DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 14 The Nationalist Movement (1870 to 1947) Solutions

The Nationalist Movement in India was a long struggle by the Indian people to gain freedom from British rule. Between 1870 and 1947, many brave leaders and freedom fighters united the people of India and inspired them to fight against British policies. Important movements such as the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement played a major role in India’s independence. This chapter helps students understand the efforts, sacrifices, and patriotic spirit of the people who made India free on 15 August 1947.

Here is the solutions of book exercise of this chapter:

A. Tick (✓) the correct option.

Montague Chelmsford reforms introduced—
✓ (a) the system of Dual government.
Gandhiji started the historic Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi on—
✓ (a) March 12, 1930
What was the British motive behind the partition of Bengal in July, 1905?
✓ (c) The Britishers wanted to weaken the Hindu-Muslim unity.
Who amongst the following was not a moderate?
✓ (d) Lala Lajpat Rai
The slogan “Do or Die” was given during the—
✓ (b) Quit India Movement

B. Fill in the blanks.

The rule of East India Company ended on November 1, 1858.
Azad Hind Fauj was organised by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
Early phase of Congress was under moderate leaders.
Home Rule League was started by Annie Besant in Madras.
Rowlatt Act empowered the British to put people in jail without trial.

C. Match the following

Formation of Indian National Congress — (d) 1885
Morley Minto Reforms — (e) 1909
Formation of Muslim League — (a) 1906
Montague Chelmsford Reforms — (b) 1919
Simon Commission to India — (c) 1927

D. Answer the following questions in brief.

1. Mention the main demands of the radical group of the Congress.
The radical group of the Congress demanded Swaraj (self-rule) for Indians. They wanted to boycott British goods, promote the use of swadeshi goods, and encourage national education. They also believed in adopting stronger methods like protests and public movements to oppose British rule.

2. State the major achievements of Lucknow Pact of 1916.
The Lucknow Pact of 1916 was an agreement between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. Its major achievements were:

It brought Hindus and Muslims together, showing unity against British rule.
Both organisations made joint demands for constitutional reforms.
It strengthened the national movement and increased pressure on the British Government to give Indians more rights.

3. Describe the contribution of Subash Chandra Bose in the freedom struggle of India.
Subash Chandra Bose was one of the most courageous leaders of India’s freedom struggle. He believed that India could gain independence through armed struggle. He organised the Indian National Army (INA), also called Azad Hind Fauj, to fight against the British. He inspired people with slogans like “Give me blood, and I will give you freedom” and “Jai Hind.” His leadership awakened patriotic feelings among Indians and greatly strengthened the freedom movement.

4. List the main features of the Lahore session of Congress in 1929.
The Lahore Session of Congress in 1929 was presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru. Its main features were:

The Congress declared Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) as its goal.
It was decided to celebrate 26 January 1930 as Independence Day.
The Congress called upon the people to prepare for the Civil Disobedience Movement against British rule.

5. Explain any three main provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935.
Three main provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935 were:

Provincial Autonomy: Provinces were given more freedom, and elected ministers were allowed to run the provincial governments.
Federal System: It proposed setting up an All-India Federation consisting of British provinces and princely states.
Division of Powers: Powers were divided between the Centre and Provinces into federal, provincial, and concurrent lists.

This Act was an important step in constitutional development, but the British still kept major powers in their own hands.

E. Answer the following questions.

Table of Contents

1. Who were the moderates? What were their main demands?

The moderates were the early leaders of the Indian National Congress who believed in peaceful and constitutional methods to achieve reforms. They trusted the British sense of justice and wanted to bring changes through petitions, prayers, and discussions. Important moderate leaders were Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Surendranath Banerjee, and Pherozeshah Mehta.

Their main demands were:

Greater participation of Indians in government services and administration.
Reduction in military expenditure and land revenue taxes.
Expansion of legislative councils with more Indian members.
Freedom of speech and expression.
Holding the ICS examination in India so that more Indians could join civil services.

The moderates laid the foundation of India’s national movement by creating political awareness among the people.

2. Describe the role played by any two mass movements towards intensifying the struggle for freedom.

Two important mass movements that intensified the freedom struggle were the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement.

