The National Movement (During the First World War)

The people of India had to face various economic problems and difficulties after the

1. First Anglo-Afghan War
2. Second World War
3. First World War
4. Second Anglo-Afghan War

Answer

First World War

In the First World War, Britain was fighting against

1. France
2. USA
3. Italy
4. Ottoman Empire

Answer

Ottoman Empire

The unity between Indian National Congress and Muslim League took place at

1. Lahore Session of Congress
2. Surat Session of Congress
3. Gaya Session of Congress
4. Lucknow Session of Congress

Answer

Lucknow Session of Congress

Which among the following is considered as a great achievement of the First World War period?

1. Birth of Indian National Congress
2. Formation of Swaraj Party
3. Lucknow Pact
4. None of these

Answer

Lucknow Pact

Mrs. Annie Besant was

1. an Irish lady
2. an American lady
3. a German lady
4. a Swedish lady

Answer

an Irish lady

'New India' and 'Commonweal' newspapers were started by

1. Mohammad Ali
2. Dr. Rajendra Prasad
3. Dr. M.A. Ansari
4. Dr. Annie Besant

Answer

Dr. Annie Besant

Which among the following sessions of the Indian National Congress brought unity between Assertive and Early nationalists?

1. Varanasi Session of Congress, 1905
2. Surat Session of Congress, 1907
3. Calcutta Session of Congress, 1906
4. Lucknow Session of Congress, 1916

Answer

Lucknow Session of Congress, 1916

The headquarters of the Home Rule League formed by Annie Besant was located at

1. Adyar near Madras
2. Panki near Kanpur
3. Jehanabad
4. Bhagalpur

Answer

Adyar near Madras

In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.

1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Assertion (A) : The Lucknow Pact was a landmark in the history of freedom movement.

Reason (R) : It achieved unity between the two factions of the Congress and the League and the Congress.

Answer

Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

Explanation — The Lucknow Pact of 1916 united all the three factions, i.e. the Early nationalists, the Assertive nationalists, and the Muslim League.

Read the two statements regarding the Lucknow Pact and select the option that shows the correct relationship between (A) and (B).

(A) B.G. Tilak played an important role in bringing the Congress and Muslim League together.

(B) He realised that success could be achieved only through Hindu-Muslim unity.

1. (B) contradicts (A)
2. (B) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (B) is false
4. (A) and (B) are independent of each other

Answer

(B) is the reason for (A)

Identify the effect of the First World War on the national movement.

P : Two Home Rule Leagues were started in India in 1916.

Q : Both the factions of the Congress were united and even the Congress and Muslim League came together.

R : Gandhiji started the Civil Disobedience Movement.

S : India was granted Dominion Status.

1. P and R
2. P and Q
3. R and S
4. P and S

Answer

P and Q

When were the Home Rule Leagues started in India?

Answer

The two Home Rule Leagues were both started in 1916.

1. Home Rule League started by Tilak — April 1916
2. Home Rule League started by Annie Besant — September 1916.

Name two leaders linked with the Home Rule Leagues.

Answer

Two leaders linked with the Home Rule Leagues are Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant.

Name the famous pact which united the Assertive/Radical Nationalists and the Early Nationalists in 1916.

Answer

The Lucknow Pact of 1916 united the Assertive/Radical Nationalists and the Early Nationalists.

Why was the Lucknow Pact signed between the Muslim League and the Congress in 1916?

Answer

The World War I worsened the economic and political conditions of India. The Lucknow Pact was an agreement signed in 1916 between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League, which aimed to present a united demand for self-governance to the British.

Why was the 1916 Lucknow Session of the Indian National Congress important?

Answer

The 1916 Lucknow Session of the Indian National Congress was important as it led to the signing of the Lucknow Pact, which united the Early nationalists, Assertive nationalists, and the Muslim League.

Give one evil effect of the Lucknow Pact of 1916.

Answer

One drawback of the Lucknow Pact os 1916 is that it laid stress on the separate interests of the Hindus and the Muslims and their separate political existence, which in the led to feelings of communalism.

What do you mean by dyarchy?

Answer

Dyarchy means "dual rule". It was a system of government introduced in British India by the Government of India Act of 1919. Under this system, the powers of the provincial government were divided into two parts:

1. Reserved Subjects – Controlled by the British Governor and his Executive Council.

2. Transferred Subjects – Handled by Indian ministers who were responsible to the elected Provincial Legislative Councils. The Governor was however, not bound by their advice.

Give one merit of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms.

Answer

One merit of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms was the introduction of diarchy at the provincial level. It granted Indians a degree of self-governance at the provincial level and increased their participation in the administration.

With reference to the First World War, briefly describe the following :

(a) The attitude of the nationalists towards it.

(b) Its effects on the two groups of the Congress.

(c) Methods adopted by the Government to appease the Indian people.

Answer

(a) The nationalists resented India being apart of the World War I as the War worsened the economic and political situation on India.

