16th century enclosures were driven by
(a) land grab
(b) parliamentary legislation
(c) desire to increase grain production
(d) to improve breeding and expand wool production

8. Unlike 16th century enclosures those in the 18th century were undertaken to
(a) increase grain production
(b) created by individuals
(c) lacked state support
(d) result of pressure from landowners

9. Factor in increased food grain production in post-1780 Britain was
(a) radical innovations in technology
(b) population expansion
(c) urbanisation
(d) simple innovations and new lands under cultivation

10. Cultivation of which crops improved fertility of soil
(a) wheat and maize
(b) fodder crops
(c) turnip and potatoes
(d) turnip and clover

11. Due to enclosures
(a) poor lost their customary rights
(b) demand for agricultural labourers decreased
(c) poor found gainful employment
(d) work and income became stable

12. Who amongst the following gained most from enclosures?
(a) Rich landowners
(b) Traders
(c) State
(d) The poor

13. Which of the following was a important factor in farmers investing in threshing machines?
(a) Labour shortage
(b) Insolence of labourers
(c) High wages demanded by labour
(d) To reduce dependence on labour

14. To which of the following is Agrarian expansion in the USA closely connected?
(а) American War of Independence (1775-1783)
(b) Slave trade
(c) Westward movement
(d) Fertility of the soil

15. Which of the following was not a factor in America being a land of promise?
(а) Wildness could be turned into cultivated fields
(b) Forest timber exploited for export
(c) Animals hunted for skin and mountains mined for gold and minerals
(d) American-Indians could be used as labour

16. During which of the following period did dramatic expansion of wheat production take place in the USA?
(a) 1775-1830
(b) 1830-1850
(c) 1850-1910
(d) 1910-1920

17. Who of the following said these words "Plant more wheat, wheat will win the war"?
(a) President Thomas Jefferson
(b) President Rousavelt
(c) President George Bush
(d) President Wilson

18. For poorer farmers machines brought misery because of
(a) displacement
(b) banks refused loans
(c) banks gave loans
(d) indebtedness

19. Why in the 1930's America's dream of land of plenty turned into a nightmare?
(a) Because unsold stocks piled up
(b) Wheat prices fell rapidly after World War I
(c) Collapse of exports
(d) Terrifying dust storms

20. Two major commercial crops of early 19th century India
(a) indigo and opium
(b) tea and coffee
(c) rubber and cotton
(d) sugarcane and jute

21. Opium production in India was linked with British trade in
(a) France
(b) Africa
(c) Middle east
(d) China

22. Opium in early 16th century China was introduced by
(a) the Dutch
(b) the British
(c) the Protuguese
(d) the French

23. In the mid-18th century trade in opium with China was
(a) legal
(b) illegal
(c) permit based
(d) sanctioned by the English Parliament

24. The first Opium War took place between
(a) China and France (1837-1842)
(b) Britain and China (1837-1842)
(c) China and European powers (1837-1842)
(d) Britain and China (1817-1837)

25. In India the British encouraged cultivation of opium in
(a) Central India
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Bengal
(d) Madras

26. Indian farmer was goaded into cultivation of opium by
(a) promise of high prices
(b) system of advances
(c) the village headman
(d) revenue concessions

27. What was a factor in British confiscation of opium produced in Central India and Rajasthan?
(a) In order to retain British government's monopoly rights to trade in opium
(b) Opium produced was of inferior quality
(c) Many cultivators sold off their crop to local traders
(d) Peasants refused to sell after taking advances.

