OPEN FIELDS AND COMMON LAND
The first half of the 19th century in England witnessed riots. The main reason behind this was the fear of workmen working on the farms were afraid of loosing their jobs to the machines.
Peasants cultivated open fields which were strips of land near their villages. These strips were of varying quality. This was a measure to ensure that everyone had a mix of good and bad land. Beyond these strips lay common land which was used by all to graze cattle, gather fruits and berries and firewood. The common land was essential for survival of poors.
This began to change from the 16th century. Wool became important. Farmers began to enclose fields to improve sheep breeds and ensure good feed. With enclosed fields there was no concept of common land. This changed the entire landscape of England.
Thrust in Grain Cultivation: From the mid-18th century onwards enclosures became different. They were now for grain cultivation. English population was expanding and Britain was industrialising. People moved to urban areas. Lesser people had to produce more grains. The market for food grain expanded. Food grain prices rose. This encouraged land owners to enclose lands and enlarge the area under grain cultivation. As the English population was rising the encloseure helped the food production to rise simultaneously.
Enclosures: Food grain production increased as much as population. England was producing almost 80% of the food grain the population consumed. Crop production received a boost through various crop rotation techniques. Enclosures allowed landowners to expand the land under their control and produce more for the market. Between 1750 and 1850, 6 million acres of land was enclosed.
The Farmers — The Poor : The poor no longer had access to the commons. They were displaced from their lands and found their customary rights disappearing. Work became uncertain, insecure and income unstable.
Dependency on Machines — The Thresher : During the Napoleonic wars the threshing machine was introduced to lessen dependency on labour and increase production. After the Napoleonic wars ended soldiers returned home but found no work. At the same time an agricultural depression set in. There was agricultural surplus and labourers without work.
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<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjLyP2UosrtAhWBSH0KHd6fA6gQFjADegQIBRAC" href="https://mycbseguide.com/blog/history-peasants-farmers-class-9-notes-social-science/" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://mycbseguide.com/blog/history-peasants-farmers-class-9-notes-social-science/&ved=2ahUKEwjLyP2UosrtAhWBSH0KHd6fA6gQFjADegQIBRAC" rel="noopener" target="_blank">History-Peasants and Farmers class 9 Notes Social Science ...</a>
Gaurav Seth 4 years, 8 months ago
OPEN FIELDS AND COMMON LAND
The first half of the 19th century in England witnessed riots. The main reason behind this was the fear of workmen working on the farms were afraid of loosing their jobs to the machines.
Peasants cultivated open fields which were strips of land near their villages. These strips were of varying quality. This was a measure to ensure that everyone had a mix of good and bad land. Beyond these strips lay common land which was used by all to graze cattle, gather fruits and berries and firewood. The common land was essential for survival of poors.
This began to change from the 16th century. Wool became important. Farmers began to enclose fields to improve sheep breeds and ensure good feed. With enclosed fields there was no concept of common land. This changed the entire landscape of England.
Thrust in Grain Cultivation: From the mid-18th century onwards enclosures became different. They were now for grain cultivation. English population was expanding and Britain was industrialising. People moved to urban areas. Lesser people had to produce more grains. The market for food grain expanded. Food grain prices rose. This encouraged land owners to enclose lands and enlarge the area under grain cultivation. As the English population was rising the encloseure helped the food production to rise simultaneously.
Enclosures: Food grain production increased as much as population. England was producing almost 80% of the food grain the population consumed. Crop production received a boost through various crop rotation techniques. Enclosures allowed landowners to expand the land under their control and produce more for the market. Between 1750 and 1850, 6 million acres of land was enclosed.
The Farmers — The Poor : The poor no longer had access to the commons. They were displaced from their lands and found their customary rights disappearing. Work became uncertain, insecure and income unstable.
Dependency on Machines — The Thresher : During the Napoleonic wars the threshing machine was introduced to lessen dependency on labour and increase production. After the Napoleonic wars ended soldiers returned home but found no work. At the same time an agricultural depression set in. There was agricultural surplus and labourers without work.
click on the given link for notes:
<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjLyP2UosrtAhWBSH0KHd6fA6gQFjADegQIBRAC" href="https://mycbseguide.com/blog/history-peasants-farmers-class-9-notes-social-science/" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://mycbseguide.com/blog/history-peasants-farmers-class-9-notes-social-science/&ved=2ahUKEwjLyP2UosrtAhWBSH0KHd6fA6gQFjADegQIBRAC" rel="noopener" target="_blank">History-Peasants and Farmers class 9 Notes Social Science ...</a>
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