INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL, DAMMAM

BOYS MIDDLE SECTION (2022-23)

CLASS VIII SOCIAL SCIENCE

HISTORY L-9 THE MAKING OF THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT

1. Why were the people dissatisfied with the British Rule in 1870s and 1880s? (3m)
The people dissatisfied with the British Rule in 1870s and 1880s due to the following reasons
The Arms Act was passed in 1878 which disallowed Indians from possessing arms.
 The Vernacular Act of 1878 was passed to silence those who criticized the government. The Act
allowed the Government to confiscate the assets of newspapers if the newspapers published something
objectionable.
 The Ilbert Bill was introduced in 1883 which allowed the trial of European or British persons by the
Indian judges and equality between the Indian judges and the British judges.
2. How did the moderates propose the struggle against British rule? (2m)
● They published newspapers, wrote articles and exposed the true nature of British to the Indians.
● They criticized the British rule in their speeches and sent representatives to different parts of the
country to mobilize public opinion.
3. The politics of the Radicals within the congress different from that of the moderates. Justify the
statement. (2m)
The Radicals within the congress were different from that of the moderates.

∙ They criticized the Moderates for their ‘politics of prayers’ & emphasized the importance of self -
reliance.

∙ They argued that people should have rely upon their own power and must fight for Swaraj.
4. Explain the contributions of the Swadeshi Movement. (3m)
The contributions of Swadeshi Movement was to oppose the British rule and encourage the ideas of self-
help, swadeshi enterprise, national education, the use of Indian languages and to boycott British
manufactured products. Large demonstrations and meetings were organised as a protest against the
partition of Bengal.
5. What economic impact did the 1st World War have on India? (4m)
The following were the impact of the 1st world war on India:
● It led to a huge increase in the defence expenditure of the government of India.
● The taxes on individuals and business profits were increased.
● The prices of all commodities increased which affected the common people.
● Villages were pressurized to supply soldiers for the war. The resources were exploited by the British.
6. Give an account about ‘The Rowlatt Satyagraha’. (3m)
In 1919, Gandhiji gave a call for a Satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act, passed by the British. The act
restricted the freedom of expression and strengthened police powers. Mahatma Gandhi, Mohammed Ali
 INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL, DAMMAM
BOYS MIDDLE SECTION (2022-23)
CLASS VIII SOCIAL SCIENCE

Jinnah and others strongly opposed this Act. April 6th 1919, was observed as a day opposing the Act. It
was a non - violent opposition. Satyagraha sabhas were set - up all over India against the Rowlatt Act . It
was the first all -India struggle against the British government.
7. Why did Gandhiji choose to break the salt law? (3m)

∙ Gandhiji choose to break the Salt Law because according to Salt Law, the British Government had a
monopoly on the manufacture and sale of salt and people had to pay tax for buying salt.
∙ It was sinful to tax salt as it is such an essential item of our food.
∙ It was a specific grievance shared by everybody both by the rich and the poor.

8. Mention how the Non - Cooperation movement gained momentum through 1921-1922. (4m)
The Non - Cooperation movement gained momentum through 1921-1922. Thousands of students left
government controlled schools and colleges. People lit public bonfires of foreign cloth. In Kheda, Gujrat,
the Patidar peasants launched a non – violent movement to oppose the high land revenue demand of the
British. In coastal Andhra and interior Tamil Nadu, liquor shops were picketed.
9. ‘Partition became more or less inevitable’. Explain the scenario. (4m)

∙ The Muslim League resolution of 1940 asked for a separate homeland for the Muslims in the
northwestern and eastern areas of India. The Resolution did not mention partition or Pakistan.

∙ In the provincial election held in 1946, the league secured majority in the reserved seats for Muslims and
demanded for Pakistan.

∙ In March 1946 the British cabinet mission of three-members suggested a suitable political framework
for a free India that India should remain united with some autonomy for Muslim-majority areas

∙ The League rejected this proposal as their demand for Pakistan was not fulfilled. After the failure of the
Cabinet mission partition became more or less inevitable.
10. Write a short note about the following personalities. (3m each)
(a) Subhas Chandra Bose
Subhash Chandra Bose was a great Indian nationalist. This true Indian man was born on the 23rd of
January in 1897. Most noteworthy, he fought with bravery against the British rule. He was a revolutionary
freedom fighter. Subash Chandra Bose was popularly known as "Netaji".He went to Japan in 1943. This
was because the Japanese gave their agreement to his appeal for help. In Japan Subhash Chandra Bose
began the formation of the Indian National Army
(b) Ambabai
Ambabai belonged to Karnataka and had been married at the age of 12. sdhe was widowed at the age of
16. She picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops in Udipi. She was arrested and served a sentence and was
rearrested. She made speeches while in prison and taught spinning and organized ‘ Prabhat pheris’. She
regarded her days in prison as the happiest days of her life because they gave it a new purpose and
commitment.