ANSWERS of the MCQs of Peasants and Farmers

1. (c) mythical name
2. (a) England
3. (a) open fields
4. (d) Common land was divided into strips.
5. (a) peasants in England
6. (d) Villagers cultivated land and shared the produce
7. (d) to improve breeding and expand wool production
8. (a) increase grain production
9. (d) simple innovations and new lands under cultivation
10. (d) turnip and clover
11. (a) poor lost their customary rights
12. (a) Rich landowners
13.(d) To reduce dependence on labour
14. (c) Westward movement
15. (d) American-Indians could be used as labour
16. (d) 1910-1920
17. (d) President Wilson
18. (d) indebtedness
19. (d) Terrifying dust storms
20. (a) indigo and opium
21. (d) China
22. (c) the Protuguese
23. (b) illegal
24. (b) Britain and China (1837-1842)
25. (c) Bengal
26. (b) system of advances
27. (a) In order to retain British government's monopoly rights to trade in opium

Short Questions and Answers on Peasants and Farmers of Medieval Times

1. What is meant by the term British Agricultural Revolution?
Ans: The term British Agricultural Revolution describes a period of agricultural developments in Britain between 16th century and mid 18th century which saw a massive increase in agricultural production and net output.

2. Despite availability of labour, why did farmers invest in threshing machines?
Ans: Rich farmers invested in threshing machines because

(i) They feared shortage of labour due to Napoleonic.
(ii) Moreover they felt that the available labour was and prone to drinking.
(iii) To reduce dependence on labour and increase efficiency.

3. Why and how were the Native Americans driven westwards?
Ans: The white settlers moved westwards as this area held a lot of promise. Forests could be cut to provide land for cultivation, animals hunted for their skin; and mountains mined for their minerals. .
To evacuate Native Americans numerous wars were fought, in which Indians were massacred and their villages burnt. Ultimately they were forced to sign treaties and give up their land.

4. Give any two reasons for the increase in food production in the 19th century.
Ans: Food production increased in 19th century because:

(i) More lands were brought under cultivation.
(ii) Landlords sliced pasturelands and carved up open fields.
(iii) Forest commons were cut up and marsh land was made suitable for cultivation.

5. What were the occupations of Native Americans?
Ans: Native Americans used to practise the following occupations:
(i) Native Americans lived by hunting, gathering and fishing.
(ii) Others cultivated corn, beans, tobacco and pumpkin.

6. Give any two positive results of enclosures on English agriculture.
Ans: Two positive results of enclosures on English agriculture
(i) Enclosures helped bring new land under cultivation.
(ii) Helped increase food production.
(iii) Barren land was made cultivable by clearance of forests and marshes. (Any two)

7. How did the introduction of threshing machines improve agriculture?
Ans: Introduction of threshing machines improved agriculture by improving efficiency and reducing costs.

8. How did the British build resources of the state?
Ans: The British built the resources of the state by imposing a regular system of land revenue, increasing revenue rates and by expanding area under cultivation at the expense of grazing lands and forests.

9. Name some crops which India under British colonial rule produced for the world market.
Ans: The crops which India produced for the world market were-indigo, opium, sugar cane, jute, wheat and several others.

10. Why were Indian farmers pressurised to grow commercial crops?
Ans: Indian farmers were pressurised to grow commercial crops to feed the growing urban population of Europe and to meet the growing raw material needs of the mills of Lanchashire and Manchester in England.

11 What commodities was East India Company buying in China, for sale in England?
Ans: Tea and silk were the two commodities which East India Company was buying in China, to trade in England.

12. Why did British have a negative balance of payment with China?
Ans: The British traders had a negative balance of payment with China because while tea became popular in Britain, England in the late 18th century produced nothing which they could trade to China i.e., persuade the Chinese to buy.

13. What was the cause of anxiety of the English merchants?
Ans: The cause of anxiety of the English merchants was the constant outflow of treasure- silver bullion to finance the tea trade.

14. Trade in which commodity helped the English reverse the unfavourable balance of payment with China?
Ans: Trade in opium which was produced in India, helped the English reverse the unfavourable balance of payment with China.

15. Where was poppy/opium cultivation done for export to China?
Ans: Poppy cultivation was done in Bengal for export to China.

16. Why was the trade in opium illegal?
Ans: Trade in opium was illegal because the Chinese Emperor had forbidden its production and sale except for medicinal purposes.

17. Who introduced opium into China in the 16th century?
Ans: The Portuguese had introduced opium into China in the 16th century.

