NCERT Solutions for Class 8

Social Science - History

Chapter 11 - The Making of the National Movement 1870s - 1947

1. Why were people dissatisfied with British rule in the 1870s and 1880s?
Ans: In the 1870s and 1880s, there was widespread discontent with British rule. The
following are some of the causes behind this dissatisfaction:
i. The Arms Act, which was passed in 1878 and prohibited Indians from owning
arms.
ii. The Vernacular Press Act, passed in 1878, was intended to silence critics of
the government. The government might seize the assets of newspapers if they
published anything that was deemed "objectionable" under this Act.
iii. The Ilbert Bill controversy- The government attempted to introduce the Ilbert
Bill in 1883. This bill allowed for the trial of British or European citizens by
Indians, and it aimed for equality in the country between British and Indian
judges. The white opposition, on the other hand, forced the government to
withdraw the bill. This infuriated the Indians even more.

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

Ans: The Indian National Congress aimed to represent all Indians, regardless of
social class, race, caste, creed, language, or gender.It declared that India, its
resources, and systems belonged to all of Indian communities, not just one class or
community.

3. What economic impact did the First World War have on India?
Ans: The Government of India's military expenditure increased dramatically as a
result of the First World War. As a result, the government raised taxes on individual
income and business profits. Increased military spending and demand for war

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supplies resulted in significant rising prices, causing great hardship for the common
people.

Business organizations, on the other side, gained huge profits from the war. The war
increased demand for industrial commodities such as jute bags, cotton, and rails
while decreasing imports from other countries. As a result, during the war, Indian
industry grew.

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

Ans: In 1940, the Muslim League passed a resolution calling for "Independent
States" for Muslims in the northwestern and eastern parts of the country.

5. Who were the Moderates? How did they propose to struggle against British
rule?
Ans: The Congress's objectives and methods were "moderate" for the first twenty
years of its existence. The Moderates were the Congress's leaders at the time. They
recommended a nonviolent battle against British control, which the radicals dubbed
"petition politics." They aimed to raise public awareness about British rule's
injustices. They published newspapers, authored articles, and demonstrated how
British rule was causing the country's economic devastation. In their lectures, they
criticized British rule and assigned representatives to various sections of the country
to mobilize public opinion. They believed that because the British respected the
ideas of liberty and justice, they would support the Indians' demands.

6. How was the politics of the Radicals within the Congress different from that
of the Moderates?
Ans: The Radicals were opposed to the Moderates' "politics of prayers" within the
Congress. They looked into more radical objectives and approaches. They
emphasized the value of self-sufficiency and productive work. They suggested that
people should rely on their own strength rather than the government's "good"
intentions (as was the stated policy of the Moderates). They believed that people
must strive for swaraj.

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7. 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 traction in 1921 and 1922.

i. Thousands of students deserted government-run schools and colleges.

ii. Many lawyers stopped practicing.

iii. British titles were relinquished.

iv. People ignited public bonfires of foreign cloth.

v. Legislatures were boycotted.

The majority of the calls for non-cooperation stemmed from local grievances.
i. Patidar peasants in Kheda, Gujarat, staged nonviolent protests against the
British's excessive land revenue demands.
ii. Liquor stores were picketed in coastal Andhra Pradesh and central Tamil
Nadu.

iii. Tribal and poor peasants in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur area revolted against the
colonial state for limiting their access to forest resources. They organized
several "forest satyagrahas," releasing their animals into forests without
paying grazing taxes.

iv. The Sikh Akali agitation in Punjab aimed to remove corrupt mahants from
their gurudwaras, which were backed by the British.
v. Tea garden laborers in Assam wanted a significant wage hike. They deserted
the British-owned plantations when their demands were not met.

People looked forward to Gandhiji as a messiah, someone who could assist them
escape poverty and misery. Agricultural laborers believed he would supply them
with land, while peasants believed he would aid them in their fight against
zamindars.

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

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Ans: The British enacted legislation that gave the government control over the
production and sale of salt. The selling of salt was likewise subject to a tax. The
imposition of a tax on salt, which was a basic commodity for food, was deemed
unjust by Mahatma Gandhi and other national leaders. The leaders made the decision
to oppose the tax. Gandhiji said in 1930 that he would lead a march to overturn the
salt ban. The Salt March was motivated by a longing for freedom shared by all
people, rich and poor alike. Gandhiji and his supporters marched almost 240
kilometres from Sabarmati to Dandi, where they defied official regulations by taking
natural salt from the seashore and boiling it to make salt. A vast number of peasants,
Tribals, and women took part. The Salt Satyagraha was documented in pamphlets.

9. Discuss those developments of the 1937-47 periods that led to the creation of
Pakistan.
Ans: The events that led to the formation of Pakistan are as follows:

i. A two-nation theory - In the late 1930s, the Muslim League began to regard
Muslims as a distinct "nation" from Hindus.

ii. Provincial elections of 1937 - The League was convinced that Muslims were
a minority and would always have to play second fiddle in whatever
democratic framework after the provincial elections of 1937. It was believed
that Muslims would be left out entirely.
iii. Muslim League and the Congress were at odds- The Congress rejected the
Muslim League's proposal for a unified Congress-League government in the
United Provinces in 1937, causing a schism between the two parties. The
League was agitated.

iv. Muslim League had a large mass support base - The Congress failed to
mobilize the Muslim people in the 1930s. The Muslim League was able to
broaden its social base as a result of this. It attempted to broaden its appeal in
the early 1940s, when the majority of Congress leaders were imprisoned.

v. Failure of talks - After the Second World War ended in 1945, the British began
negotiations for India's independence with the Congress, the League, and
themselves. The talks, however, fell through because the League considered

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 itself as the sole voice of India's Muslims, a position that the Congress could
not accept because a huge proportion of Muslims still supported it.

vi. 1946 provincial elections - Provincial elections were held once more in 1946.
The Congress did well in “General” constituencies, but the League's victory
in Muslim-only seats was stunning. As a result, more people demanded for a
Muslim-only country.

vii. Talks failed once more - In March 1946, the British government established a
three-member mission to Delhi to investigate the demand and provide a
suitable political framework for a free India. According to this mission, India
should stay intact and form a loose confederation with some autonomy for
Muslim-majority areas. But it was unable to persuade the Congress and the
Muslim community. Partition was now almost unavoidable.

viii. Rioting and mass agitation- Following the collapse of the Cabinet Mission,
the Muslim League planned to use popular agitation to achieve its Pakistan
goal. It declared August 16, 1946, to be "Direct Action Day." Riots erupted in
Calcutta on this day, lasting several days and killing tens of thousands of
people. By March 1947, the violence had spread throughout Northern India.
ix. Partition- At long last, the demand for India's partition was met, and
"Pakistan" was born.

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