Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Effect of War
War led to a rise in defense spending financed by loans and higher
taxes.
Prices doubled between 1913 and 1918, causing hardship for people. Forced
conscription in rural areas caused anger among the population.
Crop failures and an influenza outbreak resulted in food shortages.
Between 12-13 million people died from famine and epidemic caused by
the war.
Mnemonic
L - Led to Increase in Defence Expenditure
I - Income Tax was introduced & Custom Duties were raised.
LIPSI P - Prices were increased
S - Supply of Soldiers & Forced Requirment
I - In India, Acute Shortage of Food & Spreading of Influenza
Satyagraha
Satyagraha focused on the importance of truth and the pursuit of it.
It advocated that physical force was unnecessary to fight against
injustice if the cause was true.
Through non-violence, a Satyagrahi could win without seeking
revenge or being aggressive.
The aim was to persuade people, including oppressors, to
see the truth, rather than imposing it through violence.
Satyagraha ensured that truth would ultimately
triumph.
In January 1915, Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa. He
visited Champaran in Bihar in 1916 to motivate peasants to fight against
the oppressive plantation system. The following year, he led a Satyagraha to
support the demands of the Kheda district peasants in Gujarat to relax revenue
collection. In 1918, Gandhi organized a Satyagraha among cotton mill workers
in Ahmedabad.
Swaraj In Plantations:-
Plantation workers in Assam desired the freedom to move
freely in and out and maintain a connection with their
hometowns.
The Inland Emigration Act of 1859 restricted plantation
workers from leaving the tea gardens without permission.
Upon learning of the Non-Cooperation Movement, many
plantation workers left their jobs and attempted to
return home.
Unfortunately, the workers were apprehended by the
police and subjected to severe beatings, never reaching
their intended destinations.
The Non-Cooperation Movement was withdrawn in 1922 due to its violent turn.
Some leaders wanted to participate in provincial council elections & formed the
Swaraj Party. The late 1920s saw the worldwide economic depression & falling
agricultural prices. The Statutory Commission was set up to review the
constitutional system in India & suggest changes. The Simon Commission was met
with the slogan "Go back Simon". In 1929, the Lahore Congress formalized the
demand for "Purna Swaraj" or full independence for India. January 26, 1930, was
declared as Independence Day.
Salt March
January 31, 1930: Gandhi sends a letter to Viceroy Irwin outlining eleven
demands, including the abolition of the salt tax.
March 11, 1930: Deadline for the British government to meet the
demands or face civil disobedience.
March 12, 1930: Gandhi begins the Salt March, accompanied by 78
volunteers.
Distance of the march: Over 240 miles, from Sabarmati ashram to
Dandi.
April 6, 1930: Gandhi reaches Dandi and breaks the salt law by making
salt from seawater.
Civil Disobedience Movement