1. India was thrown into the fire of war in order to safeguard the British interests. The nationalist leaders resented this step of the British Government and held demonstrations against it.
2. The Radicals opposed to the British decision of using the Indian soldiers as fodder for war cannons without even caring to assess the public opinion.
3. The Early Nationalists followed a conciliatory policy hoping that the British Government would grant India Swaraj as soon as the war would end in its favour.

(b) In 1916, Lucknow Pact was signed. Both the groups of the Congress were reunited in the Lucknow Session of the Congress, realising the need for unity in the struggle for Indian rights and Swaraj.

(c) The Government tried to appease the Indians by the following methods:

1. They promised gradual development of self-governing institutions in India.
2. In 1918, the British Government announced constitutional concessions under the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms so as to please the nationalist leaders. This formed the basis of the Government of India Act, 1919. Under this Act, system of dyarchy was introduced in the provinces. Also, the British tried to give some more administrative power in the Indian hands.

The Lucknow Pact is regarded as a landmark in the History of India. In this context, explain the following points :

(a) The parties signing the pact.

(b) Any two provisions of this pact.

(c) The importance of the pact.

Answer

(a) The Lucknow Pact of 1916 was signed between the Congress and the Muslim League.

(b) Two provisions of the Lucknow Pact are given below:

1. Abolition of the Indian Council : The Council of the Secretary of State for India operating from England, shall be abolished.
2. Governor — General's Executive Council : One-half of the members of the Governor-General's Executive Council shall be Indians, elected by the elected members of the Imperial Legislative Council.

(c) Signing of the Lucknow Pact brought together the Congress and the Muslim League, and the Early Nationalists and the Assertive Nationalists as well. They pledged to work together to achieve a common goal.

With reference to the Lucknow Pact of 1916, answer the following questions :

(a) What were the terms of the Lucknow Pact?

(b) Why was this Pact important?

Answer

(a) The terms of the Lucknow Pact of 1916 are given below:

1. Abolition of the Indian Council : The Council of the Secretary of State for India operating from England, shall be abolished.
2. Governor — General's Executive Council : One-half of the members of the Governor-General's Executive Council shall be Indians, elected by the elected members of the Imperial Legislative Council.
3. Imperial Legislative Council : The Imperial Legislative Council shall have 150 members. Four-fifth members of them shall be elected, but one-third of these shall be Muslims elected on the principle of separate electorates.
4. Except in military and foreign affairs the Imperial Legislative Council shall have full control on the Government of India.
5. The Autonomous Provinces : The Government of India shall not ordinarily interfere in the local affairs of the Provinces.
6. Provincial Legislative Councils : Four-fifth members of the Provincial Legislative Councils shall be directly elected by the people on a broad franchise, but the Muslim members, as mutually agreed province by province, shall be elected by separate Muslim electorates. The Provincial Legislative Council shall have full control over the Provincial Government.
7. Protecting Religious Interests : No Legislative Council shall proceed with a Bill or Resolution if 3/4th members of any community are opposed to it on the ground that it adversely affects its interests.
8. Separation of Judiciary from Executive : The Judiciary in every province shall be placed under the Highest Court of the province. Executive officers in India shall have no judicial powers.

(b) Signing of the Lucknow Pact brought together the Congress and the Muslim League, and the Early Nationalists and the Assertive Nationalists as well. They pledged to work together to achieve a common goal.

Using the following points, explain the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms :

(a) Any two causes of their passage.

(b) The system of dyarchy introduced in the provinces.

Answer

(a) Two causes which led to the passage of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms are:

1. The Government was forced to adopt a policy of appeasement towards the nationalists, as they needed the support of Indians during the World War I.
2. Due to the signing of the Lucknow Pact and the unification of all factions, the Government had no excuse for delaying political or Constitutional reforms.

(b) The system of dyarchy was introduced in the provinces. Under this system, the subjects to be dealt with by the Provincial Government were divided into two parts —

1. reserved subjects, and
2. transferred subjects.

The reserved subjects, such as finance, law and order, irrigation, etc., were administered by the Governor with the help of the Executive Council nominated by him. The transferred subjects such as education, public health, agriculture, etc., were administered by the Governor with the help of Council of Ministers chosen by him from among the elected members of the Legislature. They were responsible both to the Governor and the Legislature. The Governor was however, not bound by their advice.

With reference to the given picture, answer the following questions.

(a) Identify and name the lady and the country she originally hailed from.

(b) Mention her contribution to the national movement.

(c) Mention two newspapers published by her.

Answer

(a) The lady in the given picture is Annie Besant. She originally hailed from Ireland, and had settled in India since 1893.

(b) Annie Besant played an important role in the Indian freedom struggle. She set up a Home Rule League similar to that of Tilak, in September, 1916. It's aim was to attain Home Rule or self-government within the British Empire by all constitutional means and to educate and organise public opinion in the country towards the attainment of this goal.

(c) Two newspapers published by her are — New India and The Commonweal.