NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Chapter 6 - Peasants And Farmers

Q1. 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:

(i) A Rich Farmer

Ans. Rich farmers desired to increase wool output as the price of the product rose. As a result, they began to privatise the best parts of the common land and open fields. This was done in order to provide good food for their sheep. They also started forcibly removing poorer farmers by denying them access to common land for grazing.

(ii) A Labourer

Ans. The common lands were vital to the poor labourers' existence. They used to live with landowners, performing a variety of odd chores in exchange for food, lodging, and a small wage. When the open field system was phased out, however, labourers were paid wages and only worked during harvest. This made them vulnerable to wealthy landowners and farmers.

(iii) A Peasant Woman

Ans. The open field system was a good way of community living for peasant women where everything was shared between the rich and the poor. They would graze their livestock, pick fruits, and gather firewood on the communal areas. However, the elimination of open fields had a negative impact on all of these activities, and thus affected their lives. 

Q2. Explain Briefly the Factors Which Led to the Enclosures in England.

Ans. Following were the factors which led to enclosures in England-

1. Enclosure in England was prompted by rising population and, as a result, rising demand for food grains and other goods.

2. Increasing agricultural commodity prices, such as wool, wheat, milk, and fruits, also contributed in the promotion of enclosures in England.

3. Food grain costs have risen as a result of industrialisation and military necessities, because they led to increasing need to enhance production.

4. Enclosures were viewed as vital in the nineteenth century to make long-term investments in land and organise crop rotations to enhance soil.

5. Enclosures also allowed for the expansion of land under their control and the production of goods for the market by the wealthier landowners.

Q3. Why Were Threshing Machines Opposed by the Poor in England?

Ans. The poor in England were opposed to threshing machines because they believed they would deprive workers of their livelihood. They believed that the use of technology would stimulate enclosure movement among the wealthier farmers and large landowners. The commons would be divided between wealthy farmers and poor farmers, labourers, and peasant women, who would have to compete for work or be jobless.

Q4. Who Was Captain Swing? What Did the Name Symbolise or Represent?

Ans. Captain Swing was a mythic name which appeared in threatening letters made by labourers opposing the use of threshing machines by wealthy farmers.

The name represented labourers' anger or dissatisfaction with the usage of threshing machines by wealthy farmers or large landowners.

Q5. What Was the Impact of the Westward Expansion of Settlers in the USA?

Ans. The westward expansion of settlers in the United States resulted in the destruction of American Indians who were forced westward, down the Mississippi River, and then even further west. They fought back, but were overpowered; their towns were burned to the ground, and their animals were slaughtered. In addition, when land was cultivated for agricultural purposes, all grass and trees were demolished. This resulted in devastating dust storms and blizzards in the 1930s, resulting in a great deal of death and destruction.

Q6. What Were the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Use of Mechanical Harvesting Machines in the USA?

Ans. Following were the advantages of using mechanical harvesting machines- 

1. Wheat was in great demand and at a high price. Farmers could quickly clear tracts, break up the soil, remove the grass, and prepare the field for agriculture with these new devices.

2. The work could be completed in a shorter amount of time and with fewer workers.

3. Four workers could plough, sow, and harvest 2,000 to 4,000 acres of wheat in a season using power-driven gear.

There were disadvantages of using mechanical harvesting machines for the poorer farmers. They were removed from their jobs and were unable to support themselves.

Many of them purchased these machines as well, but it harmed them because the machines were expensive, and as demand peaked, there was plenty surplus grain in the market. Farmers needed to repay the bank loans they had taken out to purchase these machinery, but they lacked the funds to do so.

Q7. What Lessons Can We Draw From the Conversion of the Countryside in the USA From a Bread Basket to a Dust Bowl?

Ans. The Dust Bowl was caused by the development of wheat production in the Great Plains. The American dream of a prosperous land has become a nightmare.

