Satyagraha as a method means:

Non-violent insistence on truth

The Rowlatt Act (1919) is best described as a law that:

Allowed detention without trial

Indian History Quiz

The Indian National Movement

The Indian National Movement was the long struggle to end British rule, running from the Revolt of 1857 to independence in 1947. These notes trace its main phases - the birth of the Congress, the Moderate and Extremist stages, the Gandhian mass movements, and the road to freedom and Partition - with the dates, leaders and terms exams focus on, plus a 20-question practice set.

Beginnings: 1857 to the Congress

The Revolt of 1857 was the first large uprising against the East India Company. It failed, but it ended Company rule - power passed to the British Crown in 1858.

1857 Revolt: began at Meerut; leaders included Rani Lakshmibai, Tantia Tope, Bahadur Shah Zafar and Nana Sahib.
1885: the Indian National Congress (INC) was founded, with A.O. Hume playing a key role; first president W.C. Bonnerjee.
The early leaders are called Moderates - they used petitions, resolutions and constitutional methods.

Moderates and Extremists (1885-1915)

Moderates: Dadabhai Naoroji (the 'Drain of Wealth' theory), Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Surendranath Banerjee.
1905: the Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon triggered the Swadeshi and Boycott movement.
Extremists: Bal Gangadhar Tilak ('Swaraj is my birthright'), Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai - the 'Lal-Bal-Pal' trio.
1906: the Muslim League was founded; 1907: Congress split at Surat into Moderates and Extremists.

The Gandhian Era and Mass Movements

From 1919, Mahatma Gandhi turned the movement into a mass struggle based on non-violence (ahimsa) and satyagraha.

1919: Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (Amritsar).
1920-22: Non-Cooperation Movement; called off after the Chauri Chaura incident.
1930: Civil Disobedience Movement began with the Dandi Salt March; Gandhi broke the salt law.
1942: Quit India Movement - 'Do or Die' - demanding an immediate end to British rule.

Towards Independence and Partition

Subhas Chandra Bose formed the Indian National Army (INA / Azad Hind Fauj) to fight British rule.
1946: the Cabinet Mission; interim government formed.
The Mountbatten Plan led to the Indian Independence Act 1947.
15 August 1947: India became independent, partitioned into India and Pakistan.

Key Terms

Satyagraha: Gandhi's method of non-violent resistance to injustice, meaning 'insistence on truth'.
Swadeshi: The movement to boycott British goods and use Indian-made products, launched after the 1905 Partition of Bengal.
Drain of Wealth: Dadabhai Naoroji's theory that Britain was steadily draining India's wealth to England.
Purna Swaraj: Complete independence, declared the Congress goal at the Lahore session in 1929 (celebrated 26 January 1930).

Practice Quiz — 20 Questions

correct out of 20

In which year did the Revolt of 1857 begin?
- A.1848
- B.1857
- C.1885
- D.1905
B. 1857 — The revolt began in 1857, starting at Meerut.
The Indian National Congress was founded in:
- A.1857
- B.1885
- C.1906
- D.1919
B. 1885 — The INC was founded in 1885.
Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress?
- A.A.O. Hume
- B.Dadabhai Naoroji
- C.W.C. Bonnerjee
- D.Gokhale
C. W.C. Bonnerjee — W.C. Bonnerjee presided over the first session in 1885.
The 'Drain of Wealth' theory was given by:
- A.Tilak
- B.Dadabhai Naoroji
- C.Gandhi
- D.Gokhale
B. Dadabhai Naoroji — Dadabhai Naoroji explained the drain of India's wealth to Britain.
The Partition of Bengal (1905) was carried out by:
- A.Lord Curzon
- B.Lord Mountbatten
- C.Lord Dalhousie
- D.Lord Ripon
A. Lord Curzon — Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal in 1905.
Which movement was launched in response to the Partition of Bengal?
- A.Quit India
- B.Swadeshi
- C.Non-Cooperation
- D.Civil Disobedience
B. Swadeshi — The Swadeshi and Boycott movement followed the 1905 partition.
'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it' was the slogan of:
- A.Gandhi
- B.Nehru
- C.Tilak
- D.Bose
C. Tilak — Bal Gangadhar Tilak gave this famous slogan.
The 'Lal-Bal-Pal' trio did NOT include:
- A.Lala Lajpat Rai
- B.Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- C.Bipin Chandra Pal
- D.Gopal Krishna Gokhale
D. Gopal Krishna Gokhale — Gokhale was a Moderate; the trio were Extremists.
The All-India Muslim League was founded in:
- A.1885
- B.1906
- C.1916
- D.1919
B. 1906 — The Muslim League was founded in 1906.
The Congress split into Moderates and Extremists at the 1907 session held at:
- A.Surat
- B.Lahore
- C.Calcutta
- D.Lucknow
A. Surat — The famous split occurred at Surat in 1907.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place in:
- A.1919
- B.1922
- C.1930
- D.1942
A. 1919 — It occurred in Amritsar in April 1919.
The Non-Cooperation Movement was called off after which incident?
- A.Dandi March
- B.Chauri Chaura
- C.Jallianwala Bagh
- D.Surat Split
B. Chauri Chaura — Gandhi withdrew it after the violence at Chauri Chaura in 1922.
The Dandi March (1930) was associated with breaking which law?
- A.Rowlatt Act
- B.Salt law
- C.Vernacular Press Act
- D.Arms Act
B. Salt law — Gandhi marched to Dandi to break the salt law, launching Civil Disobedience.
The slogan 'Do or Die' is associated with which movement?
- A.Swadeshi
- B.Non-Cooperation
- C.Quit India
- D.Civil Disobedience
C. Quit India — Gandhi gave the 'Do or Die' call during the Quit India Movement of 1942.
The Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) was led by:
- A.Bhagat Singh
- B.Subhas Chandra Bose
- C.Nehru
- D.Patel
B. Subhas Chandra Bose — Subhas Chandra Bose led the INA against British rule.
Satyagraha as a method means:
- A.Armed struggle
- B.Non-violent insistence on truth
- C.Boycott of elections
- D.Foreign lobbying
B. Non-violent insistence on truth — Satyagraha is Gandhi's non-violent resistance to injustice.
'Purna Swaraj' (complete independence) was declared as the Congress goal at the session in:
- A.Lahore (1929)
- B.Surat (1907)
- C.Lucknow (1916)
- D.Nagpur (1920)
A. Lahore (1929) — The Lahore session of 1929 adopted Purna Swaraj.
After the Revolt of 1857, control of India passed to:
- A.The East India Company
- B.The British Crown
- C.The Mughals
- D.Local princes
B. The British Crown — The Government of India Act 1858 transferred power to the Crown.
The Rowlatt Act (1919) is best described as a law that:
- A.Granted independence
- B.Allowed detention without trial
- C.Abolished the salt tax
- D.Created the Muslim League
B. Allowed detention without trial — It allowed arrest and detention without trial, sparking protests.
India gained independence on:
- A.26 January 1950
- B.15 August 1947
- C.2 October 1947
- D.26 January 1930
B. 15 August 1947 — India became independent on 15 August 1947.

References

Bipan Chandra, India's Struggle for Independence (standard reference)
NCERT History - Modern India