Chapter 8 – The Making of the National Movement: 1870s–1947 Questions and Answers

Content Structure

A. Exercise questions and answers
B. Additional questions and answers
- Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
- Fill in the blanks
- True or False
- Match the following
- Short-type questions & answers
- Long-type questions & answers

A. Exercise questions and answers

1. Why were people dissatisfied with British rule in the 1870s and 1880s?
Ans: People were dissatisfied with British rule because of unfair laws.

Arms Act (1878): Indians were not allowed to own weapons, but the British could.
Vernacular Press Act (1878): The British banned Indian newspapers that criticized them.
Ilbert Bill Controversy (1883):
- The bill proposed that Indian judges could trial British people.
- The British strongly opposed it, so the government withdrew the bill.
- This showed British racism, which made Indians very angry.

2. Who did the Indian National Congress wish to speak for?
Ans: The Indian National Congress (INC) wanted to speak for all Indians, no matter their faith, caste, or where they lived. Its goal was to look out for the interests of everyone in the country, from farmers and workers to traders and educated Indians.
Congress fought for freedom, fairness, and equal rights for everyone in India and wanted Indians to have a say in the government.

3. What economic impact did the First World War have on India?
Ans: The First World War led to higher taxes and rising prices, making life hard for common people. At the same time, Indian industries grew because imports decreased, and businesses made more profits from war demands.

Government Spending Went Up: The Indian government spent a lot of money on the war, which made taxes go up for people and companies.
Prices Going Up: The prices of basic things went up a lot, which made life hard for most people.
Growth of Industries: The war made more people want industrial things like cloth, jute bags, and materials for building railroads.
Fewer Imports: Indian businesses were able to grow because imports from other countries went down.
Business Growth: Indian business groups made a lot of money and began asking for more business possibilities.

4. What did the Muslim League resolution of 1940 ask for?
Ans: In 1940, the Muslim League passed a motion calling for “Independent States” for the Muslims in India’s northwest and east. It didn’t talk about partition or Pakistan, but it did demand that places with a majority of Muslims be left alone. The League thought that Muslims were a separate country and wanted to have their own areas that they could rule themselves.

5. Who were the Moderates? How did they propose to struggle against British rule?
Ans: From 1885 to 1905, the Moderates were in charge of the Indian National Congress (INC). They thought that India could become self-governing through slow, peaceful changes. They thought that the British would agree to their demands if they were given in a logical way. Radical (Extremist) leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, and Lala Lajpat Rai rose to power because they were too slow to act.

Petitions and Memorandums: They asked the British government to make changes.
Debates in the Legislative Councils: They wanted more Indians to be involved in running the country.
Newspapers and public speaking helped get the word out about how unfair Britain was.
Economic Criticism: They talked about how India’s wealth was lost and poverty was caused by British rule.

6. How was the politics of the Radicals within the Congress different from that of the Moderates?
Ans:

	Moderates	Redicals
Time Period	1885 – 1905	1905 – 1919
Leaders	Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, W.C. Bonnerji	Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai
Methods	Petitions, speeches, and negotiations with the British	Protests, boycotts, and mass movements
British Rule	Believed British rule could be improved with reforms	Saw the British as exploiters and wanted complete independence
Actions	Sent petitions, wrote articles, and debated in councils	Led Swadeshi Movement and boycotted British goods
Slogan	Wanted gradual self-rule through cooperation	“Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it!” – Tilak

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 (1920-1922) spread across India in different ways.

(i) Protests by farmers:

Farmers in Kheda (Gujarat) and Awadh (U.P.) refused to pay rental and tax rates that were too high.
Tribal people in Andhra Pradesh broke the law about woods by going into them without permission.

(ii) Worker and Student:

People quit British schools.
Some lawyers quit their jobs, like Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das.
Tea workers in Assam protested because they were paid too little.

(iii) Do not buy British goods:

People stopped buying clothes from other countries and burned them in fires instead.
British goods were brought in less.