We need to learn something from this. Land usage is beneficial, while excessive land use is detrimental. We must recognise that land is a valuable natural resource that must be protected and conserved. It acts as a warning against the economic exploitation of land, which only leads to degradation and depletion. This has far-reaching repercussions. We must recognise the need of respecting each region's ecological conditions, working for sustainable development, and caring for our planet.

Q8. Write a Paragraph on Why the British Insisted on Farmers Growing Opium in India.

Ans. The British forced farmers to produce opium in India in order to balance their commerce with China. Tea became highly popular in England, and by 1830, China had imported over 30 million pounds of tea. Only bullion could be used to purchase tea from China. As a result, England had nothing to give the Chinese in exchange for tea except money. Opium was once widely utilised in Chinese medicine, but it was banned due to its addictive properties. By 1839, there were an estimated 12 million opium smokers in China, thanks to the British's illegal opium trade. All of the opium provided came from India, and it was a convenient and inexpensive way to pay for the tea brought from China.

Q9. Why Were Indian Farmers Reluctant To Grow Opium?

Ans. The Indian farmers were reluctant to grow opium because of the following reasons- 

1. The crop had to be planted on the best land possible, on fields that were close to villages and well-manured.

2.  Pulses were traditionally grown on this land. If opium were cultivated on fertile, well-manured soil, pulses would have to be grown on less fertile land, resulting in lower yields in both quality and quantity.

3. Opium cultivation was tough and time-consuming because the plants needed to be cared for. As a result, the growers would have less time to care for their other crops.

4. The farmers were required to pay the landlords rent for their land. The rent was exorbitant. The cultivators did not own any land.

5. Ultimately, the government's price for opium production was extremely low, leaving the farmers with no profit.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science India and the Contemporary World - I Chapter 6 - Peasants and Farmers

Summary of Class 9 History Chapter 6

The history of agricultural practices and events related to it will be elaborately discussed in Class 9 Social Science Chapter 6. The events from the 18th Century to modern times will be discussed along with the consequences and changes made in this practice. Slowly it will proceed from the practices of sheep farming to grain production. Follow the NCERT Solutions Class 9 History Chapter 6 to understand the history related to the farmers and peasants of England, the USA, and India.

It will also tell us how agricultural production and practices were affected due to the French-English War in the 18th Century. The impact of rapid population growth also brought a lot of drastic changes in agricultural practices too in the 19th Century. In fact, food imports started rather than focusing on new agricultural techniques. New land was brought into the agricultural territory in different parts of the world. When you follow the NCERT solutions for Class 9 History Peasants and Farmers, you will find out how these incidents and practices influenced the farming practices in the entire world.

Why Do You Need NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science History Chapter 6?

This is one of the crucial chapters in Class 9 Social Science, and it explains how agricultural and farming practices transformed across the world. The questions related to this chapter should be learned and answered properly. The Ch 6 History Class 9 NCERT Solutions will help you to develop a deeper understanding of the topics covered in this chapter. Learning the right concepts to address a question is mandatory for the students to score better in the exams. These NCERT Solutions will help you in the following ways.

Leaning Historical Facts Chronologically

This chapter covers a set of historical events that you need to study and understand before attempting the questions. The chronological facts will tell you how things changed in the history of agriculture and farming in the past few centuries. Based on these developed concepts, you will be able to answer the questions precisely. The NCERT Class 9 History Chapter 6 Solutions will help you get an idea of the appropriate answer-pattern for the questions of this chapter.

Best Answering Format to Follow

The NCERT Solutions Class 9 History Chapter 6, are prepared by the subject-matter experts at Vedantu in alignment with the latest CBSE format. Every answer covers all the essential points as per relevance. The given word count for every answer is maintained and our experts have used simple language so that every student can practice and prepare for the exam well.

Best Resource to Save Time

You can save a lot of your time preparing this chapter when you refer to the NCERT Solutions Class 9 History Chapter 6. The answers to the exercise questions will be ideal to study and practice. You can address your doubts in a more comprehensive way with the help of Class 9 History Chapter 6 NCERT Solutions for final-hour exam preparation too.