AMITY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, NOIDA

HISTORY HANDOUT - CLASS VIII

THE MAKING OF THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT
Q1. How was the politics of the Radicals within the congress different from that of the
moderates?
Ans: The Radicals within the congress were much different from the moderates. They
criticized the moderates for their ‘politics of prayers’ and emphasized the
importance of self -reliance and their constructive work. They argued that people
must rely on their own power not on the ‘good’ intentions of the government and
people must fight for Swaraj.
Q2. Who were Moderates? How did they propose the struggle against British rule?
Ans: (i) The first twenty years of the congress were dominated by Moderates who
were very liberal in their objectives and methods.
(ii) They believed in goodness and justice of the British and believed in making
appeals to the British through speeches and articles.
(iii) The moderate leaders wanted to develop public awareness about the unjust
nature of the British rule.
(iv) They published newspapers, wrote articles and exposed the true nature of
British to the Indians.
(v) They criticized British rule in their speeches and sent representatives to
different parts of the country to mobilize public opinion.
(vi) They believed that their moderate demands would be accepted by the
colonial rule
Q3. What economic impact did the First World War have on India?
Ans: The economic impact of the First World War on India was –
(i) Huge rise in the defence expenditure of the government of India. The
government in turn increased taxes on individual incomes and business
profits.
(ii) Increased military expenditure and the demands for war supplies led to a
sharp rise in prices which created great difficulties for the common people.
(iii) Indians were dragged in to war and the resources were badly exploited by
the British.
 (iv) Business groups reaped fabulous profits from war, as war created a demand
for industrial goods like jute bags, cloth, rails etc. and caused decline of
imports from other countries into India.
Q4. Why were the people dissatisfied with the British rule in the 1870’s and 1880’s.
Ans: The people were dissatisfied with the British rule in the 1870’s and 1880’s because
(i) The Arms Act was passed in 1878 which disallowed Indians from possessing
arms.
(ii) The Vernacular Press Act was also passed in 1878 which confiscated the
assets of newspapers including their printing presses if they published
something ‘objectionable’. It was an effort to silence those who were critical
of the government.
(iii) The IIbert Bill was introduced in 1883, which allowed the Indian judges to try
cases involving the Europeans and was strongly opposed by the whites. This
enraged the Indians.
Q5. Mention the economic issues raised by the early Congress.
Ans The economic issues were –
(i) British rule had led to poverty and famines.
(ii) Shortage of food because of export of grains to Europe.
(iii) Reduction of Revenue.
(iv) Cut in Military Expenditure.
(v) Abolition of Salt Tax.
Q6. Describe the aim of Swadeshi Movement.
Ans: The aim of Swadeshi Movement was to oppose British rule, encourage the ideas of
self – help, national education and use of Indian language and to boycott British
manufactured products.
Q7. Why did Gandhiji choose to break the Salt law?
Ans: (i) Gandhiji chose to break the Salt law because this law required people to pay
tax on the purchase of salt and the state had a monopoly on the manufacture
and sale of salt.
(ii) It was sinful to tax salt since it is such an essential item of our food and used
by both rich and poor.
(iii) As a result, Gandhiji launched the Salt Satyagraha Movement on 12 th March
1930 and marched from Sabarmati Ashram to coastal town of Dandi where
 the Salt law was broken by gathering natural salt found on the seashore and
boiling sea water to produce salt.
Q8. Discuss those developments of 1937 – 47 period that led to the creation of Pakistan.
Ans: (i) From the late 1930’s the League began viewing the Muslims as a separate
‘nation’ from the Hindus.
(ii) The Provincial elections of 1937 seemed to have convinced the League that
Muslims were a minority, and they would always have to play second fiddle
in any democratic structure.
(iii) The Congress’s rejection of the League’s desire to form a joint Congress -
League Government in the United Provinces in 1937 also annoyed the
League.
(iv) The Muslim League passed a resolution in 1940, demanded the partition of
India and creation of ‘Independence State’ for Muslims.
(v) In the provincial election held in 1946, the league secured majority in
reserving the seats for Muslims and demanded for ‘Pakistan’.
(vi) In March 1946, the Cabinet Mission arrived in Delhi to examine the demand
and suggest a suitable political framework for a free India.
(vii) The mission suggested that India should remain united and constitute itself
as a loose confederation with some autonomy.
(viii) The league rejected the proposal as their demand for Pakistan was not
fulfilled.
(ix) After the failure of the Cabinet Mission, partition became inevitable.
(x) Finally, in August 1947, partition took place, and a separate country Pakistan
was created.
Q9. Give an account of Rowlatt Satyagraha.
Ans: (i) The Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 by the British.
(ii) The Act curbed fundamental rights such as the freedom of expression and
strengthened police powers.
(iii) This Act empowered the provincial governments to search any place and
arrest any person whom they suspected without a warrant.
(iv) Mahatma Gandhi, Mohammad Ali Jinnah and other leaders criticized the act
as ‘devilish’ and tyrannical.
(v) Satyagraha Sabhas were organized under the leadership of Gandhiji.
 (vi) On 6 April 1919 a nationwide hartal was launched, and the day was observed
as a day of non-violent opposition to this Act, as a day of ‘humiliation and
prayer’.
Q10. Discuss the various forms that the Non – Cooperation Movement took in different
parts of India. How did the people understand Gandhiji?
Ans: The Non – Cooperation Movement gained momentum through 1921- 22. Thousands
of students left government-controlled schools and colleges. Many lawyers such as
Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das etc gave up their practices. British titles were
surrendered and legislatures boycotted. People lit bonfires of foreign cloth.
(i) In Kheda, Gujarat, the Patidar peasants launched a non- violent movement to
oppose the high land revenue demand of the British.
(ii) In coastal Andhra and interior Tamil Nadu, Liquor shops were picketed.
(iii) In the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh tribal and poor peasants, staged a
number of ‘forest satyagrahas’ to abolish the forest regulations imposed by
the British.
(iv) In Sind, the people supported the demands of Khilafat Movement.
(v) In Bengal, the people showed enormous communal unity during Khilafat and
Non – Cooperation Movement.
(vi) In Assam, the laborers of the plantation demanded an increase in their
wages.
People thought of Gandhiji as a kind of Messiah, as someone who could help them
to overcome their misery and poverty.