(iv) Movements in religion and the region:

The Khilafat Movement was a way for Muslims to back Gandhi.
Indian Sikhs (Akali Movement) fought against dishonest priests who were backed by the British.
People in Assam sang songs that called Gandhi “Gandhi Raja” instead of Krishna.

The people of India saw Gandhi as their rescuer who would save them and set them free. Farmers thought he would give them land and lower taxes, which would make their lives easy. He was even seen as a religious figure by some, who called him “Gandhi Maharaj” and trusted him to lead India to freedom.

8. Why did Gandhiji choose to break the salt law?
Ans: In 1930, Gandhiji broke the law on salt because everyone, rich or poor, needed it. The British controlled the production of salt and put a high tax on it, which was unfair for regular people.

Gandhiji brought Indians together against British rule by starting the Salt March, also known as the Dandi March. He did this by getting people to make their own salt. No one was hurt, and anyone could join the protest. It became a strong sign of India’s fight for freedom.

9. Discuss those developments of the 1937–47 period that led to the creation of Pakistan.
Ans: In the years 1937–1947, the Muslim League pushed for a separate country for Muslims. India was split into India and Pakistan in August 1947, after elections and fierce riots in 1946.

(i) 1937 Elections in the Provinces:

The Muslim League did badly, while Congress got most of the seats.
The League thought that under Congress’s rule, Muslims would always be a small group.

(ii) The Lahore Resolution of 1940:

‘Independent States’ were what the Muslim League wanted for Muslims in the northwest and east of India.
In the end, this became the desire for Pakistan.

(iii) How the Muslim League grew from 1939 to 1945 during World War II:

Congress was against British rule, but the Muslim League got more backing.
When leaders of Congress went to jail, the League got stronger.

(iv) 1946: Elections and Action Plan for the Cabinet

The Muslim League took most of the seats set aside for Muslims, which made its call for Pakistan stronger.
In March 1946, the British Cabinet Mission suggested that India should be united and give Muslim-majority areas their own independence. However, Congress and the League were unable to agree.

(v) The 16th of August 1946 was Direct Action Day:

Calcutta had deadly riots after the Muslim League called for large-scale protests.
It was almost certain that India would be split up by March 1947, when violence moved to northern India.

(vi) Splitting up and getting independence (August 1947):

India was split into two countries, India and Pakistan.
Millions of people were killed, forced to move, and suffered because of this.

B. Additional questions and answers

Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

1. When was the Arms Act passed?
(a) 1857
(b) 1878
(c) 1905
(d) 1919

Ans: (b) 1878

2. When was the Ilbert Bill introduced?
(a) 1883
(b) 1873
(c) 1855
(d) 1838

Ans: (a) 1883

3. What is the full form of INC?
(a) Indian National Congress
(b) Indian Native Council
(c) International National Committee
(d) Indian National Commission

Ans: (a) Indian National Congress

4. What is the meaning of “Sarvajanik”?
(a) Government rule
(b) For all people
(c) Private property
(d) Religious law

Ans: (b) For all people

5. Where was the Indian National Congress (INC) founded in December 1885?
(a) Delhi
(b) Calcutta
(c) Madras
(d) Bombay

Ans: (d) Bombay

6. How many leaders attended the first INC session in 1885?
(a) 78
(b) 70
(c) 72
(d) 150

Ans: (c) 72

7. Which regions saw the emergence of Radical leaders in Congress?
(a) Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab
(b) Gujarat, Bihar, Kerala
(c) Delhi, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu
(d) Assam, Odisha, Karnataka

Ans: (a) Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab

8. Who were the main Radical leaders in Congress?
(a) Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, W.C. Bonnerji
(b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai
(c) Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Shaukat Ali, Rajendra Prasad

Ans: (b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai

9. Who said the famous slogan, “Freedom is my birthright, and I shall have it!”?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Subhas Chandra Bose
(d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Ans: (d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

10. What was the goal of the Swadeshi Movement?
(a) To support British rule
(b) To promote foreign goods
(c) To boycott British goods and promote Indian industries
(d) To demand voting rights for Indians

