Class 8 History Chapter 9 – The Making of the National

Movement: 1870s–1947

Q1. Why were people dissatisfied with British rule in the 1870s and 1880s?
Answer.
People were dissatisfied with British rule because of the following reasons:
a. British were exercising control over the resources of India
b. British were attempting to control the lives of its people and until this control ended, India could
not be for Indians.
c. The Arms Act was passed in 1878, disallowing Indians from possessing arms.
d. The Vernacular Press Act was also enacted in 1878, in an effort to silence those who were critical
of the government.
e. In 1883, there was a furore over the attempt by the government to introduce the Ilbert Bill. The bill
provided for the trial of British or European persons by Indians, and sought equality between British
and Indian judges in the country.
Q2. Who did the Indian National Congress wish to speak for?
Answer.
The Congress was composed of the representatives, not of any one class or community of India, but
of all the different communities of India.
Hence, the party wished to speak for the masses in the fight for freedom.
Q3. What economic impact did the First World War have on India?
Answer.
The First World War altered the economic and political situation in India.
It led to a huge rise in the defence expenditure of the Government of India.
The government, in turn, increased taxes on individual incomes and business profits. Increased
military expenditure and the demands for war supplies led to a sharp rise in prices, which created
great difficulties for the common people.
On the other hand, business groups reaped fabulous profits from the war.
The first world war caused a decline in imports from other countries into India.
Q4. What did the Muslim League resolution of 1940 ask for?
Answer.
In 1940 the Muslim League had moved a resolution demanding “Independent States” for Muslims in
the north-western and eastern areas of the country. The resolution did not mention partition or
Pakistan.
Q5. Who were the Moderates? How did they propose to struggle against British rule?
Answer.
The Moderate leaders wanted to develop 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.
They criticised British rule in their speeches and sent representatives to different parts of the country
to mobilise public support.
They felt that the British had respect for the ideals of freedom and justice and so would accept the
just demands of Indians. What was necessary, therefore, was to express these demands and make
the government aware of the feelings of Indians.
Q6. How was the politics of the Radicals within the Congress different from that of the
Moderates?
Answer.
In the fight for swaraj, the radicals advocated mass mobilisation and boycott of British institutions
and goods.
Some individuals also began to suggest that “revolutionary violence” would be necessary to
overthrow British rule.
Moderates, on the other hand, wanted to follow the rules, the laws and the order posed by the
British.
They followed the ‘practise of prayers’ which the radicals totally opposed.
Q7. Discuss the various forms that the Non-Cooperation Movement took in different parts of
India. How did people understand Gandhiji?
Answer.
Different places in the country showed different reactions, given below:
a. At Kheda in Gujarat, Patidar peasants organised nonviolent campaigns against the high land
revenue demand of the British.
b. In coastal Andhra and interior Tamil Nadu, liquor shops were picketed.
c. In the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, tribals and poor peasants staged a number of “forest
satyagraha”, sometimes sending their cattle into forests without paying grazing fee.
d. In Sind (now in Pakistan), Muslim traders and peasants were very enthusiastic about the Khilafat
call.
e. In Bengal too, the Khilafat-Non-Cooperation alliance gave enormous communal unity and strength
to the national movement.
f. In Punjab, the Akali agitation of the Sikhs sought to remove corrupt mahants – supported by the
British – from their gurdwaras.
People thought of Gandhiji as a kind of messiah, as someone who could help them overcome their
misery and poverty. Gandhiji wished to build class unity and not class conflict. Yet, peasants could
imagine that he would help them in their fight against zamindars, and agricultural labourers believed
he would provide them with the land. At times, ordinary people credited Gandhiji with their own
achievement.
Q8. Why did Gandhiji choose to break the salt law?
Answer.
The Salt March related the general desire of freedom to a specific grievance shared by everybody
and thus did not divide the rich and the poor.
Hence, in 1930, Gandhiji declared that he would lead a march to break the salt law.
Q9. Discuss those developments of the 1937-47 period that led to the creation of Pakistan.
Answer.
The developments of 1937-47, which led to the creation of Pakistan, are given below:
a. A two-nation theory – Initially the Muslim league never mentioned Pakistan to be the nation of
Muslims however; since 1930s, it started demanding a separate country for Muslims.
b. Provincial elections of 1937 – The elections were a decisive factor for Muslim league to decide
that Muslims are a minority in India and they have to have a separate nation for them for their just
representation in the politics.
c. Rift between congress and Muslim league – When congress rejected the Muslim league’s offer for
a joint congress-league government in united provinces, the league decided to part ways forever.
d. Failed talks – No discussion could turn out to be successful, where both Congress and Muslim
league could come to a conclusion of a single nation. British too, at the end of 2nd world war,
opened negotiation talks with both congress and the league. However, it turned futile.
e. Provincial elections of 1946 – Muslim league’s spectacular victory on the seats reserved for
Muslims gave them the confidence to create a separate nation.
f. Mass agitation – The failure of cabinet mission of 1946 led to the mass agitation led by the Muslim
league.
g. Partition was finalised and Pakistan was born.
EXTRA QUESTION ANSWERS

Q10. What had happened in Chauri Chaura that Gandhiji called off his Non-Cooperation
movement?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi was against violence.
He abruptly called off the Non-Cooperation movement in February. 1922 when a crowd of
peasants set fire to a police station in Chauri Chaura. 22 policemen were killed.
The peasants were provoked because the police had fired on their peaceful demonstration.

Q 11. Who was A.O Hume? What role did he play in the history of
India?

Answer: A.O Hume was a retired British official. He played an

important role in bringing Indians from the various regions together.And
he also founded Indian National Congress.
Q12. Write a brief note on government of India Act 1935.

Answer: Government of India Act of 1935 prescribed provincial

autonomy and the government announced elections to the
provincial legislatures in 1937. The Congress formed governments in
7 out of 11 provinces.

Q13. Why did Mahatma Gandhi break the salt law?

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi broke the salt law because according to

this law, the state had a monopoly on the manufacture and sale of
salt.

Mahatma Gandhi along with other nationalists reasoned that it was

sinful to tax salt since it is such an essential item of our food.

Q14. Why was Simon commission sent to India? Why did Indian boycott it? |

In 1927 the British government in England decided to send a

Answer:
commission headed by Lord Simon to decide India’s political future.
The Commission had no Indian representative.
The decison created an outrage in India. All political groups decided
to boycott the Commission.
When the Commission arrived it was met with demonstrations with
banners saying “Simon Go Back”.