(i) Non-Cooperation Movement (1920):

This movement was started by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920. People were asked to boycott British goods, schools, colleges, law courts, and government jobs. Thousands of people surrendered British titles and started using swadeshi goods. This movement united people from different parts of India and turned the freedom struggle into a mass movement.

(ii) Civil Disobedience Movement (1930):

This movement began with the famous Dandi March, where Gandhiji broke the salt law. People openly disobeyed British laws by making salt, boycotting foreign goods, and refusing to pay taxes. It showed the strength of Indian unity and increased pressure on the British government.

Both these movements encouraged common people to participate actively in the struggle for freedom.

3. Why did Gandhiji give a call to start Non-Cooperation Movement? Which activities gave momentum to this Movement?

Gandhiji gave the call for the Non-Cooperation Movement because the British government had become unjust and oppressive. The main reasons were:

The Rowlatt Act (1919): It allowed the British to arrest and imprison Indians without trial.
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919): Hundreds of innocent Indians were killed by British troops.
The Khilafat issue: Muslims were unhappy with British policies towards Turkey after World War I.

These incidents convinced Gandhiji that cooperation with the British government must end.

The activities that gave momentum to the movement were:

Boycott of foreign goods
Boycott of government schools and colleges
Resignation from government jobs
Return of titles and honours
Promotion of khadi and swadeshi goods

These activities united millions of Indians and gave a strong push to the freedom struggle.

4. Describe two main features of each of Morley Minto Reforms of 1909 and Government of India Act of 1919 as well as 1935.

Morley Minto Reforms (1909):

The number of members in the legislative councils was increased.
It introduced separate electorates for Muslims, which allowed Muslims to elect their own representatives.

Government of India Act (1919):

It introduced dyarchy in provinces, dividing subjects into reserved and transferred categories.
It increased the number of Indian members in legislative councils.

Government of India Act (1935):

It introduced provincial autonomy, giving provinces the power to manage their own affairs.
It proposed the formation of an All-India Federation of provinces and princely states.

These reforms gradually increased Indian participation in administration, but the British retained real power.

5. “Quit India Movement was the last blow to the British rule in India.” Give arguments in support of this statement.

The Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in August 1942 with the slogan “Do or Die.” It is called the last blow to British rule because:

Mass participation: Millions of Indians including students, workers, and farmers joined the movement.
Strong resistance: People organized strikes, protests, and demonstrations against British rule.
British authority weakened: Government offices, railways, and communication systems were disrupted.
Clear message of independence: Indians made it clear that they would no longer accept British rule.
British realized they could not continue: After the movement, the British understood that it was impossible to govern India against the will of the people.

Although the movement was suppressed, it forced the British to prepare for leaving India, which finally happened in 1947.

Short Summary:

The Nationalist Movement in India was the struggle of Indians to gain freedom from British rule between 1870 and 1947. The Indian National Congress was formed in 1885 to demand rights for Indians. In the beginning, moderate leaders used peaceful methods like prayers and petitions, while later radical leaders demanded self-rule through stronger actions.

Mahatma Gandhi led major movements such as the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement, which united people from all parts of India. Leaders like Subhash Chandra Bose, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Jawaharlal Nehru also played important roles in the freedom struggle.

After many sacrifices and continuous efforts, India finally became independent on 15 August 1947. This movement taught the values of unity, patriotism, and sacrifice.

Key Points to Remember:Class 8 DAV SST Chapter 13 Colonialism and Urban Change Solutions

The Indian National Congress was formed in 1885 to demand greater rights for Indians.
The early Congress leaders were called Moderates, who believed in peaceful methods like petitions and prayers.
The Radicals demanded Swaraj (self-rule) and encouraged boycott of British goods.
The Partition of Bengal (1905) was done by the British to weaken national unity.
The Muslim League was formed in 1906.
The Lucknow Pact (1916) brought the Congress and the Muslim League together.
Mahatma Gandhi led important movements such as the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement.
The Dandi March was started by Gandhiji on 12 March 1930 to break the salt law.
The slogan “Do or Die” was given during the Quit India Movement in 1942.
India became independent on 15 August 1947 after a long freedom struggle.
DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 12 Solutions | Impact of British Rule in India (All Questions Solved)