The Making of The National Movement | 1870’s – 1947 | Chapter 9 | History 8th |

The Making of The National Movement | 1870’s – 1947 | Chapter 9 | History 8th |

Chapter 9 – The Making of The National Movement | 1870’s – 1947 |

Let’s Recall

Q1. Why were people dissatisfied with British rule in the 1870s and 1880s?

Ans. There was great dissatisfaction with British rule in the 1870s and 1880s. Some of the reasons for this dissatisfaction are as follows.

(a) The Arms Act, passed in 1878, this Act disallowed Indians from possessing arms.

(b) The Vernacular Press Act, passed in the same year as the Arms Act, Act was aimed at silencing those who were critical of the government. Under this Act, the government could confiscate the assets of newspapers if they published anything that was found objectionable.

(c) The Ilbert Bill controversy. In 1883, the government tried introducing the Ilbert Bill. This bill provided for the trial of British or European individuals by Indians, and sought equality between British and Indian judges in the country. However, the white opposition forced the government to withdraw the bill. This enraged the Indians further.

 

Q2. Who did the Indian National Congress wish to speak for?

Ans. The Congress, according to Badruddin Tyabji (its first president), was composed of the representatives of all the different communities of India. Thus, it was an organization that wished to speak for India as a whole, in all its diversity.

Q3. What economic impact did the First World War have on India?

Ans. The First World War created a new economic and political situation.

i. It led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes

ii. customs duties were raised and income tax introduced.

iii. Through the war years, prices increased - doubling between 1913 and 1918 - leading to extreme hardship for the common people.

iv. Villages were called upon to supply soldiers, and the forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread anger.

v. Then in 1918-19 and 1920-21, crops failed in many parts of India, resulting in acute shortages of food.

vi. This was accompanied by an influenza epidemic.

vii. According to the census of 1921, 12 to 13 million people perished as a result of famines and the epidemic.

viii. People hoped that their hardships would end after the war was over. But that did not happen.

Q4. What did the Muslim League resolution of 1940 ask for?

Ans. The Muslim League resolution of 1940 asked for the Independent States for Muslims in the North-Western and Eastern areas of the country.

Q. When was Bengal partitioned?

Ans. Bengal was partitioned in 1905 by Viceroy Curzon.

Let’s Discuss