National Movements

National Movements

1. Swadeshi Movement

• Also known as: Vande Mataram and Boycott Movement
• Triggered by: The Partition of Bengal (1905) by Lord Curzon
• Objective: To promote self-reliance and boycott foreign goods
• Key Features:
  • Mass participation
  • Formation of Swadeshi Schools and shops
  • Use of indigenous goods
• Significance: Marked the beginning of mass political awakening in India
• Important Date: 1905

2. Khilafat Movement

• Triggered by: The dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and the abolition of the Caliphate (1918)
• Objective: To preserve the Caliphate and protect Muslim interests
• Leaders: Shaukat Ali and Mohammad Ali
• Alliance: United with the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922)
• Significance: Strengthened Muslim unity and supported the nationalist cause
• Important Date: 1919-1922

3. Non-Cooperation Movement

• Initiated by: Mahatma Gandhi in 1920
• Objective: To oppose the Rowlatt Act and British policies
• Key Actions:
  • Boycott of British goods
  • Withdrawal from government jobs
  • Suspension of legal proceedings
• Withdrawal: Due to the Chauri Chaura incident (1922)
• Significance: it was Quit India movement
• Important Date: 1920-1922

4. Swaraj Party

• Founded by: C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru in 1923
• Objective: To work within the British system to achieve self-rule (Swaraj)
• Strategy: Participate in elections and use legislative methods
• Significance: Highlighted the need for constitutional methods alongside mass movements
• Important Date: 1923

5. Simon Commission

• Also known as: The Simon Commission
• Objective: To review the working of the Government of India Act, 1919
• Composition: All members were British
• Rejection: Due to lack of Indian representation
• Significance: Sparked widespread protests and the call for “Simon Go Back”
• Important Date: 1928-1930

6. Rowlett Act and Jallianwala Bagh Incident

• Rowlett Act: Passed in 1919, allowed arrest without trial and detention for 6 months
• Jallianwala Bagh Incident: Killed hundreds of unarmed civilians (1919)
• Leader: General Dyer
• Significance: Deepened anti-British sentiment and led to the Non-Cooperation Movement
• Important Date: 1919

7. Civil Disobedience Movement

• Initiated by: Mahatma Gandhi in 1930
• Objective: To challenge British authority through mass civil disobedience
• Key Actions:
  • Salt March (Dandi March) (1930)
  • Boycott of British goods
  • Salt tax protest
• Significance: Largest and most organized movement in Indian history
• Important Date: 1930-1932

8. Round Table Conferences

• Organized by: British Government (1930-1932)
• Objective: To frame a constitution for India
• Participants: Indian leaders, British officials, and other stakeholders
• Outcome: No consensus reached; led to the formation of the Congress-League unity
• Important Date: 1930-1932

9. Second World War and Resignation of Congress Ministries

• Triggered by: The outbreak of WWII (1939)
• Congress Action: Resigned from provincial governments in protest
• Reason: Congress opposed participation in the war without self-rule
• Significance: Strengthened the demand for independence
• Important Date: 1939

10. August Offer

• Issued by: Lord Linlithgow (1940)
• Proposed: Dominion status for India and participation in the war effort
• Response: Congress rejected it, demanding full independence
• Significance: Highlighted the growing demand for independence
• Important Date: 1940

11. Shimla Conference

• Held in: Shimla (1942)
• Participants: British officials and Indian leaders
• Objective: To discuss the future of India during WWII
• Outcome: No agreement reached; led to the Quit India Movement
• Important Date: 1942

12. Cripps Mission

• Led by: Lord Cripps (1942)
• Proposal: Dominion status for India and participation in the war effort
• Response: Congress rejected it, demanding full independence
• Significance: Failed to bridge the gap between British and Indian leaders
• Important Date: 1942

13. Wavell Plan

• Proposed by: Lord Wavell (1945)
• Proposal: Formation of a constituent assembly for India
• Response: Accepted by Congress, but rejected by Muslim League
• Significance: Laid the groundwork for the Constituent Assembly
• Important Date: 1945

14. Cabinet Mission and Constituent Assembly

• Cabinet Mission: Proposed a constitution for India (1946)
• Constituent Assembly: Formed to draft the constitution
• Composition: 389 members representing all communities
• Significance: Laid the foundation for the Constitution of India
• Important Date: 1946

15. Mountbatten Plan

• Also known as: The Partition Plan
• Proposed by: Lord Mountbatten (1947)
• Objective: To divide British India into India and Pakistan
• Key Features:
  • Two-nation theory
  • Partition along religious lines
• Significance: Led to the creation of two independent nations
• Important Date: 1947

16. Indian Independence Act of 1947

• Enacted by: British Parliament (1947)
• Provisions:
  • Partition of India into India and Pakistan
  • Transfer of power to the new governments
• Significance: Ended British rule in India and marked the birth of two nations
• Important Date: 1947