Imagine you were an artisan, in the year 1856. Mention any two ways in which the economic policies of the British would have affected you.

The economic exploitation at the hands of the British made my life very difficult as an artisan in the year 1856. Some of the difficulties I faced were:

1. British rule had a damaging effect on Indian handicrafts. Heavy duties were imposed on goods exported into England from India. On the other hand, the cheaper machine-made products were imported from Britain almost duty free. This forced me into unemployment.
2. Due to British economic policies, India became a source of raw material for the British industries and a market for its finished products. This destroyed the business of Artisans like me.