Ans: (c) To boycott British goods and promote Indian industries

11. When was the Muslim League formed?
(a) 1906
(b) 1905
(c) 1907
(d) 1910

Ans: (a) 1906

12. When did Congress split?
(a) 1905
(b) 1917
(c) 1910
(d) 1907

Ans: (d) 1907

13. When did Congress reunite?
(a) 1912
(b) 1914
(c) 1915
(d) 1918

Ans: (c) 1915

14. When did India gain independence?
(a) August 15, 1947
(b) January 26, 1947
(c) October 2, 1947
(d) December 31, 1947

Ans: (a) August 15, 1947

15. When did the Russian Revolution happen?
(a) 1905
(b) 1917
(c) 1920
(d) 1935

Ans: (b) 1917

16. In which year did Mahatma Gandhi return to India?
(a) 1905
(b) 1910
(c) 1915
(d) 1920

Ans: (c) 1915

17. Which act was passed in 1919?
(a) Rowlatt Act
(b) Arms Act
(c) Ilbert Bill
(d) Vernacular Press Act

Ans: (a) Rowlatt Act

18. When did the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre occur?
(a) 1915
(b) 1918
(c) 1920
(d) 1919

Ans: (d) 1919

19. Who led the Non-Cooperation Movement?
(a) Subhas Chandra Bose
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Ans: (c) Mahatma Gandhi

20. What is the full form of RSS?
(a) Rashtriya Samajik Sangh
(b) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(c) Rashtriya Shakti Sangh
(d) Rashtriya Sangathan Samiti

Ans: (b) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

21. What is the full form of CPI?
(a) Central Political Institute
(b) Communist Party of India
(c) Council of Political Independence
(d) Central Parliamentary Institute

Ans: (b) Communist Party of India

Fill in the blanks

1. The Revolt Act curbed ___________ rights such as the freedom of expression and strngthened ___________ powers.
2. The quit India Movement started in August _______.
3. Bal Gangadhal Tilak was edited the _____________ newaspaper.
4. The all India Muslim League was formed by a group of Muslim _________ and ___________.
5. The Congress Revolt to fight for Purna Swaraj in 1929 under the presidentship of _____________.
6. _________________ was a retired British officer.
7. The words sarva meaning _______________.
8. __________ was the Victory of India.
9. In Andhra Swadeshi movement was known as the ______________________.
10. Mahatma gandhi abruptly called off the _________ movement when it took violent turn.

Ans:
1. Fundamental, police
2. 1942
3. Marathi
4. Landlords, nawabs
5. Jawaharal Nehru
6. A.O. Hume
7. All
8. Lord Curzon
9. Vandemataram Movement
10. Non-Cooperation Movement

True or False

1. Subhash Chandra Bose was a modern nationalist.
Ans: True.

2. Khan Abdul Guffar Khan also known as a Badshah Khan, founded the Kundai Khidmatgars.
Ans: True.

3. The Swadeshi Movement started after the partition of Assam.
Ans: False.

4. Maulan Azad became the major spoke-person for the demand for Pakistan.
Ans: False.

5. The Jallianwala bagh massacre occured in Amritsar on Baisakhi day.
Ans: True.

6. The Maradhi newspaper was edited by Lala Lajput Rai.
Ans: False.

7. The first women to become the president of the Indian National congress was Sarojini Naidu.
Ans: False.

8. rabindranath tagore renounced his knighthood after the jallianwala bagh massacre.
Ans: True.

9. Free India’s first Indian Governer General was C. Rajagopalachari.
Ans: True.

10. Purna Swaraj was introduced in 1920.
Ans: False.

Match the following

Column A	Column B
1. The Simmon Commission	(a) 1906
2. The quit India Movement	(b) 1919
3. The Civil Disobedience	(c) 1920
4. The Khilafat Agitation	(d) 1927
5. The all India Muslim League	(e) 1942
6. The Rewlatt Act	(f) 1930

Ans:

Column A	Column B
1. The Simmon Commission	(d) 1927
2. The quit India Movement	(e) 1942
3. The Civil Disobedience	(f) 1930
4. The Khilafat Agitation	(c) 1920
5. The all India Muslim League	(a) 1906
6. The Rewlatt Act	(b) 1919

Short-type questions & answers

1. Name the 3 members of the Redical group.
Ans: The three main people in India’s freedom fight who were part of the Radical group were

Lala Lajpat Rai
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Bipin Chandra Pal

2. Name the 3 places where Gandhiji started local movement?
Ans: In Champaran (1917), Kheda (1918), and Ahmedabad (1918), Gandhiji led local efforts to fight injustice and oppression.

