THE MAKING OF NATIONAL MOVEMENT 1870-1947 class 8th

 

CHAPTER 09

THE MAKING OF NATIONAL MOVEMENT 1870-1947

Q. Why were people dissatisfied with British rule in the 1870s and 1880s?

ANS: - Some of the reasons for dissatisfaction with British rule in the 1870s and 1880s are as follows:

• The Arms Act was passed in 1878. This Act disallowed Indians from possessing arms. The Vernacular Press Act was passed in 1878. This Act empowered the government to confiscate the assets of newspapers, including their printing presses, if the newspaper published anything "objectionable". The government tried to introduce the Llandudno Bill in 1883. The bill made provisions for the trial of British or European persons by Indians. Thus, the Ilbert Bill sought equality between British and Indian judges in the country. But the whites opposed the bill and forced the government to withdraw it.

Q. Who did the Indian National Congress wish to speak for?

• ANS: - In spite of being a body of the educated elite, the Congress also talked about the common people.

Q.What economic impact did the First World War have on India?

• ANS: The first World War altered the economic situation in India ed to a huge rise in the defense expenditure of the Govt. of India The government increased taxes on individual incomes and bushes profits. Increased demands for war supply led to a sharp rise in prices which created great difficulties for the common men. On the other hand, business groups reaped fabulous profits from the war. The war created demand for industrial goods (like jute bags, cloth, rails, etc.) & caused decline of imports from ohetountries in india so Indian industries expanded during the Indian business groups began to demand greater opportunities for economic development.

Q. What did the Muslim League resolution of 1940 ask for?

• ANS: - In the 1940s, the Muslim League moved a resolution to demand "Independent States" for the Muslims in the northwestern and eastern areas of the country.

Q. Who were the Mocderàtes? How did they propose to struggle against British rule?

• ANS: - In its first twenty years, the Congress was "moderate" in its objectives ang methods. The Congress leaders of this period were called 'Moderates'. During this period, the main demand of Congress wes about getting a greater voice for Indians in the government and administration.

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

• ANS: - They criticised the Moderates for their "policy of prayers'. They argued that people should not believe in the so-called good intentions of the government and must fight for swaraj. They wanted to explore radical methods to ensure freedom.

Q. 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 remained no-hotent at most of the places. But some people interpreted the message of Mahatma Gandhi in their own ways, mostly to suit their own grievances. The Patidar peasants of Kheda (Gujarat) organised non-violent campaigns against the high land revenue demand. Liquor shops were picketed in coastaAndhra and interior Tamil Nadu. The tribals and poor peasants in Gunter district (Andhra Pradesh) staged a number of forest satyagrahis to protest against the new forest laws.

• The Khilafat-Non-Cooperation Movement gave enormous support in Sindh and Bengal.

• In Punjab, the Akal Daghitation of the Sikhs demanded to remove the corrupt maha from gurdwaras.

• In Assam, the tea garden labourers demanded a big hike in their wages.

• They shared the slogan, "Gandhi Maharajki jai". In many folk songs of Also, Gandhiji was referred to as "Gandhi Raja".

Q. Why did Gandhiji choose to break the salt law?

• ANS: - Mahatma Gandhi and other nationalist leaders argued that salt was an essential item of our food, and hence it was wrong to impose a tax on salt. Moreover, the issue of salt affected all: the rich and poor alike. Hence, Gandhiji chose to break the salt law.

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

• ANS: - After the 1937 provincial elections, Congress refused to form a coalition government with the League in the United Provinces. Fhi liked the league leaders. The Muslim League passed resolution 1940 to demand independent states for the Muslims in northwest and eastern India. The Cabinet Mission came to Delhi in 946. Its aim was to suggest some framework for the independent nation. It suggested loose confederation and some degree of autonomy for the Muslim-majority areas. But negotiations between the Congress and the League failed. After that, the Muslim League persisted with its demand for Pakistan. Large-scale violence occurred throughout the northern part of the peninsula. The country was finally partitioned in August 1947.