IMPERIALISM AND DE-INDUSTRIALIZATION IN INDIA

Cards (43)

  • Effects of industrialization of cotton cloth production on the Indian economy

    • Decline of Traditional Handloom Industry
    • Loss of Livelihoods
    • Shift in Economic Power
    • Dependence on Imported Cloth
    • Colonial Exploitation
  • Decline of Traditional Handloom Industry

    1. Introduction of mechanized cotton cloth production
    2. Cottage-based handloom weavers faced stiff competition from cheap machine-made cloth imported from Britain
  • The decline of the handloom industry resulted in widespread unemployment and loss of livelihoods for millions of Indian weavers and artisans
  • Many traditional weavers were unable to compete with the efficiency and scale of mechanized production, leading to economic hardship and social upheaval in weaving communities
  • The industrialization of cotton cloth production shifted economic power away from India's traditional textile-producing regions to industrial centers in Britain
  • British textile manufacturers capitalized on India's raw cotton resources and captive market to expand their industrial operations, leading to the concentration of wealth and economic control in British hands
  • India, once known for its flourishing textile industry, became increasingly dependent on imported British cloth
  • The flood of cheap British textiles into Indian markets undermined domestic production and self-sufficiency, perpetuating India's economic dependence on British colonial rule
  • British colonial policies further exacerbated the economic impact of industrialization on India's textile industry
  • Protectionist measures such as tariffs and trade barriers favored British goods over Indian products, while raw cotton exports to Britain fueled the growth of British textile mills at the expense of Indian weavers and artisans
    1. Why was de-industrialization a bad thing for India?

    • resulted in wide-spread famine, mass migrations, ppl were jobless, ppl were displaced, taxes increased, and there was de-stabilization of markets throughout the region
    1. What political explanations does the author give for this economic failure?

    • money was not going to india.. it was going to foreign companies who were buying cash crops in india and then turning them into finsihed products in europe  
    • colonial policies
    • lack of investment 
    • political domination
    • suppression of resistance 
    1. Why did India suffer so many famines in the nineteenth century?

    • India faced numerous famines in the nineteenth century due to a combination of environmental factors like droughts and British colonial policies that prioritized profit over food security
  • To what extent does imperialism and de-industrialization in India provide evidence to explain how different modes and locations of production have developed and changed over time?

    • Imperialism and de-industrialization in India showcase the evolving dynamics of production modes and locations over time. By exploiting India's resources for profit, colonial powers like Britain disrupted traditional industries and agricultural practices. This led to economic decline and dependency on colonial rulers, highlighting how external influences shape the trajectory of production within a region
  • Japan
    Escaped the sort of colonialism and de-industrialization that Egypt and India experienced
  • Japan
    Industrialized in a way that was similar to Britain
  • Why Japan escaped colonialism and de-industrialization

    • Maintained its sovereignty
    • Resisted colonization through modernization efforts during the Meiji Restoration
    • Benefited from strategic geographical location
    • Had a strong central government
    • Had a unified national identity
  • Selectively adopting Western technology and institutions

    While preserving its cultural identity
  • Japan's actions

    Able to industrialize rapidly and assert itself as a major global power
    • a lot of the profit for turning the cotton into the cloth now went to Britain instead of to India... where the cotton was
    • british to make more abudant cloth (from their machines) and it was cheaper. indias handimade clothes were more expensive and were limitied. britian > india in terms of how much ppl bought the textiles. bc of this, indias economy declined
    • india had stability in its community before its de-industrialization 
    • EX: Mughal Empire
    • Mughal Empire had created a vast and safe infrastructure that supported a strong export trade system of cotton cloth
    • Indian silks, jute' and Kashmir cloths were used or worn in lands as far as Persia and China
    • Mughal society prized full employment, and the hand-made cloth industry kept many people employed
    • Mughal state provided safe ports for international business. It encouraged private traders to expand trade networks. The state worked through a complex political alliance system to collect taxes. These taxes were used to develop military and public works. They built safer roads, bridges, water systems, and port cities. Trade expanded and the region's economy was strong
  • Colonial Policies

    British colonial policies played a significant role in exacerbating India's economic decline. Protectionist measures, such as tariffs and trade barriers, favored British goods over Indian products, stifling domestic industries and perpetuating economic dependence on Britain. Additionally, British policies exploited India's raw materials and captive market to benefit British industrial interests at the expense of Indian producers
  • Lack of Investment
    The author suggests that the British colonial administration failed to invest adequately in India's industrial development. Instead of promoting indigenous industries and fostering economic self-sufficiency, British policies prioritized the interests of British manufacturers and traders, hindering India's economic growth and industrialization
  • Political Domination

    British colonial rule imposed political domination over India, which hindered the development of indigenous industries and entrepreneurship. The colonial administration exerted control over economic resources and decision-making processes, limiting opportunities for Indian entrepreneurs and stifling economic innovation and development
  • Suppression of Resistance
    The author implies that British colonial rule suppressed resistance and dissent in India, which could have potentially challenged and transformed the economic status quo. By quelling political opposition and stifling dissent, the colonial administration maintained its grip on power and perpetuated economic exploitation and inequality.
    • Decline of Mughal Empire

    By the mid-eighteenth century, the Mughal Empire's centralized authority weakened, allowing rival leaders and European merchants to gain control in different regions of India
  • Emergence of Commercial Alliances

    With the decline of the Mughal state, increasingly independent merchants and leaders in each region of India began forming new commercial alliances. They engaged in business with European trade companies such as the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and English, who were seeking to expand their commercial interests in India
  • Role of European Merchants

    European merchants arrived in India as independent traders employed by private joint stock trading companies or as representatives of foreign governments. They formed commercial partnerships with local governors and princes, who initially did not view these alliances as political threats to their power or the authority of the Mughal state
  • Financial Transactions and Flow of Wealth

    Wealthy Bengali bankers extended credit lines to Englishmen working for the English East India Company, facilitating the flow of money in the local economy. Much of this wealth, in the form of silver and gold from the Americas, was used by foreign companies to purchase cash crops like cotton in India, which were then processed into finished products in Europe
  • Use of Funds
    Some of the wealth was also used to pay foreign mercenaries, including the troops of the East India Company, who were involved in wars that occurred during the disintegration of the Mughal Empire. This influx of wealth and foreign influence contributed to significant changes in the economic and political landscape of India during this period
    • European trade companies, like the East India Company (E.I.C.), used hired troops to protect their interests in India
    • These armies, sometimes larger than national armies, included European troops and local soldiers called sepoys
    • Through treaties with the Mughal state, the E.I.C. gained political authority, control over military forces, and tax collection rights, expanding their control over Indian provinces
    • The British government's policies favored commercial goals over the welfare of Indian people, leading to de-industrialization and agricultural shifts
    • The focus on cotton cultivation led to food shortages, contributing to devastating famines in 1769, 1783, and 1791, resulting in approximately 30 million deaths