1. What was the impact of the First World War on India?
2. Why did the Non- cooperation Movement gradually slow down in the cities? Give reasons.
3. Why was Simon Commission constituted? Why was the commission rejected by the Indians?
4. Why did business class participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement? Explain.
5. What was Satyagraha? Explain some of the Satyagrahas launched by Gandhi.
6. What was the reaction of the people against the Rowlatt Act?
Answers
Answer:
1. The war created a new economic and political situation. (ii) It led to huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes, custom duties were raised and income tax was introduced. (iii) Prices increased, doubling between 1913 and 1918. This hit the common people.
2.REASONS for Non-Cooperation Movement slow down in cities:
Khadi cloth was often more expensive than mill cloth. Poor people could not afford to buy Khadi cloth. Boycott of British institutions also posed a problem. Alternative Indian institutions were not set up.
3.The Indians rejected the Simon Commission as it did not have even a single Indian member within its fold and hence could not be expected to represent or even take into account the concerns of the Indian populace. It was rejected by the Congress because its report was partial and inadequate.
4.The business class in India initially supported the Civil Disobedience Movement. This was because the industrialists and merchants in India had become rich during the First World War. They were keen on expanding their businesses and wanted protection against foreign industries
5.Satyagraha was a novel method of mass struggle introduced by Mahatma Gandhi. Satyagraha is a synthesis of 'Satya' meaning truth and 'Agraha' means to persuade. It encompassed non-violent modes of protest against the majestic policies of the British.It represented not physical force but pure soul force.
6.6th April, 1919: Gandhi started the non-violent civil disobedience movement for opposing the Rowlatt Act with a nation-wide hartal. Shops were closed down, rallies were organised and rail workshop workers went on strike. Widespread attacks on banks, post offices and railway stations took place.