Hand Labour and Steam Power
INTRODUCTION:
The Industrial Revolution is often associated with steam power and machines replacing human labour. But was this transformation sudden and complete? Did workers immediately shift from hand labour to factories? The reality was more complex. Factories came up slowly, and hand labour continued to exist alongside new technology. This section explores life of the workers, seasonal work, why machines were sometimes preferred, and why hand labour persisted even after steam power became available.
Life of the Workers
Where did workers come from?
Industrial workers came from different backgrounds:
1. Rural migrants: Poor peasants, artisans, and landless labourers seeking better wages in growing industrial cities.
2. Artisans: Traditional craft workers who lost work due to decline of proto-industrial production or competition from factories.
3. Children: Often orphaned or from poor families, sent to work in factories.
Seasonal work
Most workers had to adapt to new work patterns. Earlier, as urban craftspeople, they had some control over work timing and could return to their villages during harvests.
In factories, work was regulated by factory clocks. But many workers found factory discipline difficult. Factory owners noticed that workers were absent in peak agricultural seasons and returned when the demand for labour was high.
This seasonal rhythm persisted well into the nineteenth century. Factory owners had to plan accordingly—during slack seasons, they had to pay higher wages to retain workers.
Finding steady work
Finding steady employment was difficult. Workers had to wait weeks at factory gates for jobs. When mills shut down, workers faced unemployment and poverty.
Example: Manchester mills
In Manchester mills, work was seasonal. Workers often left during spring and
returned in winter when demand for cotton goods was high. Those who remained
faced long periods of unemployment during slack seasons.
Board exam tip: Workers' life = seasonal migration + factory discipline difficult + long unemployment periods + poverty.
Class 10 Science – Chapter: Human Eye and the Colourful World complete notes
Why were machines not always preferred?
Gas works and hand labour
Even when steam power was available, gas works preferred hand labour over machines.
Why?
· Machines were costly to set up and maintain.
· They broke down frequently.
· Hand labour was cheaper and more flexible.
Example: Gas works
Gas works needed large
numbers of workers to carry coal, produce coke, and supply gas.
Hand labour
was more versatile than machines, which could only do specific tasks.
Seasonal demand
Seasonal nature of demand also favoured hand labour. During peak seasons, employers needed many workers to meet sudden demand. Machines could not be turned on and off like human workers.
Example: Bookbinding
Bookbinders were usually poor and worked only during Christmas and Diwali seasons
when demand for books was high. They returned to the countryside after the
season.
Craftsperson skill
Highly skilled workers like metalworkers were difficult to replace. Machines could not replicate their precision, flexibility, and creativity.
Why machines were preferred in some cases
Machines were preferred when:
· Large-scale production was needed.
· Repetitive tasks could be mechanized (like cotton spinning).
· Quality control was easier with machines.
Board exam tip: Machines not always preferred because:
costly + broke down + hand labour cheaper/more flexible + seasonal demand +
skilled workers irreplaceable.
History Section 1: BEFORE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Chapter 4: The Age of Industrialisation
Why hand labour persisted
Hand labour continued alongside steam power
Even after steam engines became widely available, hand labour remained important.
Reasons:
1. Cost: Machines were expensive to install and repair.
2. Skill: Many tasks needed human skill, judgement, and creativity.
3. Flexibility: Hand labour could adapt to changing demand and product variations.
4. Seasonal work: Workers could be hired during peak seasons and laid off during slack periods.
The "typical" worker
Historians now recognize that the typical worker in the
mid-nineteenth century was not
a machine operator but a traditional craftsperson and labourer.
Class 10 Science – Chapter 10: Light - Reflection and Refraction complete notes.
Quick Revision Table
|
Topic |
Key Points for Exams |
|
Workers' background |
Rural migrants, artisans, children from poor families. |
|
Seasonal work |
Workers absent during harvest; returned when factory demand high. |
|
Factory discipline |
Regulated by clocks; difficult for workers used to flexible schedules. |
|
Gas works |
Preferred hand labour (cheap, flexible) over machines. |
|
Bookbinding |
Seasonal work (Christmas/Diwali); workers returned to villages. |
|
Why machines not preferred |
Costly, broke down, hand labour cheaper/flexible, needed skill/creativity. |
|
Typical worker |
Craftsperson/labourer, not machine operator. |
MCQs PYQ
1.
Industrial
workers mainly came from:
A. Only cities
B. Rural migrants, artisans, poor children
C. Only rich families
D. Only educated people
Answer:
B
2.
Workers
were often absent from factories during:
A. Winter
B. Peak agricultural seasons
C. Factory holidays
D. Payday
Answer:
B
3.
Factory
work was regulated by:
A. Village elders
B. Factory clocks
C. Seasonal festivals
D. Church bells
Answer:
B
4.
Gas
works preferred hand labour because:
A. Machines were better
B. Hand labour was cheaper and more flexible
C. Workers demanded it
D. Government ordered it
Answer:
B
5.
Bookbinders
worked seasonally during:
A. Summer
B. Christmas and Diwali
C. Monsoon
D. Winter only
Answer:
B
6.
Machines
were preferred when:
A. Tasks needed creativity
B. Large-scale repetitive production was needed
C. Skilled workers were available
D. Work was seasonal
Answer:
B
7.
Why
did workers find factory discipline difficult?
