History Class 10 Chapter 2 most important Questions and answers

Ques 1: How is modern nationalism in Europe connected to the of formation nation-states?

Answer: Modern nationalism in Europe was associated with the formation of nation-states. It marked a change in people’s understanding of their identity, fostered by new symbols, songs, and ideas that redefined community boundaries.

Ques 2: How did modern nationalism emerge in India?

Answer: In India, modern nationalism grew in connection with the anti-colonial movement. The shared experience of colonial oppression helped unite diverse groups, though their experiences and notions of freedom often varies.

Ques 3: What were the main objectives of the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements?

Answer: The main objectives were to develop the national movement, involve various social groups, and capture the imagination of people though the ideas of nationalism and swaraj.

Ques 4: What economic and political situation arose in India due to the First World War?

Ans: The war increased defence expenditure, raised taxes (including customs duties and income tax), and caused price inflation, doubling prices between 1913 and 1918. Forced recruitment, food shortages, and an influenza epidemic further worsened the situation.

Ques 5: Who introduced the idea of satyagraha, and what did it emphasize

Ans: Mahatma Gandhi introduced the idea of satyagraha. It emphasised truth and non-violence as means to fight injustice, relying on moral persuasion rather than physical force.

Ques 6: Mention the three early satyagraha movements organized by Mahatma Gandhi in India.

Ans:

• Champaran (1917): To support peasants against the oppressive plantation system.
• Khed (1917): To demand revenue relaxation for peasants affected by crop failure and a plague epidemic.
• Ahmedabad (1918): To support cotton mill workers.

Ques 7: What was the Rowlatt Act of 1919, and why did it face oppsition?

Ans:The Rowlatt Act allowed the governmet to detain political prisoners without trial for two years and repress political activities. It faced united opposition as it was seen as unjust and repressive.

Ques 8: What happened during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre?

Ans: On 13 April 1919, General Dyer ordered troops to fire on a large, peaceful crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, killing hundreds. This act aimed to instill fear and terror among the people.

Ques 9: What was the impact of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on the Indian people?

Ans : The massacre led to widespread protests, strikes, and attacks on government buildings. The British responded with brutal repression, humiliating and terrorising people.

Ques 10: Why did Mahatma Gandhi call off the Rowlatt satyagraha?

Ans: Gandhi called off the movement as it began to turn violent, with clashes between protesters and authorities.

Ques 11: What was the Khilafat Movement, and how did it connect with the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Ans: The Khilafat Movement aimed to protect the temporal powers of the Ottoman emperor (Khalifa). Gandhi saw it as an opportunity to unite Hindus and Muslims under a common cause and incorporated it into the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Ques 12: What was Gandhi’s belief regarding British rule as stated in his book Kind Swaraj?

Ans: Gandhi believed that British rule in India was established and sustained through Indian cooperation. If Indians withdrew their cooperation, British rule would collapse, and swaraj would be achieved.

Ques 13: What were the key proposals of the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Ans:

• Surrender of government titles.
• Boycott of civil services, army, police, courts, legislative councils, schools, and foreign goods.
• Launch of civil disobedience campaign if the government used repression.

Ques 14: Why were some Congress members initially hesitant about the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Ans: Some members feared the movement might lead to popular violence and were reluctant to boycott the council elections scheduled for November 1920.

Ques 15: How was the Non-Cooperation Movement officially adopted?

Ans: After intense debates a compromise was reached, and the Non-Cooperation programme was adopted at the Congress session in Nagpur in December 1920.

Ques 16: What was the role of the middle class in the Non-Cooperation Movement in cities?

Ans: The middle class played a significant role by boycotting British institutions. Thousands of students left government-controlled schools and colleges, headmasters and teachers resigned, and lawyers gave up their practices. Council elections were also boycotted inmost provinces, except Madras.

Ques 17: What were the economic effects of the Non-Cooperation Movement in cities?

Ans: The economic effects included a boycott of foreign goods, picketing of liquor shops, and burning of foreign cloth. The import of foreign cloth reduced significantly, and India textile production increased as people began using Indian-made goods.