18. Why had the Chinese banned the production and sale of Opium?
Ans: Except for medicinal purposes the Chinese Emperor had banned the production and sale of Opium because of its addictive properties.

19. Why was Opium trade so important for the British?
Ans: Opium trade was important for the British because returns from Opium sale financed the tea purchases in China and helped reverse the unfavourable balance of trade.

20. Why the war between Britain and China (1837-1842) was called the Opium War?
Ans: The war was called the Opium War because the primary cause of war was the British illegal trade in Opium.

21. What was the major consequence of the Opium War (1837-1842)?
Ans: China was defeated and forced to accept the humiliating terms of the treaties. These unequal treaties forced China to open up for trade with foreign merchants.

22. Expansion of wheat agriculture caused many problems in the Great Plains. Explain.
Ans: Expansion of wheat agriculture caused many problems in the Great Plains because
(i) Expansion of wheat agriculture led to terrifying dust storms in the 1930s. People were blinded and choked, while cattle suffocated to death.
(ii) Fences as well as fields were buried by sand. Tractors and machines were clogged with dust and damaged beyond repair.

23. State any one cause of Dust Bowl in Great Plains of USA.
Ans: To undertake extensive wheat cultivation to meet world demands, entire landscape was stripped of grass cover. Thus when rains failed year after year and winds blew ferociously the whole region became a dust bowl.

24. Define the term Enclosure.
Ans: Fences coming up on common land were termed enclosure.

25. Give one way in which enclosures affected the poor farmers.
Ans: With 'Enclosures' the poor farmer lost his customary rights to graze his cattle etc.

26. Why did farmers undertake cultivation of turnip and clover?
Ans: Farmers undertook cultivation of turnip and clover because these crops helped enhance the fertility of the soil by increasing the nitrogen content of the soil. Turnip was also a good fodder relished by cattle.

27. What was the attitude of the British Parliament towards the Enclosure Movement?
Ans: The early enclosures were not supported by the state but by mid 18th century a number of enclosure acts, which culminated in the General Enclosure Act of 1801 was passed legalising enclosures.

28. State the difference between enclosures of the 16th century and 18th century England.
Ans: The 16th century enclosures proceeded slowly and were created by individual landlord with the intention to promote sheep farming.

In the 18th century, unlike the 16th century, there was a frantic effort to enclose lands, signifying changing times. Land was enclosed to promote grain production.

29. What was the occupation of the Native Americans?
Ans: The occupation of the Native Americans was largely nomadic. Many lived only by hunting, gathering and fishing. Others cultivated corn, beans, tobacco and pumpkin. Still others were expert trappers of beaver.

30. What was the cause of conflict between the British government and the Indian peasant?
Ans: The cause of conflict between the British government and the Indian farmer was the unremunerative price of opium given to the cultivator. The British bought opium at a very cheap price and sold it at a high price to opium agents in China.

QUESTIONS OF NCERT BOOK

1.Explain briefly what the open field system meant to rural people in eighteenth-century England. Look at the system from the point of view of:

A rich farmer
A labourer
A peasant woman

Answer:-
(a) A rich farmer:
As the prices of wool increased, rich farmers wanted to increase its production. Therefore, they began to privatise the best parts of the common land and open fields for themselves. This was done to ensure that their sheep would get good fodder. They also began to drive out poorer farmers, disallowing them from using common land for grazing.

(b) A labourer:
For the poor labourers, the common lands were essential for survival. They used to live with landowners, doing a number of odd jobs for them in return for board and lodging and a small pay. However, when the open field system began to disappear, labourers were paid wages and employed only at harvest time. This left them at the mercy of rich landowners and farmers.

(c) A peasant woman:
For peasant women, the open field system was a good way of community living wherein everything was shared between the rich and the poor. They would use the common lands for grazing their cattle, gathering fruits and collecting firewood. However, all these activities were negatively affected because of the disappearance of open fields.