3. Who were the leaders of the Khalifat agitation?
Ans: Maurlana Mohammad Ali and Maulana Shaukat Ali led the Khilafat Agitation to protect the Ottoman Caliphate, and Mahatma Gandhi supported it.

4. What does “Punjab Wrongs” mean in history
Ans: “Punjab Wrongs” is about the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in Amritsar, Punjab, in 1919, when many innocent people were killed by British forces.

5. Who was Bhagat Singh?
Ans: Bhagat Singh was a brave Indian freedom fighter who fought against British rule and was hanged in 1931 for his actions to free India.

7. Who was Chitoranjan Das?
Ans: Chittaranjan Das was an Indian lawyer, politician, and freedom fighter who started the Swaraj Party and worked for India’s independence.

8. Why did Rabindranath Tagore renounced his Knighthood?
Ans: Rabindranath Tagore gave up his knighthood in 1919 to protest the killing of many innocent Indians by British soldiers at Jallianwala Bagh.

9. What is the full form of HSRA?
Ans: The full form of HSRA is Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.

10. Who gave the slogan ‘Do or Die’?
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi said the slogan during the Quit India Movement in 1942.

11. Why did Mahatma Gandhi break the Salt Law?
Ans: In 1930, Gandhiji broke the Salt Law because the British taxed salt too much, even though everyone needed it.

12.Why did the Muslim League declare Direct Action Day?
Ans: The Muslim League declared Direct Action Day on August 16, 1946, to demand a separate country, Pakistan.

13. What Caused the partition of Bengal in 1905?
Ans: The British started the Partition of Bengal in 1905 to weaken Indian unity. They said it was for better management, but the real goal was to split Hindus and Muslims out.

14. Why was Simmon Commission sent to India?
Ans: The Simon Commission was sent to India in 1927 to look into its government system, but Indians were against it because it didn’t have any Indian members.

15. How did people paricipate in the Non-coperation Movement?
Ans: During the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922), people stopped buying British goods, going to British schools, courts, and offices, and taking part in peaceful protests.

16. Write a short note about Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan.
Ans: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan fought for freedom and was a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi. He started the Khudai Khidmatgar (Red Shirt Movement) and pushed for India’s fight for freedom to be peaceful. People called him “Frontier Gandhi.”

17. Who was Maulana Azad.
Ans: Maulana Azad fought for India’s independence and was the country’s first Education Minister. He also worked for education and peace between Hindus and Muslims.

18. Write a short note on Khalifat agitation.
Ans: The Khilafat Movement (1919–1924) was launched by Indian Muslims to protect the Ottoman Caliph, led by the Ali brothers and supported by Mahatma Gandhi.

Long-type questions & answers

1. What was the Rowlatt Act (1919) and how did people protest against it?
Ans: The Rowlatt Act of 1919 let the British arrest people without a trial. This caused riots all over the country, which were led by Gandhiji. There was violence during the protests, and many innocent people were killed in the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.

(i) The Rowlatt Act and Gandhi’s Protest

The Rowlatt Act (1919) gave the British power to arrest people without trial and restrict free speech.
Gandhi, Jinnah, and others opposed it, calling it unfair and cruel.
On April 6, 1919, Gandhi led a nationwide protest and urged people to:
- Pray and protest peacefully.
- Observe a hartal (strike).
- Join Satyagraha Sabhas to resist non-violently.

(ii) Rowlatt Satyagraha – First All-India Protest

It was India’s first nationwide movement against British rule, mostly in cities.
Riots and strikes broke out across India.
The British used force to stop the protests.