A. Wages were too high
B. They were used to flexible work schedules
C. Factories were too comfortable
D. They had no skills
Answer:
B
8.
The
typical mid-19th century worker was:
A. A machine operator
B. A traditional craftsperson or labourer
C. A farmer
D. A merchant
Answer:
B
9.
During
slack seasons, factory owners:
A. Closed factories permanently
B. Paid higher wages to retain workers
C. Replaced all workers
D. Stopped production
Answer:
B
10.
Hand
labour continued because:
A. Machines were perfect
B. Machines were costly, broke down, and hand labour was flexible
C. Workers refused to use machines
D. Factories had no electricity
Answer:
B
Class 10 Science – Chapter 9: Heredity and Evolution complete notes.
Short
Answer Questions (PYQ)
Q1. Where did industrial workers come from?
Answer: Industrial workers came from different backgrounds: poor peasants, artisans, and landless labourers from villages seeking better wages; traditional craft workers who lost work due to competition from factories; and children from poor or orphaned families sent to work. They migrated to growing industrial cities in search of employment opportunities.
Q2. Why was work in factories seasonal?
Answer: Work was seasonal because many workers returned to their villages during peak agricultural seasons to help with harvests. Factory owners noticed workers were absent during these times and returned when factory demand was high. This seasonal rhythm persisted into the nineteenth century, forcing owners to pay higher wages during slack seasons to retain workers.
Q3. Why did gas works prefer hand labour over machines?
Answer: Gas works preferred hand labour because machines were costly to set up and maintain and often broke down. Hand labour was cheaper and more flexible, capable of carrying coal, producing coke, and supplying gas—tasks machines could not do as efficiently. Human workers could adapt to varying demands better than machines.
Q4. Why did workers find factory discipline difficult?
Answer: Workers found factory discipline difficult because earlier as urban craftspeople, they had control over work timing and could return to villages during harvests. In factories, work was strictly regulated by factory clocks, with no flexibility for breaks or personal timing. This rigid discipline was a major adjustment for workers used to more flexible schedules.
Q5. Why was hand labour preferred in some industries?
Answer: Hand labour was preferred because
machines were expensive to install and repair and often broke down. Human
labour was cheaper and more versatile for tasks requiring skill, judgement, and
creativity. Seasonal demand also favoured hand labour, which could be adjusted
easily, unlike machines that couldn't be turned on and off.
Class 10 Science – Chapter: How Do Organisms Reproduce?
complete notes
Long Answer Questions (PYQ)
Q1. Describe the life of workers during the early phase of industrialisation.
Answer: Industrial workers came from rural areas (poor peasants, landless labourers), traditional artisan backgrounds, and poor/orphaned children seeking employment in growing cities. They faced new factory discipline regulated by clocks, which was difficult after flexible urban craft schedules. Work remained seasonal—workers returned to villages during harvests and came back when factory demand was high, forcing owners to pay higher wages during slack seasons to retain them. Finding steady employment was challenging; workers waited weeks at factory gates, and when mills shut down, they faced prolonged unemployment and poverty. In Manchester mills, workers left during spring and returned in winter when cotton demand was high, showing the persistent seasonal rhythm of work.
Q2. Why were machines not always preferred over hand labour? Explain with examples.
Answer: Machines were not always preferred because they were costly to set up and maintain and frequently broke down, while hand labour was cheaper and more flexible. In gas works, large numbers of workers were needed to carry coal and produce coke—tasks machines couldn't do efficiently. Seasonal demand also favoured hand labour; bookbinders worked only during Christmas and Diwali and returned to villages afterward. Highly skilled workers like metalworkers were irreplaceable because machines couldn't replicate their precision, flexibility, and creativity. Even after steam engines became available, hand labour persisted because human workers could adapt to varying demands and product changes better than rigid machines.
Q3. Explain why the typical mid-nineteenth century worker was not a machine operator.
Answer: The typical mid-nineteenth century
worker was a traditional craftsperson or labourer, not a machine operator, for
several reasons. Even by the end of the nineteenth century, less than 20
percent of the workforce was employed in technologically advanced industrial
sectors. New technology was expensive and slowly adopted—James Watt's steam
engine, patented in 1781, numbered only 321 in England by the early 1800s
because machines broke down and repairs were costly. Traditional industries
like food processing, pottery, glass work, and furniture making continued to
grow through small innovations rather than mechanization. Many tasks still
required human skill, judgement, and creativity that machines couldn't provide,
and seasonal demand favoured flexible hand labour over rigid machines.
History THE PRE-MODERN WORLD (Before 1800s)
Chapter 3: The Making of a Global World.
Conclusion
During early industrialisation, workers faced seasonal employment, rigid
factory discipline, and long periods of unemployment. Factories preferred hand
labour in many cases because machines were costly, unreliable, and inflexible,
while human labour was cheaper and more versatile. Skilled craftspersons
remained essential, and seasonal demand made hand labour ideal for industries
like gas works and bookbinding. Even after steam power became available, the
typical worker remained a traditional craftsperson or labourer rather than a
machine operator, showing that the shift to mechanization was gradual and
complex. For board exams, focus on workers' backgrounds, seasonal work
patterns, gas works example, and reasons why hand labour persisted—these are
frequently tested.
Class 10 Science – Chapter 6: Control and Coordination
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