Chapter 3: Push Factors / Reasons for Coming to Singapore - Natural Disasters in India Flashcards
Why is the monsoon season very important in India?
It is very important in India because it brings rain, which is a source of water for growing crops.
What happens when the monsoon fails to bring enough rain?
The harvest for that season will fail and there will be a famine.
What were the causes of famines in India in the late 18th and the 19th centuries?
Droughts (i.e. long periods of no rainfall) and ineffective agricultural policies resulted in famines.
How many deaths did the famines in the late 18th and the 19th centuries cause?
Approximately / about 50 million deaths.
Of all the famines that struck India, which was the worst?
The Great Famine of 1876 to 1878.
What was the consequence / result of the Great Famine?
Many / A large number of artisans and agricultural labourers left India for other British colonies to work as indentured workers. They worked on plantations in exchange for food, shelter and other necessities.
Define ‘Indentured Workers’.
Workers who worked for free for a specified period of time to pay off their debts.
