Impact of British Rule ICSE Class 8 History Questions & Answers

The Impact of British Rule is an important chapter in ICSE Class 8 History that explains how British policies affected India’s economy, education, transport, industries, and society. While the British introduced modern education, railways, and communication, their economic policies led to the exploitation of farmers, artisans, and workers. This chapter helps students understand both the positive and negative consequences of British rule in India and is crucial for exam preparation.

Answer the following questions on The Impact of British Rule as per the instructions given:

Fill in the Blanks – Impact of British Rule (ICSE Class 8 History)

1. Pre-British Indian villages were self-sufficient communities.
   
2. For higher education, universities were set up in Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras.
   
3. English became the medium language for imparting Western education.
   
4. Prior to the Revolt of 1857, there were only two half-finished trunk roads—one between Calcutta and Delhi, the other between Bombay and Agra.
   
5. The second half of the 19th century witnessed the growth of cotton and jute industries.
   

Match the Following – Impact of British Rule Class 8 ICSE

True or False Questions – Impact of British Rule ICSE Class 8

1. The land revenue systems introduced by the British helped the farmers to a large extent. — False
   
2. The Charter Act of 1813 took the first step toward education. — True
   
3. The farmers started growing cash crops under pressure from the British. — True
   
4. Much of India’s wealth was drained to Britain. — True
   
5. The iron and steel industry grew rapidly under the British. — False
   
6. All classes benefited from the growth of industries. — False
   

Explore the Study Guide on Growth of British Power in India ICSE Class 8 History

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Short Answer Questions on Impact of British Rule (1–2 Sentences)

1. Who wrote the book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India?
   Ans: Dadabhai Naoroji wrote the book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India.
   
2. What do you understand by the term Drain of Wealth?
   Ans: India under British rule witnessed the rapid expansion in foreign trade. Railways were introduced for better transport and communication and the Suez Canal was opened in the year 1869. However, India did not undergo any major change in their economy. This was because the British government followed a one sided trade policy which exempted British goods from entering England.
   
3. What were the advantages that came with the introduction of railways?
   Ans: The advantages of introduction of railways are as follows:

•   Railway lines connected the port cities like Bombay, Calcutta and Madras with their hinterlands from where the raw materials were exports .
• It made travelling and transport of goods quicker, cheaper, easier and safe.
• COnstruction of railways also provided employment opportunities to thousand of unskilled labours 
• The railways led to the coming of people of the country together.
  

4. What were the problems faced by workers in industries?
   Ans: Workers were burdened with problems like low wages, long working hours , unhygienic working and living conditions.
   
5. How did Western education help the Indians?
   Ans: Western education helped Indians develop modern and scientific thinking, creating a new class of educated Indians who became aware of their rights and the injustices of British rule. It promoted ideas of liberty, equality, and nationalism, which later inspired social reforms and the rise of the Indian freedom movement.
   
6. How did the British benefit from the introduction of transport?
   Ans: The British benefitted extensively from the introduction of transport because it helpedin exporting the raw materials from India and the finished goods were transported back in India in order to sell them indifferent parts of India.
   
7. What were the adverse effects of industrialization?
   Ans: Industrialization in India led to the decline of traditional industries and crafts, causing unemployment among artisans and weavers. It also resulted in economic drain, exploitation of raw materials, and dependence on British manufactured goods, which ruined India’s self-sufficient economy.
   
8. Name some pioneers who helped establish educational institutions.
   Ans: Some pioneers who helped establish educational institutions were Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, and Swami Dayanand Saraswati. They promoted modern education through schools, colleges, and reform movements across India.

Long Answer Questions on Impact of British Rule (ICSE Class 8 History)

1. What were the causes of the impoverishment of farmers?
   Ans: The farmers were forced to cultivate cash crops like indigo and cotton instead of food crops which destroyed the self sufficiency of the village economy

2. How did the introduction of transport and communication help the growth and development of India?
   Ans: The development of transport and communication helped the English East India Company to connect the whole of India in order to communicate and transport goods and raw materials required for trade and commerce. The introduction of railways helped in transport of raw materials from India to Britain and the import of English goods from Britain to India. The English goods were good in quality and cheap in price which made English goods capture the market of India.

3. How did the growth of industries impact the Indians?
   Ans: The growth of industries made the Indians to lose their occupations on which their livelihoods depended extensively. The Indian village used to self sufficient in nature where weavers, blacksmiths, carpenters and other professional people in different occupations used to produce for their local market. The introduction ofindustries in the Indian market compelled them to  produce for large scale manufacture and production. Now, their manual skills were sacrificed because of the coming of the machines.Machine made goods began to be preferred more than that of hand made ones. The Englsih captured the economy of Indians.

4. The changes outside the country had a positive impact on the Indians. Discuss.
   Ans: The changes outside the country, such as the Industrial Revolution, the spread of liberal and nationalist ideas in Europe, and the American and French Revolutions, had a positive impact on Indians. These events inspired educated Indians to demand freedom, equality, and self-rule, leading to the rise of reform movements and the growth of national consciousness.
   
5. Why did the British not encourage the iron and steel industry despite the abundance of iron ore?
   Ans: The British did not encourage the iron and steel industry in India because they wanted India to remain a supplier of raw materials and a market for British finished goods. They feared that promoting heavy industries would make India economically self-reliant and reduce Britain’s control over Indian trade and resources.