(iii) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919)

On Baisakhi, General Dyer ordered soldiers to fire at peaceful protesters in Amritsar.
Hundreds were killed, and thousands were injured.
In protest, Rabindranath Tagore gave up his Knighthood.

(iv) Hindu-Muslim Unity in the Movement

Gandhi encouraged Hindus and Muslims to unite against British rule.
He believed all religions should work together for India’s freedom.

2. How did Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt March (1930) help India’s freedom struggle?
Ans: In 1930, Gandhiji broke the Salt Law because the British taxed salt too much, even though everyone needed it.

(i) The Salt March (Dandi March, 1930)

Why was the Salt Law unfair?
- The British controlled salt and put high taxes on it.
- Since salt was essential, the tax hurt everyone.
The 240-mile March:
- Gandhi walked from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi with thousands of people.
- Women, workers, and tribal people joined the movement.
- Protesters made their own salt to break the law.
British Response:
- Police arrested and beat peaceful protesters.
- Gandhi and many leaders were jailed.

(ii) Outcome: Government of India Act (1935) & Elections (1937)

British were forced to make changes.
The Government of India Act (1935) gave some self-rule to Indian states.
Congress won elections in 7 out of 11 provinces in 1937.

3. Why did Gandhiji start the Quit India Movement in 1942 and what happened next?
Ans: From 1942 to 1947, Gandhi led the Quit India Movement, which demanded that the British leave India right away with the slogan “Do or Die.” It made British power less strong, even though protests stopped and leaders were jailed. This made India free in 1947.

(i). Gandhi’s Call for Immediate Freedom

During World War II, Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement in 1942.
Demand: The British must leave India immediately.
Slogan: “Do or Die,” meaning fight for freedom, but without violence.

(ii). British Reaction & Spread of the Movement

Gandhi and other leaders were jailed immediately, but the movement spread across India.
Students, peasants, and youth joined in large numbers, leaving schools and colleges.
People attacked British symbols of power like government buildings and transport systems.
In some areas, Indians set up their own local governments.

(iii). Harsh British Repression

Over 90,000 Indians were arrested.
By the end of 1943, around 1,000 protesters were killed in police firings.
The British used extreme force, including firing from airplanes, to crush protests.

(iv). Impact of the Movement

Though suppressed, the Quit India Movement weakened British control.
It proved that India would no longer accept foreign rule.
It was one of the final major movements before India gained independence in 1947.

4. How did the Muslim League’s demand for Pakistan lead to the Partition of India in 1947?
Ans: The Muslim League’s demand for Pakistan grew due to Hindu-Muslim tensions and political differences. The 1946 Direct Action Day led to riots, and after mass violence, India was partitioned in 1947, creating India and Pakistan.

(i) Muslim League’s Demand for Separate States (1940)

In 1940, the Muslim League demanded separate states in northwest and eastern India but did not mention Pakistan.

(ii) Why Did the League Want a Separate Nation?

The League saw Muslims as a separate group from Hindus by the 1930s.
Hindu-Muslim tensions in the 1920s-30s increased this belief.
1937 Elections: Congress won most states, and the League feared Muslims would always be a minority.
Congress refused to form a joint government with the League.

(iii) Growing Support for the League (1940s)

Congress failed to unite Muslims, and the League gained more power.
During World War II (1940–45), Congress leaders were jailed, and the League grew stronger.
In 1945, Britain tried to get Congress and the League to agree on India’s future, but talks failed.

(iv) 1946 Elections & Cabinet Mission Plan

Congress won most seats, but the League won Muslim seats, strengthening its demand for Pakistan.
British proposed a united India with Muslim-majority areas having self-rule, but Congress and the League disagreed.

(v) “Direct Action Day” & Widespread Violence (1946)

On August 16, 1946, the League launched “Direct Action Day”, leading to riots in Calcutta.
By March 1947, riots spread, and thousands were killed.

(vi) The Human Tragedy of Partition (1947)

Hundreds of thousands died in riots.
Women suffered abuse and violence.
Millions became refugees, leaving their homes for India or Pakistan