2. Explain briefly the factors which led to the enclosures in England.

Answer:-
The factors that led to the enclosures in England were primarily profit-based. When wool prices rose in the sixteenth century, rich farmers began to enclose the best pastures of common lands for their own cattle. Later, in the mid-eighteenth century, the British Parliament passed 4000 Acts legalising these enclosures which had earlier been an individual, and not state, enterprise. Enclosures came into being to enhance grain production since England’s population was booming. Also, industrialisation and war needs made foodgrain prices soar, making it necessary to take steps to increase its production. They were also important for long-term investments on land and to plan crop rotations for maintaining soil fertility.


3. Why were threshing machines opposed by the poor in England?

Answer:-
Threshing machines were opposed by the poor in England because they decreased the employment opportunities of workmen during harvest-time. Previously, labourers had lived with the landowners, doing odd jobs around the farm. Later, they were hired on wages and only during harvest-time. However, with the coming of the threshing machine, most of these labourers were left unemployed and without a means of livelihood. Hence, they opposed this industrial tool.


4. Who was Captain Swing? What did the name symbolise or represent?

Answer:-
Captain Swing was the name appended to some of the threatening letters during the rural English protests against the use of threshing machines and landowners’ reluctance to employ labourers. The movement had an imaginary leader with a multiple-use name. His name was chosen, in a form of morbid humour, to echo the prisons that the rebels who got involved in this uprising would have to face.


5. What was the impact of the westward expansion of settlers in the USA?

Answer:-
The westward expansion of settlers in the USA led to a complete annihilation of American Indians who were pushed westwards, down the Mississippi river, and then further west beyond that. They fought back, but were defeated; their villages were burnt and cattle destroyed. Also, with the cultivation of land for agricultural purposes, all grass and trees were razed. This led to terrible dust storms and blizzards in the 1930s, causing much death and destruction.


6. What were the advantages and disadvantages of the use of mechanical harvesting machines in the USA?

Answer:-
The mechanical harvesting machines were helpful for clearing large tracts of land, breaking up soil, removing grass and preparing the ground for cultivation in a short span of time and with less human labour. However, for the poor, the machines were a bane. Mechanisation reduced labour demand and many were rendered unemployed. Also, the dust storms of the 1930s could in a way be traced back to the zealous large-scale ploughing of land with the help of these advanced machines. These storms were a result of the presence of vast tracts of ploughed land, with no grass to hold back mud.


7. What lessons can we draw from the conversion of the countryside in the USA from a bread basket to a dust bowl?

Answer:-
There are many useful ecological lessons that we can draw from the conversion of the countryside in the USA from a bread basket to a dust bowl. It teaches us the value of environment protection and safe use of natural resources. It serves as a warning sign against the exploitative use of land for commercial purposes only. There should be a governmental check on how much land is cultivated. The droughts and the dust storms that struck in the 1930s rendered production futile as wheat and corn were rapidly turned into animal fodder due to over-production. It also ruined the landscape.


8. Write a paragraph on why the British insisted on farmers growing opium in India.

Answer:-
The British insisted on farmers growing opium in India because of a trade deal with China. Tea became extremely popular in England, and by 1830, over 30 million pounds of tea was being imported from China. The rulers of China, the Manchus were unfriendly towards foreign merchants and their goods. Hence, there was nothing that England could offer to the Chinese in exchange for tea, except money. Doing so was a loss to the British treasury. Opium was used in Chinese medicine, but was banned for use due to its addictive qualities. The British started an illegal opium trade, and by 1839, there were an estimated 12 million opium smokers in China. All the supplied opium came from India and it formed an easy, cheap way to pay for the tea imported from China.


9. Why were Indian farmers reluctant to grow opium?

Answer:-
Indian farmers were reluctant to grow opium because it required extremely fertile soil and was a difficult crop to grow, requiring more care. It took up the fields that could be utilised for growing pulses, and the time taken in opium production meant that the farmers could pay little or no attention to the other crops. Added to this problem was the problem of low sale price of opium. It was thus unprofitable to be grown.