Ques 18: Why did the Non-Cooperation Movement in cities slow down?

Answer: The movement slowed down because khadi cloth was expensive, making it unaffordable for many. Moreover, alternative Indian institutions to replace British ones were slow to develop, causing people to return to government schools, colleges, and courts.

Ques 19: Who led the peasant movemtn in Awadh, and what were its main demands?

Ans: Baba Ramchandra led the peasant movement in Awadh. The main demands included reducing revenue, abolishing begar (forced labor), and implementing a social boycott of oppressive landlords.

Ques 20: What was the role of Jawaharlal Nehru in the Awadh peasant movement?

Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru toured villages in Awadh understand the grievances of the peasants. In October 1920, he helped establish the Oudh Kisan Sabha, which integrated the peasant struggle into the wider Non-Cooperation Movement.

Ques 21: How did Gudem Hill rebellion differ from the Congress-led Non-Cooperation Movement?

Answer: The Gudem Hills rebellion was a militant guerrilla movement led by Alluri Sitaram Raju. Unlike the Congress’s non-violent approach, the rebels used violence, attacking police stations and British officials. Raju believed India could only be liberated through force, not non-violence.

Ques 22: How did plantation workers in Assam interpret the idea of swaraj?

Ans: For plantation workers, swaraj meant freedom to move freely, retain ties with their villages, and escape the restrictions of the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, which confined them to tea gardens.

Ques 23: What actions did plantation workers take during the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Ans :Thousands of plantation workers defied the authorities, left the tea gardens, and attempted to return to their villages, believing Gandhi Raj would grant them land. However, they were stranded, caught by the police, and brutally beaten.

Ques 24: How did various social groups emotionally connect to the Congress-led movement despite having different visions of swaraj?

Ans: Social groups, including tribals and plantation workers, emotionally identified with the Congress-le movement by invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s name, chanting slogans for “Swatantra Bharat,” and linking their local struggles to the larger all India agitation.

Ques 25: Why did Mahatma Gandhi withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922?

Ans: Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement because it was becoming violent in many places. He believed satyagrahis needed proper training before participating in mass struggles.

Ques 26: What was the Swaraj Party, and why was it formed?

Ans: The Swaraj Party was formed by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru within the Congress. It aimed to participate in council elections to oppose British policies, argue for reforms, and show the undemocratic nature of the councils set up under the Government of India Act 1919.

Ques 27: How did the worldwide economic depression affect Indian peasants?

Answer: The economic depression led to a collapse in agricultural prices after 1930. Peasants struggled to sell their harvests, leading to financial difficulties in paying revenues and creating turmoil in the countryside.

Ques 28: What was the Simon Commissin, and why did Indians oppose it?

Answer: The Simon Commission was constituted in 1927 to review the constitutional system in India and suggest changes. Indians opposed it because it had no Indian members, which was seen as a denial of Indian representation.

Ques 29: What was declared at the Lahore Congress in December 1929?

The Lahore Congress, under Jawaharlal Nehru’s presidencey, declared the demand for ‘Purna Swarajk’ or complete independence for India. It also decided to celebrate 26 January 1930 as Independence Day.

Ques 30: Why did Mahatma Gandhi choose salt as a symbol to unite the nation?

Ans: Gandhi chose salt as a symbol because it was a basic necessity for everyone, rich or poor. The tax on salt and the government monopoly over its production highlighted the oppressive nature of British rule.

Ques 31: What was the significance of the Salt March?

Ans: The Salt March marked the beginning of hte Civil Disobedience Movement. It symbolised defiance of colonial laws and inspired widespread participation in breaking the salt law and other forms of non-violent resistance.

Ques 32: How was the Civil Disobedience Movement different from the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Answer: While the Non-Cooperation Movement involved refusing cooperation with the British, the Civil Disobedience Movement went further by actively breaking colonial laws, such as the salt law, refusing to pay taxes, and violationg forest laws.

Ques 33: What actions were taken during the Civil Disobedience Movement?

Answer: Actions including breaking the salt law, boycotting foreign goods, picketing liquor shops, refusing to pay taxes, resigning village posts, and violating forest laws.