history ch.11:The Making of the National Movement: 1870s-1947

        History Ch.11:    The Making of the National Movement: 1870s-1947

Question.1. Why were people dissatisfied with British rule in the 1870s and 1880s?
Answer. People were dissatisfied with British rule in the 1870s and 1880s due to the following reasons:
(i) The British passed the Arms Act in 1878 which disallowed Indians from possessing arms.
(ii) In the same year they passed the Vernacular Press Act. This Act snatched the freedom of speech and expression.
(iii) In 1883, the Ilbert Bill was introduced. The bill provided for the trial of British or European persons by Indians . But the white opposition forced the government to withdraw the bill.

Question.2. Who did the Indian National Congress wish to speak for?
Answer. The Indian National Congress wished to speak for the entire people belonging to different communities of India.

Question.3. What economic impact did the First World War have on India?
Answer. The First World War led to a huge rise in the defence expenditure of the Government of India. Increased military expenditure and the demands for war supplies led to the sharp rise in prices which badly affected the common people.
But the business groups earned huge profits from the war. The war created a demand for industrial goods like jute bags, cloth, rails, and caused a decline of imports from other countries into India. As a result Indian industries expanded during the war.

Question.4. What did the Muslim League resolution of 1940 ask for?
Answer. The Muslim League resolution of 1940 asked for “Independent States’ for Muslims in the north-western and eastern areas of the country. The resolution did not mention partition or the name Pakistan.

Question.5. Who were the Moderates? How did they propose to struggle against British rule?
Answer. The Moderates were against taking extreme actions. They had deep faith in the good intention of the government.  The Moderate leaders developed public awareness about the unjust nature of British rule. They published newspapers, wrote articles and showed how British rule was leading to the economic ruin of the country. 

6. How was the politics of the Radicals within the Congress different from that of the Moderates?

Answer: The Radicals were opposed to the “politics of prayers” followed by the Moderates within the Congress. They explored more radical objectives and methods. They emphasised the importance of self reliance and constructive work. They argued that people must rely on their own strength, not on the “good” intentions of the government as was the stated policy of the Moderates.

Question.7. Discuss the various forms of the Non-Cooperation Movement took in different parts of India. How did the people understand Gandhiji?
Answer. The Non-Cooperation Movement took various forms in different parts of the country:
(i) In Kheda, Gujarat, Patidar peasants were worried about the high land revenue demand of the British. Hence, they orgainsed non-violent campaigns againgt it.
(ii) In coastal Andhra and interior Tamil Nadu, liquor shops were picketed.
(iii) In the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, tribals and poor peasants started several forest satyagrahas’, sometimes sending their cattle into forests without paying grazing tax.
(iv) In Punjab, the Akali agitation of the Sikhs sought to drive out corrupt mahants, supported by the British, from the gurudwaras. 

    (v) In Assam, tea garden labourers left the British-owned plantations and became the followers of Gandhi.

Question.8. Why did Gandhiji choose to break the salt law?
Answer. Gandhiji was very much worried about the salt law. According to this law, the state had a monopoly on the manufacture and sale of salt. Gandhiji thought that it was sinful to tax salt because it is an essential item of our food and is required equally by the rich and the poor. Hence he decided to break this law in anticipation that people from all walks of life would extend their support. Needless to say that Gandhiji’s Salt March became very successful.

uestion.9. Discuss those developments of the 1937-47period that led to the creation of Pakistan.

Answer. 1)From the late-1930s, the Muslim League began viewing the Muslims as a separate-nation from the Hindus.

  2) The provincial elections of 1937 also might have convinced the League the Muslims were a minority .
3)In 1940, the League finally moved a resolution demanding ‘Independent States’ for Muslims in the north¬western and eastern areas of the country.
4)In the provincial electrons in 1946 the League got grand success in the seats reserved for Muslims. Hence it persisted its demand for Pakistan.
5)In March 1946, .The failure of the Cabinet Mission made partition inevitable. Ultimately in 1947 partition took place with the birth of a new country, i.e. Pakistan.

important words:

• Sarvajanik: All the people.
• Sovereign: Being independent without outside interference.
• Publicist: Someone who publicises an idea by circulating information, writing reports, speaking at public meetings.
• Moderate: A person who is against taking extreme action.
• Repeal: To cancel law.
• Radical: A person who welcomes new ideas or opinions.
• Revolutionary Violence: The use of violence to make a radical change within society.
• Council: An appointed or elected body of people with an administrative advisory or representative function.
• Knighthood: An honour granted by British crown for exceptional personal achievement or public service.
• Picket: A person or a group of people protesting outside a building or shop to prevent others from entering.
• Mahants: Religious functionaries of Sikh gurudwaras.
• Illegal eviction: Forcible and unlawful throwing out of tenants from the land they rent.
• RSS: It stands for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
• Purna Swaraj: Complete independence.
• Provincial Autonomy: Capacity of the provinces to make relatively independent decisions while remaining within a federation.
• General Constituencies: Election districts with no reservations for any religious or other community.
• Refugee: One who has been forced to leave his country or home due to some political, religious or social reasons.

Dateline:

• 1878 — The Arms Act was passed.
• 1885 – The Vernacular Press Act was passed.
• 1905 – The Indian National Congress came into existence. Bengal got partitioned.
• 1915 –  Mahatma Gandhi came to India from South Africa. The Rowlatt Satyagraha started.
• 1919 – Rowlatt Satyagraha started.The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place.
• 1920 – The Non-Cooperation Movement started.
• 1922 – Gandhiji called off the Non-Cooperation Movement.
• 1929 – The Congress resolved to fight for Puma Swaraj.
• 26 Jan 1930 – Independence Day was observed all over the country.
• 1930 – Mahatma Gandhi launched Dandi March.
• August 1942 – The Quit India Movement started.
• 1947 – India got independence. Pakistan emerged as a new country